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Building Brand Loyalty: The Crucial Role of PR in the Outdoor Products Industry

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Customer Loyalty

The vast wilderness calls out, with towering peaks piercing the clouds and rugged trails weaving through verdant valleys. For outdoor enthusiasts, these landscapes offer an escape, a chance to reconnect with nature and push physical limits.

Yet, these adventures hinge on the right gear – the trusty backpack, the all-weather tent, the boots that grip even the most treacherous terrain. In this competitive landscape, brands in the outdoor industry face an ongoing challenge.

That challenge is capturing the hearts, minds, and wallets of adventure seekers. This is where public relations is the key that guides brands toward brand loyalty.

Building trust 

Standing at the base of a daunting mountain, trust in gear is non-negotiable. Just as a reliable rope is essential for a safe ascent, credibility is paramount for outdoor product brands. PR serves as this sturdy rope. It’s there to create a narrative of trustworthiness that potential customers can rely on.

Positive media coverage operates as a glowing recommendation to potential customers. Whether that’s going to be through respected outdoor publications, industry websites, or endorsements from trusted influencers.

In a world awash with marketing messages, PR cuts through the noise with the authentic voice of journalists and industry experts. They’re able to validate the brand’s claims and establish it as a reliable source of quality gear for outdoor adventures.

Crafting a brand story

Technical specifications are undoubtedly important. Consumers need to know that a tent is waterproof or a backpack is comfortable. However, in the outdoor industry, functionality is just the starting point. PR has the power to weave a richer tapestry, connecting with the emotions and aspirations of the target audience.

Strategic PR campaigns shape how people perceive a brand. That means defining whether the public is going to see the products as adventurous and innovative, pushing the boundaries of design, or as trusted companions that offer reliable gear for family camping trips, for example. 

PR crafts and delivers this message to the right audience. By tailoring the PR narrative, an emotional connection is built that transcends product features, fostering brand loyalty among specific demographics.

Forging a community

The spirit of adventure thrives on a sense of belonging. Hikers share trail knowledge, climbers form rope teams, and kayakers support each other on wild waterways. The outdoor industry is no different. PR allows brands to step beyond product promotion and connect with the broader outdoor community.

Building relationships with outdoor enthusiasts, conservation groups, and other relevant organizations is a powerful PR strategy. Brands could pursue partnering with a local hiking club for a gear giveaway, sponsoring a trail clean-up day, or participating in online forums frequented by outdoor enthusiasts. 

These initiatives demonstrate that a brand is more than just a seller of products. It shows an investment in the outdoor lifestyle, a sharing of the community’s values, and an active contribution to its well-being. This, in turn, fosters brand loyalty, as customers feel a connection with brands that align with their passions.

Ronn Torossian founded 5WPR.

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Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and Chairman of 5WPR, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the United States. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America’s most prolific and well-respected Public Relations professionals. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company’s growth, overseeing more than 275 professionals. With clients spanning corporate, technology, consumer and crisis, in addition to digital marketing and public affairs capabilities, 5WPR is regularly recognized as an industry leader and has been named “PR Agency of the Year” by the American Business Awards on multiple occasions. Throughout his career, Torossian has worked with some of the world’s most visible companies, brands and organizations. His strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, Metropolitan Magazine’s Most Influential New Yorker, a 2020 Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, and a recipient of Crain’s New York 2021 Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Torossian is known as one of the country’s foremost experts on crisis communications, and is called on to counsel blue chip companies, top business executives and entrepreneurs both in the United States and worldwide. Torossian has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly on CNN & CNBC, is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer, and has authored two editions of his book, “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations,” which is an industry best-seller. A NYC native, Torossian is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and active in numerous charities.

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