For the final bonus episode Kelly and Tobie interview Jose Maldonado, the Chief Marketing Officer at PeopleForBikes. They discuss the most recent participation data on the outdoors and cycling. What do these numbers mean for suppliers and retailers, and what opportunities are there for the future?By People for Bikes and the Outdoor Industry Association

Join Kelly and Tobie for the penultimate bonus episode of Inside the Outdoors, where they chat with Matthew Tucker, Director of Client Development in Sports Equipment at Circana, the premier source for retail and participation data in the outdoor industry. We’ll chat through the early indicators of positive changes unfolding in 2024 and explore the…

Kelly and Tobie continue their conversation with Ryan Birkicht, Director of Communications at PeopleForBikes. They delve deeper into how the Outdoor Industry Association and PeopleForBikes are evolving as trade associations, making it easier for their members, non-members and bike-curious parties to access and utilize data to grow their business. S…

For the next two episodes we are joined by Ryan Birkicht, Director of Communications at PeopleForBikes. In this episode we'll be talking about the Bicycle Leadership Conference, recently held by PeopleForBikes in Tucson, Arizona. We'll chat through some of the behind the scenes action that goes into planning a conference, the value these gatherings…

In this special bonus episode, Kelly and special guest host Tobie DePauw will be joined by Dr. Ash Lovell, Electric Bicycle Policy & Campaign Director for PeopleForBikes, to delve into the leading perspective on e-bike policy. Tune in to discover how PeopleForBikes is spearheading efforts in policy, education, and safety nationwide. Learn about the…

In this special bonus episode, Kelly and special guest host Tobie DePauw will be joined by Dr. Ash Lovell, Electric Bicycle Policy & Campaign Director for PeopleForBikes, to delve into the leading perspective on e-bike policy. Tune in to discover how PeopleForBikes is spearheading efforts in policy, education, and safety nationwide. Learn about the…

Kelly and Patrick wrap up Season 1 of Inside the Outdoors with a recap of the discussions and guests featured on the series this season.By People for Bikes and the Outdoor Industry Association

Kelly and Patrick review recent macroeconomic indicators and relate overall market conditions to expectations for outdoor market recovery. What might a ‘new normal’ look like for the outdoor markets? How could a large participant base support the market in the near future and in the long run? How can consumer research inform our expectations for fu…

Kelly and Patrick review recent research which measured bicycle industry experts’ market sentiment. How did bicycle industry experts think the overall market and their specific organization fared over the past year? What do they think will happen over the next year? What are the biggest threats and opportunities for the bicycle industry over the ne…

Kelly and Patrick review recent research related to cross country skiers’ predictions for the upcoming season. How might environmental and macroeconomic conditions affect their expectations for season quality? How might expectations actually influence participation? How can these findings be used to better understand other outdoor recreation activi…

Kelly and Patrick discuss research methods for studying the motivations of outdoor recreation participants, as well as ways to leverage that information into greater participation and sales. How can segmentation studies be crafted to gather this information? What level of detail about an individual’s motivations would be actionable? What lessons ca…

Kelly and Patrick discuss where to find outdoor recreation participants when they’re not outside. What cross-participation activities are cyclists, runners, campers, and other outdoorspeople engaging in when the weather is too cold for many to be outside? How can our understanding of cross participation help support increased participation and impr…

Kelly and Patrick discuss their expectations for participation levels and market activity in 2024. How will new participants - those who started during COVID - engage with outdoor recreation this year? Will consumer demand for equipment be as cool in 2024 as it was in 2023? How will macro trends in the US economy affect these markets? What does the…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the importance of retail sales data as a way to measure the health of our outdoor recreation industry, identify market opportunities, and benchmark an organizations growth against the growth of a category. How can retail sales metrics inform our view of the market? Which sales are typically included and excluded in retail …

Kelly and Patrick discuss New Year’s resolutions, focusing on ways that the outdoor industry can capitalize on this time of transition to increase participation in recreation activities. Why are so many people committed to getting into shape at the beginning of the year? What opportunities might exist for the outdoor industry to favorably position …

Kelly and Patrick discuss where the outdoor recreation market is within the bullwhip effect. There was a surge in demand early in the pandemic that has affected the market for years now. Where are we in the recovery period? How will participation trends affect market stabilization? What can dealers and brands do during a period of low demand?…

Kelly and Patrick continue the conversation with Geneviève Marchand and Jennifer DeBoer from Western Colorado University’s Outdoor Industry MBA program. How can aspiring outdoor leaders set realistic expectations for their careers in the industry? What facets of higher education can best prepare someone for success in the outdoor industry? How impo…

