Dive Brief:
- Cotopaxi, Arc’teryx and Stanley are among the fastest-growing outdoor specialty brands, with all three growing double or triple digits year over year, according to a recent report from Circana. The designations were made based on in-store and e-commerce sales revenue for the trailing 12 months ending in March this year.
- The research firm awarded the brands based on category, with Stanley leading equipment accessories, Arc’teryx leading apparel and Cotopaxi leading accessories more broadly. Mountain Summit Gear was the fastest-growing brand in camping and Asics was the fastest growing in footwear.
- The fastest-growing brands in the outdoor segment in prior years have included the likes of On, Rumpl, Hoka, Heydude and Goodr, according to Circana.
Dive Insight:
The outdoor industry, which saw a boom during the pandemic as consumers sought out the relative safety of the outdoors, has since retreated some, with prominent players like REI turning to layoffs in the face of sales declines and losses.
But some brands in the space are still growing as more shoppers enter the market, according to Circana’s Michele Arnold.
“The outdoor industry is meeting its customers at the corner of all their lifestyle needs, from campgrounds and sports fields to backyards and travel adventures,” Arnold, who is vice president of Circana’s sports equipment business, said in a statement. “In recent years, the market has welcomed more and more casual consumers seeking new experiences for physical and mental health, as well as the convenience and versatility that many outdoor products deliver on. We are thrilled to recognize the successes of companies that are playing an important role in shaping the future of the outdoor industry.”
Arc’teryx parent Amer Sports went public in February on the back of strong annual revenue growth. Arc’teryx itself is a big reason for that, with the technical apparel segment it leads growing 45% in 2023. The brand is also expanding its store count, with plans to open 30 stores this year, and the potential of reaching over 500 stores globally over time.
Amer Sports’ revenue continued to soar in its latest report, climbing 13% in Q1 to $1.2 billion. Technical apparel grew 44% in the quarter, again driven by Arc’teryx.
Likewise, Stanley has seen significant growth in recent years as its Quencher water bottle gained the favor of social media and has continued to sell out of highly anticipated colorway drops. In addition to becoming a must-have water bottle, the brand is also driving collector behavior as fans aim to amass a slew of the most sought-after product drops.
However, Stanley recently lost brand president Terence Reilly, who moved over to lead Crocs’ Heydude brand in April.
