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Running an outdoor retail business involves juggling various tasks — from organizing products and handling work orders to managing equipment rentals and nurturing customer relationships. The secret to success? Streamlining these operations with effective tools.
Surprisingly, nearly half of small and medium businesses don’t use the right inventory and management tools. This can lead to operational inefficiencies, lost sales, and unhappy customers. Spruce up your operations with a specialized outdoor point of sale (POS) system designed for the industry.
In this article, we’ll explore the top outdoor retail POS software. Find out which provider is best for boosting sales performance and customer trust.
Rain POS
Rain POS is an all-in-one, cloud-based retail point of sale system with seamless website, marketing, and payment processing services built to streamline your retail business operations and drive growth. It is specifically designed to meet the needs of outdoor businesses, from paddleboarding and canoe shops to climbing and hiking outfitters. Rain POS offers the following specialized features:
- Advanced inventory management: Track inventory and stock levels in real time, configure automatic purchase orders, and easily organize products to find the items you need. Search items by type, quantity, cost, location, or specifications — whether tents, hiking boots, fishing rods, paddleboards, or camping gear — and calculate your safe stock levels and reorder points within minutes.
- E-commerce platform integrations: Rain POS synchronizes your in-store and online store inventories with its built-in website service. If you already have a website, Rain POS can also integrate with Shopify.
- Dedicated rental management tools: Rain POS includes rental management tools out of the box. Build rental packages and manage short-term rentals directly from your POS.
- Ease of use: Rain POS doesn’t require dedicated hardware or long training sessions. You can access your business data from any device with an internet connection and quickly navigate its easy-to-use interface to stay on top of your business. Consolidate your inventory data, process credit card or mobile payments, and manage your stock from the same point of sale system.
Customer reviews:
“Rain has enabled us to have everything under one system. It’s been really good.” - Pinewskis
“We have tried other POS systems, and this is by far the best one. Nobody has the customer service Rain has.” - Gorilla Bikes Bicycle Store
Pricing: Rain POS offers three affordable plans: Startup, Core, and Plus. To determine your monthly payment amount, fill out the convenient pricing configurator and talk with an expert.
Square for Retail
Square for Retail is a POS system that simplifies small business operations for your outdoor goods store. It centralizes various aspects of business operations into one convenient application with the following capabilities:
- All-in-one operations: This system manages everything from item stocks and sales reports to special orders and staff management within a single application.
- Integrations for rentals: While lacking native rental management capabilities, Square for Retail can integrate with Rentrax to support rental operations like stores that offer kayak or mountain bike rentals.
- Cost-effective and mobile-friendly: Ideal for dynamic startups and smaller outdoor businesses, such as camping gear shops or paddleboard rental services, its mobile-first design and competitive pricing ensure flexibility and cost efficiency.
Customer reviews:
“Square is a great product. Makes accepting payments very easy and the deposits into the bank are fast.” - TNT Pro Shop
“A company that I have had great experiences with [and their] customer service as well as their financial support.” - R and M Sports Zone
Pricing: You can begin with Square for Retail using the free plan with limited features. Paid plans start with the Plus package, which costs $29 per month, or you can get a custom plan through the Premium package.
Lightspeed Retail
Lightspeed offers a comprehensive POS and retail management solution. Lightspeed Retail, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses with multiple physical stores, excels in the camping, watersports, and fishing gear sectors. Key features include:
- Multi-point management tools: Extensive inventory management and e-commerce integrations ensure accuracy across locations and online, though additional tweaks may be needed for specialized items like outdoor sports equipment.
- Highly customizable: The system supports various app integrations to manage equipment rentals, streamline marketing for outdoor adventures, and administer gift programs, which are ideal for outdoor-specific retail needs.
- Comprehensive analytics: Lightspeed’s advanced reporting capabilities allow you to generate detailed data reports and gain insights for strategic decision-making. For example, track the popularity of camping gear versus hiking equipment, monitor sales trends for seasonal items like fishing rods and kayaks, and analyze rental patterns for paddleboards and canoes to optimize inventory and marketing strategies.
Customer reviews:
“Overall, I think Lightspeed Retail is an excellent product and very simple for most any retail operation.” - Elizabeth C., Recreational Facilities and Services
“Lightspeed is very user friendly and easy to teach employees how to use it. The reporting is top-notch and they even can help you create custom reports, which was very important to us.” - Michael G., Health, Wellness and Fitness
Pricing: Lightspeed for Retail has three pricing options. Basic is $89 per month and perfect for day-to-day tasks. Core is $149 per month and is designed to grow your business. Plus is $239 per month, allowing for full customization and scalability.
Overall Best Pick for Outdoor Retailers
Now that you’ve explored some outdoor POS system options, how do you know which provider is best for your business?
Unlike generic retail POS systems that often lack industry-specific tools, Rain POS was created to meet the unique needs of outdoor businesses like camping and hiking shops, water sport stores, and other adventure travel retailers.
Here’s why Rain POS is the best choice for your outdoor retail success:
|
Feature |
Why Rain POS Stands Out |
Example |
|
E-Commerce Integrations |
Seamlessly synchronizes in-store and online sales using its own solution or integration with Shopify, allowing you to manage all sales channels from a single platform. |
Update your online and physical store inventory in real time, ensuring availability and reducing overstock. |
|
Rental Management Tools |
Manage rental equipment scheduling, pricing, and availability directly through the POS system without relying on third-party integrations. |
Schedule and track camping and bike rentals during peak seasons, adjust pricing based on demand, and check equipment availability instantly. |
|
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions |
Build detailed customer profiles, track their purchase history, and create engaging and personalized marketing campaigns. |
Send targeted promotions based on past purchases and preferences, increasing repeat visits. |
|
Advanced Inventory Management |
Stay informed of stock levels and never run out of popular items with Rain POS’ inventory management software. |
Set minimum stock levels for bestselling gear and equipment. The system alerts you to reorder before you run out. |
|
Work Order and Repair Tracking |
Handle work orders, track repair status, and update customers automatically. |
Manage repair tickets for sports equipment, provide status updates via email or SMS, and track repair history by customer. |
|
Reporting and Analytics |
Get detailed insights into sales trends, item popularity, and customer behavior, enabling data-driven decision-making. |
Analyze seasonal sales data to optimize stock levels, tailor marketing campaigns, and improve overall sales strategies. |
Elevate Your Business With Rain Outdoor Retail POS Software
Outdoor businesses like camping and hiking gear stores, surf and beachwear shops, and biking and cycling equipment retailers need a reliable POS system to thrive. The right POS system ensures seamless transactions, robust inventory management, and adaptability to various retail needs.
Ready to experience seamless gear rentals and increased sales? Rain POS outpaces the competition with specialized features designed specifically for the outdoor retail industry. From integrated e-commerce to sophisticated inventory and rental management, Rain POS streamlines operations and boosts efficiency with its advanced outdoor retail POS software.
Our average customer sees a 20% (or more!) increase in sales after switching to Rain POS. Book a live software demo to discover how you can achieve these results at your outdoor retail store.
