Staycations boost outdoor retailer

20/08/2010

Sheffield-based retailer GO Outdoors has credited its recent success to the growing trend of "staycations" among recession-hit Britons.
John Graham, the managing director of the group, said sales of outdoor clothing and equipment had increased as more families save money by exploring local destinations instead of heading overseas for their holidays.
Mr Graham told the Business Desk: "We've attracted some growth during the recession because people have stayed in Britain. Families would rather spend £2,000 going camping in Cornwall, Dorset or Scotland than £6,000 on a foreign trip.
"We've seen the biggest increase in first time campers in the last year or so."
GO Outdoors earns a fifth of its revenues from online sales, but the majority comes from stores. It is planning to double the number of its retail outlets to 50 in the next two years.
Mr Graham said another key reason for the company's growth was a better understanding of the market and customer needs than rivals, as well as attractive pricing.
He added: "Our market is undersupplied and misunderstood. We are attracting first and foremost customers who are interested in outdoor activities, but also customers who might have not thought about doing it."
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