Kelly and Patrick are joined by Geneviève Marchand and Jennifer DeBoer for a discussion about the next generation of leaders in the outdoor recreation world. How can programs like Western Colorado University’s Outdoor Industry MBA help students learn more about the outdoor recreation industry? What are some simple ways to gain an advantage in the l…

Kelly and Patrick discuss expectations for the 2023 holiday shopping shopping season. How will consumer spending respond to downward market pressures? Could an increased participant base, low unemployment, and other positive economic indicators mean an increase in market activity? How can the industry position outdoor recreation activities as a soc…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the newly released report from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account of the Bureau of Economic Analysis which measures the contributions to US GDP made by outdoor recreation activities in 2022. What exactly is this report measuring? How do outdoor recreation activities support American jobs, generate federal and state t…

Kelly and Patrick are joined again by Kiran Herbert, the Content Manager at PeopleForBikes, for the second installment of a 2 part discussion about shared micromobility. How has bikeshare utilization been affected by the electrification of bikes? How can shared micromobility become more equitable? What can be done to increase the use of shared micr…

Kelly and Patrick are joined by Kiran Herbert, the Content Manager at PeopleForBikes, for the first installment of a 2 part discussion about shared micromobility. How have bikeshare programs and other micromobility programs evolved to meet the needs of cities across America? How can the equitable growth of these programs be achieved? What are the g…

Kelly and Patrick identify which pandemic-era trends have proven to be sticky, and which have not stuck around. How many Americans are still spending time outdoors in 2023? How have participants expanded their reach into multiple types of outdoor recreation activities? How has the marketplace adjusted to meet the needs of the 2023 consumer?…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the current state of the US economy and how current economic conditions might affect the outdoor industry. How might consumer debt be tied to GDP growth? How does the current unemployment rate and recent wage growth affect consumer spending? How does all of this affect the expectation for the 2023 holiday shopping season?…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the future of electric bicycles as Kelly reflects upon her experience at Graniteer, an outdoor lifestyle festival produced by Granite Outdoor Alliance. What opportunities exist for electric bicycle centric events? What can we learn from youth participation in electric bicycling? How can the industry prepare to service and …

Kelly and Patrick review methods for setting efficient prices for products, features, and attributes. How can brands and dealers bundle products and features at an appropriate price to meet the needs of new and existing customers? Which product features are the most important to consider when creating a product? How can profit maximizing outdoor br…

Kelly and Patrick build upon the previous episode’s discussion about research questions and different types of consumer research studies by exploring the many ways that organizations can find the right audience for studies. What are the strengths and weaknesses of a general population research panel? How can we leverage existing customer databases …

Kelly and Patrick discuss the primary research studies that can help outdoor brands find success in turbulent markets. How can brands understand their current place in the market using brand awareness and sentiment studies? Where are existing and potential customers, and what messages resonate with them? Why do we love MaxDiff and conjoint studies …

Kelly and Patrick are again joined by Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner of SmartEtailing, for a conversation about ecommerce within the specialty bicycle channel. What interesting trends are emerging in the bicycle ecommerce channel? What are the barriers that dealers will likely face for the remainder of the year, and how can they be overcome?…

Kelly and Patrick are joined by Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner of SmartEtailing, for a conversation about ecommerce within the specialty bicycle channel. How has ecommerce grown over the past few years for independent bicycle dealers? What is important for independent bike dealers to know in order to be successful in today’s market?…

Kelly and Patrick are joined by Reese Brown, Cross Country Ski Area Association's Executive Director, for a discussion about cross country skiing. What should everyone know about the cross-country skiing experience? How are weather extremes affecting the market? What are trail areas doing to engage new participants? Use the following links to acces…

Kelly and Patrick are joined by Rachel Fussell, PeopleForBikes’ eMTB Policy and Program Manager, for a discussion about electric mountain bikes (eMTBs). How have eMTBs evolved and how has the market grown recently? What's important to know about the eMTBs when buying or riding? What are the barriers facing the eMTB world? Use the following links to…

Kelly and Patrick begin by discussing one of the most interesting emerging sports in outdoor recreation - pickleball! Why has pickleball grown so much in recent years? What lessons can be gleaned from this activity that could be applied elsewhere? Are there additional outdoor recreation activities experiencing significant participation growth? Use …

