Store Wars
REI, Cabela’s fight for the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts
D
espite the simplicity often associated with the outdoors, activities such as camping, fishing, hunting and hiking can require an individual to purchase equipment that they may not have otherwise. Due to this, outdoor stores such as REI and Cabela’s have made it a point of emphasis to sell consumers both high quality and affordable items. As a result of many outdoors retailers selling similar items, competition between them is tight. For senior Vera Schafer, the decision comes down to several factors, including the quality and variety of the products sold at each outlet. “Over the summer we went camping for cross country, and during that time I brought my lantern that I bought from Cabela’s and it lit up our entire 15-person tent,” Schafer said. “I remember the other lanterns that the coaches brought all died
Andrew Haughey
haughand000@hsestudents.org
and mine was the only one that survived.” In addition to quality and selection, Schafer said that the decor and overall feel of the store was important to her. Proximity was also a key factor. “It’s close to where I live and it has a fish pond, so even if you aren’t into camping, you can still go there,” Schafer said. “It has literally everything, and the inside is really cool, too. It’s like you’re actually in nature because they have a lot of animals as decoration.” Most of Schafer’s outdoor experience includes camping with items purchased from Cabela’s. Because of this, she has a fond connection between the store and memories from her childhood. “When my family would go camping, we would always go for a weekend or so,” Schafer said. “We would go fishing and kayaking sometimes. I was never really that good at fishing, but I
still enjoyed it.” Much like Schafer, assistant principal Kyle Goodwin said he enjoyed camping and hiking as a child and has continued the activities into adulthood. Getting fresh air and creating positive memories is something that keeps him coming back again and again. “I spent a lot of time as a kid camping,” Goodwin said. “We didn’t have a ton of money growing up, and so one of the cheapest vacations we could do was pack a tent and a cooler and spend a week outside. That’s something that has stuck with me since I was a little kid.” Although he and Schafer share similar outdoor hobbies, Goodwin resides on the other side of the aisle in terms of which outdoor retailer he supports, showing a strong preference for REI. “There’s a really practical reason [for shopping at REI],” Goodwin said. “I’m a Co-op
Fish swim in the aquarium in the main corridor of the Fishers Cabela’s location. Photo by Andrew Haughey
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Tiger Times
March 2022
