Summer’s Coming In Hot: How Outdoor Retailers Can Prep for a Sales Surge
Summer isn’t just for s’mores, surfboards, and sunhats—it’s also peak season for outdoor retailers. Whether you’re selling hiking boots, kayaks, climbing gear, or campfire coffee kits, this is your moment. But without the right systems in place, you might miss out on your biggest revenue opportunity of the year.
At Retail Control Systems (RCS), we’ve been helping outdoor retailers succeed for over 35 years with tailored retail technology that scales with your business. From busy single-location shops to multi-store operations, we’ve seen firsthand how the right tools can turn a good season into a great one.
Why Summer Matters More Than Ever
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, U.S. consumers spent over $28 billion on outdoor gear in 2024, with a notable increase driven by weekend warriors and casual adventurers. This growing enthusiasm for the outdoors—fueled by a mix of wellness trends and lifestyle shifts—is creating powerful momentum across the industry. With warmer weather around the corner, that demand is expected to surge even further.
So how can your business take full advantage of this momentum? Let’s break it down.
Audit Your Inventory Before the Rush
Summer moves fast—and so does your inventory. Taking time now to review last year’s sales trends and current stock levels can help you avoid mid-season shortages on popular items like fuel, bug spray, and water bottles. NCR Counterpoint offers tools to forecast demand, automate replenishment, and track inventory in real time across all your locations.
To make things even easier during the busy season, RCS also offers a mobile inventory tool (MIMS) that lets your staff manage inventory directly from the sales floor or stockroom—saving time and keeping everything running smoothly.
Optimize for Omnichannel Shopping
Your customers are jumping between devices and store aisles—make sure your systems can keep up. With the right retail platform, you can keep your eCommerce and in-store inventory perfectly in sync, reducing the risk of overselling or stockouts.
Offering flexible fulfillment options like in-store pickup and curbside delivery can also improve the customer experience while keeping operations efficient. RCS integrates seamlessly with a variety of platforms to help you deliver a consistent, personalized shopping experience—no matter where your customers are browsing.
Staff Like a Pro
As summer traffic heats up, having a well-prepared team on the floor can make all the difference. With smart scheduling powered by insights from your POS system, you can align staffing levels with your busiest hours to maximize coverage and sales potential. RCS supports seasonal hiring by offering a library of training videos and resources tailored to NCR Counterpoint and other RCS-powered platforms—so new team members can get up to speed quickly. Plus, integrated performance metrics help you monitor productivity and make data-driven staffing decisions that boost both efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Launch a Pre-Summer Promotion
Kick off the season with a well-timed promotion that gets customers excited and engaged. Consider running a “Gear Up for Summer” weekend sale or offering exclusive early access to loyalty members. Bundling popular items—like camping kits, paddleboard sets, or hiking essentials—not only drives higher average order values but also makes purchasing easier for your customers.
Make Checkout a Breeze
When summer shoppers are eager to get out and explore, a quick and seamless checkout experience can make all the difference. Offering multiple payment options like tap-to-pay, digital wallets, and flexible financing helps meet your customers where they are and reduces wait times.
Streamlining checkout with easy-to-manage product options and real-time sales updates means your team can focus on friendly, attentive service instead of wrestling with slow systems. The goal is simple: keep lines moving smoothly and make every customer feel valued as they complete their purchase, turning first-time buyers into loyal outdoor enthusiasts.
Client Spotlight: Moon Golf
At RCS, we understand that every retailer faces unique challenges during the busy season. That’s why we work closely with you to build a retail system tailored to your needs—helping you streamline operations, improve inventory management, and enhance customer experiences.
Take it from Moon Golf, a specialty retailer with multiple Florida locations that partnered with RCS to streamline operations using NCR Counterpoint. The result? Real-time inventory control, smoother daily operations, and massive improvements in customer satisfaction.
“We searched for many months trying to find a POS solution that could help us operate more efficiently. Counterpoint has given us the tools to do that plus much more. We are confident no matter what the future has in store that this system will be able to handle it.”
— Mike Poppell, Moon Golf
Read more about Moon Golf’s success: Moon Golf + RCS Case Study
Bonus Tip: Don’t Just Survive Summer—Grow From It
At RCS, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We build custom solutions that fit your goals, your scale, and your customers. Whether you’re modernizing your POS or expanding across locations, our team is ready to help you crush your busiest season!
RCS is gearing up to be at the Switchback Outdoor Show in Nashville from June 16th to 18th, and we couldn’t be more excited. This is THE event to connect, learn, and get inspired for the season ahead. If you’ll be there, don’t miss the chance to meet with us! We’re ready to chat about how we can help power your business for a successful summer—and beyond.
