OUTDOOR & FITNESS
Outdoor dealer profile: Taunton Leisure
Jon Mayo speaks with Jonathon Harker
How many stores do you now have across the UK? We have three stores in the South West – Taunton, Exeter and Bristol – plus a large seasonal camping and tent outlet just off the M5 in Somerset.
What has been the biggest change in the outdoor sector since Taunton Leisure started over 30 years ago? The improvements in design and technology of outdoor products has delivered great benefits to the consumer. Lighter, stronger and better performing equipment makes a multi-day backpacking trip, a family camping weekend or a days walking in the mountains more comfortable whatever the weather. Thirty years ago the outdoors was still out there of course, but the diversity of outdoor activities means your ability to find an activity that really ‘floats your boat’ are greater these days. Fancy rock climbing? You could try it out indoors, take a course with the hundreds of quality providers, join a local club or jump on a short haul plane and climb all day in the sun on some sport climbing Spanish rock. The growth of adventure and activity holidays in the UK and abroad has also made exciting and ‘once in a lifetime’ trips achievable for all.
What parts of the outdoor market are driving business at the moment? Triathlon? Camping? Camping is definitely experiencing strong growth year-on-year for many seasons. This is not just because of the ‘staycation’ factor, well before the recent economic challenges families were appreciating the more simple pleasures of being in the outdoors together and enjoying the sense of freedom that camping brings. It’s also true that the improvements to the comfort you get
NEWS IN BRIEF
Continental footwear Adidas and Continental have teamed up to develop a new range of high- end trail running shoes. The outsoles of the shoes use Continental Traction Compound technology, providing outstanding grip on dry as well as wet ground, according to the duo. The pairing also say the range performs on all surfaces, with grip tested by the Test and Research Institute Pirmasens (PFI).
Website launch for
with a typical family tent these days makes camping simple and affordable, but can also be luxurious with all the comforts you need. One of our most popular tent options these days is tent carpets, no more cold tent groundsheets.
“The outdoor industry is dominated by big
brands and we have some big
competitors. I don’t see that changing.”
The other strong sector that defies the recession is outdoor footwear; walking boots in particular are an area that customers don’t cut corners on and with a few bits of equipment everyone can enjoy a great days walking in the mountains, local paths or hills. We feel more and more people are appreciating the simple pleasures of a good walk in the fresh air. And it’s free.
What do you expect to see from the next 12 months at Taunton Leisure and the outdoor industry? The next 12 months will see a period of consolidation with customers rightly looking for value, with this value being defined as a good quality product at a fair price. Our core customer is active in the outdoors and will remain so whatever the economic forecast is. The outdoor industry is dominated by some big brands and we have some big competitors. I don’t see this changing but at Taunton Leisure we do strive to offer brands and products that challenge the customer to think differently with niche brands in our camping portfolio like Tentipi Swedish Tipis, Nomad Dutch cotton tents and Easton Mountain products. Plus we stock new brands for 2012 like Gregory Packs and Tenaya Rock shoes. We aim to keep our range fresh innovative and, above all, quality. We are rightly proud of our service both online and in-store and for 2012 we aim to bring this to even more customers with online marketing and engagement through social channels like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well as more established means.
www.tauntonleisure.com
Whitby & Co Distributor Whitby & Co has begun a two phase launch of its new website at
www.whitbyandco.co.uk. Phase one provided a vastly improved experience and chance to browse the full range of brands and products from the firm. The second phase will take place this month and will see retailers able to upload their stock levels to the site, allowing consumers who are browsing the site to see what they can order and from whom.
Explorers unite online
Explorers Connect is a new online platform designed for explorers and those involved with expeditions and adventurous outdoor pursuits. The online community is a free web forum backed by no less than Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Bear Grylls. Guinness World Record breaker Belinda Kirk launched the site,
www.explorersconnect.com
Ispo Beijing 2013:
save the date The dates have been set for Ispo Beijing next year – February 27th to March 2nd 2013. This year’s event saw over 24,500 industry professionals come to the China National Convention Centre in Beijing to view products from 353 exhibitors. In more statistic news, over 516 brands took up 35,000 m2 of exhibition space.
Double digit growth 110% COMPRESSION GEAR
The latest 110% and Ice products are a crossover range hitting the running, tri and cycling markets. According to the makers, the gear is the first to fuse the science of compression with the ‘elemental power of ice’ in a single garment. The compression tech increases blood flow and prepares muscles for
exertion – reducing fatigue and risk of injury – while reusable ice sheets (for use post-exercise) fit into the garments for immediate ice therapy to reduce muscle soreness – making the ice bath more accessible and mobile. Find more about the innovative range at
www.110playharder.com
for Jack Wolfskin Outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin saw turnover up 22.5 per cent in 2011, up to ¤355 million. Shoe sales were a particular highlight for the firm, which saw them rise over 35 per cent. Europe saw above average growth, the firm said, while sales in Asia more than doubled.
Got any outdoors news you’d like to see in these pages?
Then let us know at
BikeBiz@intentmedia.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM BIKEBIZ APRIL 39
NEW PRODUCTS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80