Outdoors Publisher Reports on Survival Trends

Outdoors Publisher Reports on Survival Trendsoutdoors women.
William C. Holm, BH Publishing Owner, and Editor ofThe average age for a female hunter was 30.4 years
Your World Outdoors.Com, and Your Worldand the average age for a male hunter was 45.7
Outdoors. Us issued a report today entitledyears of age. However, young people (ages 6-17
“Recent Survival Trends,” which highlightsyears) for the most part, continue to show a
some of the major changes in product development,decreased appetite for outdoor activities such as
buyer’s preferences for camping and survivalcamping, backpacking, and hiking.
gear products, and other survival trends.Recent Sales Trends-
In issuing this report, Mr. Holm noted that several(Retailers Cut Prices)
trends had converged during the past year, namelyIn view of the recession, shoppers have become
price-comparison shopping and more unisex productbargain shoppers. This means that instead of buying a
design.premium brand name backpack, sleeping bag, or tent,
Some of the other trends noted were:outdoor enthusiasts are going to the Big Box Stores
1) While there had been a slight increase last year inretail outlet or website to purchase their gear. The
camping (5.34%) and hiking (8.5%), the number ofaverage price for a backpack is $30.00, a sleeping
people actively hunting had decreased by 1.1 %.bag is $39.00, and a 3- person tent on average is
2) Trail running, backpacking, and wildlife viewingpurchased for about $101.00. Further, the big name
increased by 15.2%, 18.5%, and 5.0% respectively.retailers can out-advertise, stock larger quantities,
3) While there had been an upswing in outdoordisplay more products, and keep good customer
camping, particularly RV camping, most campersrelations due to their highly developed business
prefer to camp relatively close to home.processes. A report from Internet Retailerâ
4) The Pacific Northwest (18.9%) and the Upperindicated that the more sophisticated websites, with
Midwest (16.9%) have the most campers whenfast order processing and page load times garnered
compared to the rest of the United States.more sales than slower and less sophisticated
Hunting & Bow-Hunting Trends-websites. Hence, Walmart, Amazon, Sears, Target,
Keeping in mind that there has been a decrease inand Kmart outperform the smaller specialty sites
the numbers of hunters and a reported increase thewhen it comes to camping product sales.
numbers of firearms purchased this year, particularlyEven the niche sites are cutting prices on survival
handguns, it is speculated that most of the handgunsgear items in the face of frugal shoppers.
purchased are for self-defense. When considered inFor example, Sierra Trading Post has cut the prices
conjunction with reports that ammunitionon some of its products by 50%, Cabelas has cut
manufacturers are working around the clock to keepprices on some items by 20% to 70%, Eastern
up with sales orders, we have concluded that peopleMountain Sports from 20-40%, and Mountain Gear
are stockpiling these goods for a future use.has cut from 20-70%, Altrec by 15%, and Gander
“This has caused some concern among outdoorMountain offers 40 % off on some items. It should
groups and hunting organizations,” the publisherbe noted that Gander Mountain is promoting over
remarked.3,000 firearms for sale on its website.
According to the NSGA, hunting and firearms showed(Eco-Friendly Products Increase)
the greatest percentage increase among equipmentAnother trend noted in the report is that camping
purchases in 2007. Sales of hunting & firearmsand survival good manufacturers have started making
equipment rose 16% to $4.6 billion from $3.9 billion inenvironmental friendly products by using recycled
2007.material or “green” material such as vegan or
Bowhunting and the purchase of cross bows haveorganic resources such as bamboo. The North
seen a dramatic rise in the past three years. One ofFaceâ, Timberland Bootsâ, Patagoniaâ, Merrellâ,
the reasons for this has been the National Archery inBurtonâ, Keenâ, and Mountain Hardwearâ are
the Schools Program. Young and old alike seemsome of the leaders in eco-friendly camping products.
drawn to this sport primarily due to the unique skillsPrimaloft® ECO, an earth-friendly mix of recycled
involved, advances in bow design technology, theand virgin insulation for coats and sleeping bags are
relative ease of getting a bowhunting license, and therelatively new innovations in “green”
particular camaraderie of hunting game in the forest.products. A new Eco-Friendly DRYRIDEâ Recycled
Demographics-Polyester Fabrication, and Eco-Friendly Waterproof
The NSGA also found that women make up 12% ofBreathable Lamination with DWR Coatingä, are
all bowhunters in the United States. Nearly 786,000several new inventions included into Burton Coats and
females went bowhunting more than once in thejackets. These eco-friendly products can be
past year. The average age of female bowhunters ispurchased at Altrec.Com, Cabelas.Com, Eastern
37.9. Indeed, current data seems to indicate thatMountain Sports.Com, Mountain Gear.Com, and
women are quickly joining with men in core survivalThe Full Report-
activities namely backpacking, camping, hunting, andThe full report contains a discussion of Home-Made
wilderness trekking. More and more women are& Do-It Survival Gear, Home-Made Survival Kits,
buying survival gear products as they “take toRecent Innovations in Survival Gear, Summary &
the woods” in large numbers. The growth of theConclusions, and a list of references. Copies of the
B.O.W. (Becoming An Outdoors Woman) programfull report can be obtained by contacting the
throughout the United States may be one of thepublisher.
factors contributing to the increase in the number of