2022 Ecosystem Predictions — Outdoor Recreation Realized: Building a Basecamp for the Best You in 2022
Predictions by Graham Cobb
Bentonville, Arkansas
According to Forbes “in the 12 months ending May 2021, sales of kayaks grew by almost 30%, backpacking tents up by almost 50%, sleeping bags up by 28%…48% of consumers said they intend to do more hiking or walking and 13% said they’d do more outdoor cycling.”
The demand for outdoor recreation amenities and associated products/services has seen a dramatic climb since COVID swept over us and it appears to be setting up camp. As we manage a 24-hour workday disguised as work from home, the need to connect to each other and ourselves in a world without screens becomes increasingly critical to our mental, emotional and physical well-being. This need directly impacts our effectiveness in our professional lives.
Approximately 3 miles of mountain bike trails are built in Northwest Arkansas each week. Bentonville now boasts two premier gravel events, a world-class mountain bike race, and the industry’s best consumer-facing mountain bike trade show. The World Championships of Cyclocross land in Fayetteville in January of 2022.
Impressive? Yes. But these are simply the events.
The UA Walton College has launched programming designed to support entrepreneurship focused on outdoor recreation. These exist elsewhere; Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and North Carolina all have campuses with similar programs.
With access to more than 400 miles of purpose built mountain bike trails, pristine rivers and streams, lakes, bluffs and various hollers for exploration; NWA has the palate in place on which this masterpiece economic cluster can be created.
Yeah, but so do the aforementioned regions.
So, what’s our advantage? Product, supply chain and delivery to the customer.
With more than 1500 corporate offices in service to Fortune 1 in our region, NWA gives ideators access to thought leaders with generational expertise in products. This is without rival and positions us for a King of the Mountain classification in outdoor recreation.
NWA is the epicenter of experience-based retail. Walmart leads to getting products to the customer how THEY want it; delivered, picked up, or picked out in person.
With more than 1500 corporate offices in service to Fortune 1 in our region, NWA gives ideators access to thought leaders with generational expertise in products. This is without rival and positions us for a King of the Mountain classification in outdoor recreation.
Bikes sales increased 63% in 2020 and continue this growth pattern.
2022 Mantra: Get up. Get out. Come together.
Camping equipment grew 31% in the same timeframe but the growth has been less adventure driven and more motivated towards backyard/local escapism.
Binocular sales increased 22% in this time period as we flocked to birdwatching.
This all marches towards an increased appreciation for impromptu outdoor recreation. People want to have access to their surroundings in a way that is casual and approachable. This mirrors the way gyms have shifted from big-weight, big-muscle, grunt factories to inclusive spaces that embrace all body types.
NWA has a baked-in R&D kitchen for these activities and it’s open 12 months out of the year.