Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1492525
Which categories are strongest at your store, and what is moving the needle for you right now? "Camping/hiking and footwear are strong. We are seeing incredible growth in light hikers. Altra is the golden child and has been key in growth of light hikers, and as a reliable and trusted partner in business. Other major categories have been spikier in their sales curves." — Larry Desaulniers, Peak Sports (Oregon) "Our store is primarily themed towards hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing. Our biggest categories are apparel, camping equipment, climbing equipment, and footwear. Apparel is starting to pick back up aer it died in 2020, and our gear sales are up (even though the margins are not as good). Our biggest brands are Patagonia, Kuhl, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, and Cascade Designs." — Jake Dickerson, Wild Iris Mountain Sports (Wyoming) "We have been incredibly lucky in Missoula. Lots of folks moved here during the pandemic's darkest times and we have developed a much stronger traveling and visitor market in the spring summer and early fall months. We have had great sales the past two-and-a-half years and it has shied as the pandemic evolved. We are a strong hardgoods mix so early on we did very well, then as people emerged from hiding the apparel business improved significantly. What is a major point I try to press on vendors is how quickly they all forgot how well everyone did when inventory was in short supply. Instead of saying 'okay, we did well with not enough,' they all — and I do mean all — got greedy and ramped up the production. Now for us the mix is back to pre-pandemic levels (55% apparel and 45% gear) and it has snowed! So hard goods (those that have shipped on time) are doing really well right now and so is clothing so far... but the bottom is dropping out fast, and we expect [2023] to be really challenging." — Todd Frank, e Trail Head (Montana) What are the biggest challenges you are facing in your retail business right now? "e biggest challenges are overstock due to over-forecasting demand, wage growth and wage compression. Overstock: While most categories are SHOP TALK 22 • January/February 2023 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com 3 Outdoor Specialty Retailers Answer Our 3 Pressing Questions. OUTDOOR INSIGHT / RETAIL PEAK SPORTS WILD IRIS TRAIL HEAD Specialty retail superstars: Wild Iris Mountain Sports, left, The Trail Head, right.