Camping has been an enjoyable activity for many years, as family and friends look to get away from it all and commune with nature. Plus, with so many ways to camp—tent, Yurt, cabin, camper, or RV—it is appealing to people of all ages and incomes. Camping and other outdoor activities, such as hiking and fishing, are on the rise thanks to millennials and Generation X looking to stay active and revel in the great outdoors.
Fortunately, there are a multitude of products that can help make the camping experience a memorable one, such as pop-up tents, waterproof bags/pouches, tumblers, camping chairs/tables, grills, wireless technology, barbeque tools, meat thermometers, lanterns/flashlights, and coolers.
Carrie Lewis at BIC Graphic points out that millennials and Gen Xers make up three-quarters of all campers, and that these demographics are less focused on traditional gear and more interested in promos that help create a fun and memorable experience. “’Fun’ items that photograph well for social media like Koozie® can coolers or retail-branded wireless speakers will appeal to modern campers,” she comments. “More Americans are taking time to explore more activities outdoors. In fact, nearly half of all Americans report participating in at least one outdoor activity. The 2019 TripAdvisor Experiential Travel Trends Report even lists outdoor activities as one of the fastest-growing types of experiences globally. As more and more people enjoy their leisure time outdoors, the opportunity for useful camping promos like a BBQ/cooler bag is limitless.”
PCNA is noticing a slight upward trend in waterproof bags/pouches and beach items, according to Katie Uhlrich. “We see ‘adventuring’ as a large trend across all ages, but heavily in millennials,” she comments. “This spike is leading people to need products they can use to keep items dry, especially tech.” PCNA’s Pam Degore adds that many suppliers are taking lanterns and increasing function to include a speaker to make it more useful while camping.
“People like to camp because it helps them reconnect with nature and de-stress,” Gwen Brey of Beacon Promotions asserts. “However, they still want the comforts of home while camping. So. this is the perfect opportunity for businesses to use promotional products that tie in with the camping world and keep their ad ever present. About 40 million people go camping each year, spending about 1.69 billion dollars on camping items.”
Brannon Craig of Southern Plus weighs in. “Demand for outdoor, recreational, and leisure products will always be strong because they support people’s passion!” he enthuses. “When you put a logo on something a person uses doing what they love, you’ve connected that brand at the ‘heart level,’ and that is a lasting impression! People rarely camp who don’t LOVE it! Camping offers a way to get away from it all, and just relax in a nature setting.”
There is a plethora of new and best-selling products that are designed to make the most of all outdoor experiences. New from PCNA is the Pop Up Beach Tent, as well as new sizes of waterproof items such as Explorer 10L Waterproof Outdoor Bag and the Scout 2L Waterproof Outdoor Bag. “These have been our best sellers,” Uhlrich says. “We expect to see a larger demand as we head into summer.” Degore reports that the company has seen success with multi-function lanterns. “We recently launched the Function Lantern that has an orange glow mode, a flicker orange mode to replicate fire and a white light mode,” she says. “It’s been extremely popular. To follow up on that success, in June we’re launching a camping lantern with mosquito-repellant light.”
BIC Graphic also has a tent that Lewis calls the ultimate getaway. “The Koozie® Kamp 2-person tent features mesh windows on three sides, rain resistance, a strong frame to withstand 35 mph winds, and an inside pocket to hold valuables or attach a lantern,” Lewis relates. It is lightweight and portable to easily fit in the included carry bag.
For relaxing in the great outdoors, BIC Graphic’s Koozie® Kamp Hammock is made of a strong, nautical grade nylon that can hold 500 pounds, but it’s also compact and lightweight to take it backpacking. “Each end of the hammock is equipped with a carabiner and tree-friendly straps for securing to hard surfaces,” Lewis explains. “The attached imprinted pouch can hold valuables while in use and also stows the hammock for easy transport.”
The Koozie® Kamp Cook Set from BIC is a laser-engraved, stainless steel cook pot/wash basin that contains four different colored BPA-free cups and plates that nest neatly inside. The food-grade pot has a handle that folds back against the container to fit into a camp bag or pack for easy transport, Lewis adds.
Bay State also offers some new useful items for camping, Josette Bosse reports. “The Quick Work Silicone Strainer is perfect for camping,” she says. “It is collapsible and doesn’t take up too much space.” The strainer boasts a 38-ounce capacity, stores nearly flat, easily fits in most drawers, and is available in black and red. The Traveler’s 12-ounce cup is perfect for keeping drinks hot or cold for up to four hours, Bosse maintains. “The sip top lid helps to keep the bugs out!” she raves. The cup features a stainless-steel exterior with polypropylene interior and a 12-ounce capacity, and comes in black, blue, red, silver, and white.
Rounding out Bay State’s camping offerings is top seller Away From Home Lantern. “Durable for kids to use during night time games of manhunt, perfect for those night walks to the shower house,” Bosse states. Features include a bright 220 Lumen COB lantern and an outdoor light that is great for tents. This lamp is available in black and silver.
Over at Southern Plus, Craig explains the company’s top sellers continue to be chairs (various), coolers (typically 24 can size and up), and backpacks (for hauling and hiking). “The Event Table, Table for Two, and the BBQ Set are giving these a run for their money!” Craig adds. “They are the perfect companion pieces for the aforementioned, and an easy upsell.”
Brey at Beacon Promotions reports that the Canyon grilling set, meat thermometer, and Weber grills have been the company’s most popular camping items. “These products have done very well, and we will see an uptick now that spring has arrived and more people will be hitting the campsites soon,” she comments.
Suppliers agree that camping items have universal appeal and urge distributors to emphasize this point. “Outdoor lifestyles are a mainstream trend, so camping-related promos don’t need to just be reserved for more ‘rugged’ clients,” BIC Graphic’s Lewis elaborates. “Camping gear is a great addition to employee incentive or reward programs or any client interested in appealing to an active audience.”
Uhlrich at PCNA agrees that camping items can be used by anyone. “With multiple sizes at great price points (many under $45) and colors, they should be a great addition to any program or promotional offer,” she says.
In conclusion, Brey of Beacon Promotions adds, “Camping fits numerous demographics and our products have universal appeal to all ages and genders.”
Case Studies
Carrie Lewis, BIC Graphic: A national non-profit association for campgrounds and RV parks was coordinating a membership drive to promote their services. The association wanted to use a promo campaign as an incentive to increase membership renewals, reach new members and increase attendance at their annual conference.
The association chose to include the #46173 KOOZIE® Triple Vacuum Tumbler as part of their membership drive promo pack. Each campground or RV Park that joined/renewed and signed up for the annual conference received 288 tumblers imprinted with their business logo. The promo packs created buzz in the RV/Camp industry and the association saw an increase in website visits and calls during the drive. They also saw an increase in year-over-year memberships, higher conference attendance and received positive feedback from members. The association plans to continue and expand the program during the next membership drive.
Gwen Brey, Beacon Promotions: A Camper and RV store would place an L277LED 8 LED Headlamp inside each camper or RV when customers came to pick up their purchases. It’s the perfect hands-free item to help set up camp or go hiking at night. There’s no better gift than a light for people finding their way in the great outdoors!