19 InsideOutdoor | SPRING/SUMMER 2023 Brands can talk about topics such as special rules of conservation in the environments their customers frequently enjoy. Take Fort Tilden Gateway National Recreation Area, for example. The beach is beautiful but needs human consideration to stay that way. The dunes there are home to several enhanced species of birds. As a result, joggers and walkers should restrict their movements to approved areas of the beach, thereby minimizing potentially harmful impacts on native species. Similarly, brands can educate their audiences on ecotourism: traveling with conservation and respectful exploration in mind. Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about how social media has fueled tourism habits that are disruptive to the environment. Brands can encourage being respectful travelers rather than tourists by supporting companies that support ecotourism. Encourage gear repairs, recycling, and upcycling – Overproduction and overconsumption are two leading ways the outdoor industry negatively impacts the environments it depends upon. Our society’s tendency toward consumerism and emphasis on novelty leads customers to prematurely discard items. Customers will put things in the trash even when products only have minor damage. This clogs the landfills and is an unsustainable practice. To prevent this behavior and possibly open new revenue streams, brands could look for ways to offer repair services. The services would extend the usable life of the products sold, in addition to sending an educational message to consumers. Offering a recycling program is another way for brands to ensure proper disposal of their merchandise. Companies might even want to engineer upcycled products from recycled materials, offering interesting entry points for buyers while discouraging the “throwaway” mentality. One company getting this right is Patagonia through its Worn Wear program, where consumers can sell or buy gently used Patagonia garments. However, the company didn’t stop there; it also takes scraps and gives them second lives. Sell high-quality gear. – Outdoor activities can be rough on gear. Lowquality products break down easily and must be replaced often. On the other hand, high-quality products tend to be durable, making them an excellent investment. However, consumers might not understand the wisdom of buying the best gear they can afford. Brands can help showcase the expected useful product lifetimes on their product pages. Companies might even want to talk about how long each piece of gear should last based on historical usage averages and proper care. Most consumers who love the outdoors want to preserve the places they visit. They just don’t always know how. Brands can serve as the link they need to simultaneously protect themselves during outside activities and protect the natural environment. Lucas Tyson is a Senior Business Developer for Hologenix, a materials science company dedicated to developing products that amplify human potential and improve health and wellness. CELLIANT, its flagship technology, is an infrared ingredient brand that enhances textile-based products with health and wellness benefits across performance, recovery and sleep. m Concierge-Level Fulfillment Services Why switch to Verde? 1. Reliable: You can trust us 2. Priority: Your success is our success 3. Real People: Talk to us all day, everyday 4. Accurate: We do it right the first time 5. Tech: Integrations, EDI, we have it all Email us for the Outdoor Retailer Move-In Special: sales@verdefulfillmentusa.com Locations Nationwide: Los Angeles, CA Indianapolis, IN Memphis, TN Boise, ID Ocala, FL Rochester, NY www.verdefulfillmentusa.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4Njc=