COVID Pandemic Prompts Growth In Rooftop Tents, Overland Vehicle Industry, Experiencing The Outdoors
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic was a crushing blow to the economy, but it did trigger sales in one industry — the outdoor industry.
And it was apparent from the “Overland Experience” section of the big SEMA car show in Las Vegas that vehicles as a technical part of living outdoors — at least through the night — have grown into big business in these post-pandemic times.
Rooftop tents were commonplace in displays at SEMA at the Las Vegas Convention Center this week and there were also companies displaying products that also control everything from unique lights for your vehicle to WiFi systems.
Many people went outdoors because quarantines and shutdowns meant no gatherings. The pandemic also made people re-evaluate their priorities, lifestyle and interests and re-position their free time, said Emily McConkey, digital marketing specialist for Project X, an Orange County, California-based brand.
Here’s a look at Project X’s “rock lights”:
Pittman Outdoors are old pros at this outdoor lifestyle.
The Placentia, California-based company has sold blowup mattresses that fit into the back of pickup trucks for 17 years and showed a $600 tent and mattress combo to show attendees.
“It’s an entry point,” Pittman Outdoors’ Scott Gilbert told LVSportsBiz.com Thursday. “People don’t have to spend $100,000” for a van with a mattress.
Pittman Outdoors did have tents for roofs, including a $3,000 model that was on display.
“As rooftop tents grew, it was interesting to see how fast people began carrying that product,” Gilbert said.
Pittman Outdoors founder/owner Jim Pittman said his products have been used by owners of vehicles like Jeeps, Toyota Tacomas, Chevys etc. Pittman took his truck mattress for financing to the TV show, Shark Tank, asking for $250 000 for 15% equity in his business, Airbedz, dubbed as “the original truck bed air mattress.”
Pittman mentioned that people can now vacation in their own state with a $600 tent and inflatable mattress product.
For the 1 percenters out there, some impressive and massive vehicles that looked like off-road motorhomes that can run from $150,000 to $500,000.
Here’s one that was on the high end of the spectrum.
Outdoor accessory vendors like Bradenton, Florida-based SeaSucker were selling crossbars and bike racks.
The pandemic was a trigger for sales, said Wes Wilcox, the company’s sales director.
The company avoided supply chain problems because its product was domestically sourced, Wilcox said.