Kelly and Patrick kick off Season 2 with a discussion about the current state of the US economy and recent events that took place during the mid-summer break. How could back-to-school spending affect the outdoor market? What could continued increased interest rates mean for our customers? Should we be more concerned about perceptions of the economy…

Kelly and Patrick wrap up Season 1 of Inside the Outdoors with a discussion about summer plans and current market conditions. Access the PeopleForBikes Member Center for the most recent version of the Global Risk and Opportunity Forecast, produced by S&P Global. And visit OutdoorRetailer.com for information about the show.…

Kelly and Patrick discuss newly released participation trends as measured by the Physical Activity Council. These data describe recent trends in participation rates for individual sports, allowing us to gain a better understanding of how Americans are sticking with, or not sticking with, outdoor recreational activities in the years since COVID-19 b…

Kelly and Patrick resume the conversation with Casey Taylor (Civic Science), discussing their unique approach to quantitative research. How does Civic Science help researchers understand consumers in ways yet to be considered? Are consumer perceptions reality? How do outdoor recreation participants feel about forever chemicals? Learn more about Civ…

Kelly and Patrick welcome Casey Taylor from Civic Science to discuss his unique approach to quantitative research. How does Civic Science mitigate response bias? How have estimates of American wellbeing changed recently, and what does this depend on? How many soup dumpling lovers also participate in outdoor recreation activities? Learn more about C…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the importance of protecting public spaces as these federal, state, and local spaces offer opportunities for outdoor recreation. Which outdoor rec activities take place on public lands? What can be done to ensure we have healthy, vibrant public lands? How can access to public spaces affect the market for outdoor recreation…

Kelly and Patrick discuss the process of identifying and mitigating biases as a necessary step in consumer research. How can researchers make sure that our biases are not affecting research outcomes? How can we create research instruments that will yield the most powerful and useful insights?By People for Bikes and the Outdoor Industry Association

Kelly and Patrick discuss the current state of the US economy and how current economic conditions might affect the outdoor industry. What would a default on the national debt mean for outdoor? How do the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, and inflation rate affect spending in the outdoor markets? How is consumer sentiment affecting …

Kelly and Patrick discuss the importance of how we consider environmental sustainability in our outdoor recreation industry. How do outdoor consumers consider environmental sustainability when making a purchase? Can customers tell the difference between sustainability and greenwashing? What product traits are most important to consumers? Click here…

Kelly and Patrick discuss trends among Gen Z, unpacking their relationship with the outdoors and discussing ways to market outdoor recreation activities to members of this generation. How do we reach Gen Z? What can outdoor recreation activities offer Gen Z? How can we effectively engage in consumer research efforts to guide our relationship with G…

Kelly and Patrick discuss one of the most important questions in the outdoor recreation research space: how many people are participating in an activity? The extra nerdy discussion revolves around different methods of measuring participation, as well as the strengths and limitations of each methodology. How can we preserve historic trends while usi…

Kelly and Patrick discuss how interactions with the outdoors can help to maintain mental and physical health. How can consumer research help identify opportunities to promote outdoor recreation activities as a way to take care of our mental health, and find ways to better connect with those who seek the outdoors to care for their mental health? Fol…

Kelly and Patrick discuss recently released 2022 participation data for outdoor recreation, generated by the Physical Activity Council. Which activities experienced the most growth? How do we gauge the growth or decline of certain activities when we know that participation rates in 2020 and 2021 were so anomalous? How have Americans shifted from av…

Kelly and Patrick continue last week’s conversation with Tobie DePauw (Ride Spot), further exploring new and creative solutions retailers can implement to engage riders in 2023, including methods to boost referrals, increase add-on sales, and build community. How can a better understanding of sales data enhance our sales practices? How can we drive…

Kelly and Patrick invite Tobie DePauw (PeopleForBikes Ride Spot) to have a discussion about how retailers can find the silver lining amidst challenging circumstances like we’re facing in 2023 and make the most of the opportunities in front of them. Tobie shares his experience as a former retailer, giving glimpses of what’s possible when empathy, hu…

Kelly and Patrick discuss ecommerce trends that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and assess which trends have been ‘sticky’. Why have some ecommerce trends stuck around? Why did some trends stick while others did not? What can brands and retailers do to learn from segments of ecommerce customers who are conducting research and making purchases…

Kelly and Patrick discuss how the outdoor industry can capitalize on consumers receiving tax refunds this spring. More Americans expect to receive a refund in 2023 than the previous year, and they are thinking of ways to spend it. How can the outdoor industry help potential consumers imagine a great outdoor experience and convert that aspiration in…