Small Gains Make a Big Difference

What’s the next BIG thing? Let’s be honest … most of us have no idea. If you told me years ago that insulated Stanley cups would be the next major trend among young females, I probably would have doubted you. But here we are, and I was the dad whose 10-year-old daughter told me why her new Stanley cup is cool, but my thermos manufactured by the same company 30 years ago is not. The same things happen in any industry, including ours. The “big thing” one year will hang around for a while and provide some great revenue for those who strike while the iron is hot. But trends like this are usually fleeting, and while the bump in sales might be big, it’s usually not sustainable. So is it worth your time trying to predict what will come next? Or should your business planning sessions focus on those smaller gains that will provide a smaller, yet steadier boost to your customer base and your bottom line? If you can’t already tell, I vote for the latter … and here’s why:

Maintain Your Identity

Trends in the archery industry can be polarizing. Just look at the heavy arrow, high FOC debate. There are notable names on both sides of this topic, and everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter. There’s no doubt that moving your inventory selection to some of these smaller and pricier brands could allow you to capitalize on much-higher-ticket arrow sales, but it could also start to make your customers question whether you truly believe in the product or you’re just trying to make an extra buck. Try to maintain the identity of your business by adding some options that fit the needs of all customers, but remain confident in the advice and recommendations you offer. This shows customers that you are in tune with current trends, but also steadfast in what you believe in and fully committed to giving them the best possible service.

Leave Room for the Unexpected

The only thing that remains the same is change. So when planning out your year, don’t be afraid to leave some room in your budget and your schedule so you can capitalize on a major trend. It could be something like we have seen in the past with archery getting the spotlight in popular culture, or even a new broadhead that gets a serious marketing push. If there is no room in your plans for the unforeseen, you might have to risk a major shakeup in your store’s offerings and hope that it works out. Conversely, leaving that little bit of room means you can bring in some new product and see how it sells or add a few events to your calendar and gauge the response. You may not see as large of an impact as going “all in,” but you have less risk of a big bust as well.

Add More Customers

There seems to be a misconception that a business must either cater to its existing customer base, or try to attract new groups of customers. Perhaps this is rooted in the idea that appealing to a new audience means making big changes: Take down the deer mounts, bring in a bunch of blue and pink recurve bows and have pizza parties every Friday night. But that’s not what it’s all about. In what small ways can you appeal to a new customer group? You could add a small selection of a new product category like traditional bows or camping gear. Another way is just changing how you market your business. Instead of talking about how everyone knows you do quality work, start talking about details and what makes your service stand out. Do you spend more time with customers? Are you more highly trained? Do you have superior tuning equipment? New customers don’t know any of this, but you also won’t alienate any existing customers who are already patrons.

Big gains often come from many smaller ones. In 2026, avoid the all-or-nothing approach to business growth. Identify some small changes that will make positive impacts. Look at industry trends and start communicating with your customers about how you are on board while still maintaining your identity and reputation. Create a thoughtful plan for the year that allows for flexibility. Seek some further education like a manufacturer training or the ATA Bow Technician Certification that you can then use to market to new audiences. Whatever you focus on, remember that thinking small can yield big results.

Looking for ways to better your business in 2026? We’d love to see how we can help. Visit us at archerytrade.org or contact me at kurtsmith@archerytrade.org.