Dicks Rethinks Their Foray Into the Outdoor Space

Kate Robertson and Tiffany Montgomery for The Daily:

Dick’s Sporting Goods’ foray into the outdoor market is shrinking, at least for now, according to multiple brand executives who sell to the outdoor-focused Public Lands chain.

Dick’s has told those brands that it plans to close five of its eight Public Lands stores, and convert those former Public Lands stores into other banners, including potentially its experiential House of Sport concept, which has been a hit with shoppers since it launched in 2021.

These stores were opened with much fanfare a few years ago and looked pretty cool. Many of the big brands, The North Face, Patagonia, etc. signed on as key launch partners. Dicks opened them far away from the PNW which is REI land so I never had the chance to actually visit any of them to actually experience what they felt like.

Is that a win for REI? Or are these big box stores carrying a little bit of everything an old system waiting to be overhauled? I was just up in Whistler and saw EVO had taken over several of the small shops renting/selling bikes and other stuff one needs on the mountain. Is that the future? Smaller shops, smaller assortment, but closer to the actual trailhead and with a more intimate atmosphere?