This year, the Brandography team hit the floor to connect with brands, explore new gear, and host our very own Outdoor Retailer Happy Hour at Brit’s Pub right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. We were blown away by the goodwill, creativity, and undeniable passion driving the outdoor industry forward.
But beyond the very cool products, we also had serious conversations about the future of outdoor eCommerce.
From standout booth experiences to major shifts in e-commerce, here is our recap of the show and the strategies you need to implement to stay ahead of the pack.
3 Key Takeaways from Outdoor Retailer
As a Shopify Premium Partner, our team noticed a recurring theme among the brands we spoke with: Most outdoor brands are on Shopify, but almost none are using it to its full potential.
If that sentiment resonates with you, here are three areas where you are likely leaving money on the table:
- Siloing Amazon and Shopify. Many brands treat their Shopify store and their Amazon presence as two completely separate ecosystems. But when you connect both channels, you gain a unified view of your inventory utilization. More importantly, we consistently see that when Amazon and Shopify are integrated, overall conversion rates go up.
The best next step: Connect these two platforms! Not sure how to begin? Read this how-to guide.
If you want to take it a step further, explore how Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment can help your Shopify storefront. You can always connect with our Amazon team for more specific guidance!
- Ignoring the B2B Wholesale Gap. Almost every brand we spoke to has the same primary goal: growing their wholesale business. Yet, shockingly, almost none of them have a dedicated B2B wholesale setup on their Shopify store.
When we asked why, the response was usually:
- “Shopify can’t do that, can it?”
- “I thought I needed another tool to help with B2B.”
The reality is that’s not true at all. Shopify has B2B tools you can use to create custom dealer portals and set specific pricing tiers.
“As of recently, Shopify made their B2B tools available to all Shopify stores. With some careful planning and setup, you can build out special pricing lists, volume discounts, and allow your best customers to buy with your negotiated terms. As always, the success here depends on your upfront planning and strategy.” – Allen Bredeson, Brandography’s Vice President
The best next step: Let us help you set up your wholesale capabilities. Schedule a connect with our team.
- Underestimating AI Search and Brand Visibility. Finally, we have to talk about the future of search. Traditional SEO is no longer the only game in town. With the rapid rise of AI-driven search and advertising, brands need to start asking: How is AI perceiving and recommending my products?
Improving your visibility in AI-generated responses (like AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity-driven search) is becoming critical. That’s why we’re actively utilizing tools to help brands monitor, optimize, and secure their presence in AI search environments. If you want your gear to be the first thing an AI recommends to an outdoor enthusiast (and why wouldn’t you!), now is the time to start optimizing.
The best next step: Use AIO Fetch to see how AI currently sees your site.
Standouts on the Floor: Creating an Experience
Walking the Outdoor Retailer trade show floor, a few brands immediately caught our eye:
- Backcountry. We loved seeing Backcountry championing new brands and bringing them to the forefront of the show. A prime example was their feature of the Cache tailgate pad system.
- Living in Sunshine. Their portable hammock setup was a massive hit. We loved watching how energetic and welcoming their team was. And their interactive demo, combined with a smart use of product scarcity, really engaged the crowd.
- 57Hours. Another major standout was 57Hours. They had a really unique approach to outdoor adventure access.
We also loved the Adventure Race that so many of the OR attendees completed, including some of our own team members!
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Outdoor Retailer was such a good reminder of why we love this industry. If you stopped by our Happy Hour, thank you for making it such a great event!
If you’re ready to get to market faster, maximize your Shopify capabilities, or explore how AIO Fetch can revolutionize your search visibility, let’s talk. Our dedicated team of in-house industry experts can look at your existing marketing plan and find ways to maximize your potential while resonating with your dream audience.
