CGPR president Chris Goddard looks at what’s ahead for the outdoor retail industry for 2016.

What is your industry outlook for the year ahead?

In a few words, “steady as she goes” with more peaks than valleys.

While the unusually warm weather is wreaking havoc with apparel sales and ski resorts in the east and the Presidential election turning into its own Saturday Night Live skit serving up distractions; the passion for outdoor activities remains both constant and robust. We have seen this resilience previously, especially during the 2008 recession.

Going outdoors provides consumers with solace for the soul and respite for the body especially from harrowing headlines about despicable terrorist attacks, police confrontations or politicians gone rogue (and to think this year, we don’t even have Sarah Palin). (more…)