Nemo named fastest growing camping brand in US outdoor industry

American tent and camping equipment brand Nemo has been named as the fastest growing camping brand in the US outdoor industry according to the NPD Group’s first-ever Outdoor Sports Industry Performance Awards. The Dover, New Hampshire-based company endured a turbulent year in 2020 like many others, but by summer demand for its camping gear and accessories had skyrocketed – in just three months, Nemo sold a year’s worth of its Stargaze Recliner Luxury chair (pictured). This growth, according to Nemo CEO Cam Brensinger, was based on how the company initially approached the challenges of the pandemic and its values as a business. 

“Growth like this needs to be intentional and thoughtful,” Cam said. “We are a values-led, long-term goal oriented business. Our mission is to inspire a love of adventure, for each other and for our planet through thoughtful design and messaging. We are determined to lead the way in addressing climate change and exemplify meaningful and authentic action on social justice. And whether we accomplish our mission or not comes down to the strength of our team and how well we equip our people for success. We have a very explicit set of values that have given us strength through the years, even in the face of challenges like COVID. As we grow, we’re looking to those values more, not less, and we are more determined than ever to be a force for good in the world.”

NPD Group has also calculated that the outdoor market in the USA generated $6.1 billion in retail sales in 2020, according to its Retail Tracking Service, It calculated growth in many outdoor markets as consumers looked to spend more time outside, including camping (+36 per cent) and water sports (+19 per cent).

Jim Kelley, president of NPD’s Sports Practice added: “After a truly unprecedented year, we are thrilled to celebrate the bright spots of 2020 within the outdoor market and recognize companies including NEMO, who played an important role in meeting the heightened consumer demand for outdoor products. We congratulate NEMO on this accomplishment and wish them continued success in 2021.”

Elsewhere in this set of awards, familiar names Dometic and Thule were named as fastest growing brands in Equipment Accessories and Snow Equipment categories.

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