Outdoor Stores uk have had a rough time of it lately, in the area I live we have three great stores full of knowledgeable staff and each having different approaches to attracting trade. One is a traditional shop and two are more big chains. With the recent economic times we are all facing they have had to face tough decisions.

It looked likely that two of the three would be shutting down permanently with closing down sale signs being plastered across windows. However, that was three months ago and both are still trading, it looks like one will become a clearance store for the chain it represents, and the local store appears to be hanging in there, even going as far to advertise for new employees, albeit part-time ones.

We realise it’s difficult for those on the high street at the moment and we look at things slightly differently being an online store but it would be a great shame to lose these stores as we all offer something different for our clientele. Whether it is certain brands or types of products, they would appear to be spaces in the marketplace for us all. For those with physical shops maybe it would be an idea to go into partnership with those who have an on-line presence, so that customers get the best of both worlds.

Another idea would be to specialise in a certain area so that you become a subject expert and gain additional sales that way.For each business it would be different, but even I wouldn’t like to lose the presence of a physical shop to visit, after all that’s what gave me my first experience of buying boots and rucksack for my steps into the great outdoors. Outdoor Stores UK need to be here as we all serve the customers in different ways, but we all enjoy getting outside and seeing what the countryside can offer.