Outdoor Retailer Orvis Changes Its Iconic Catalog and Closes Stores Across US

Outdoor retailer Orvis specializes in fishing and hunting gear, but like many brands, it is forced to shift its business strategy to fit today's economy. With savvy shoppers constantly seeking new ways to save money and reduce budgets on unnecessary items, retail stores need help maintaining sales.

Learn about the closures, layoffs, and changes to the iconic catalog.

The very first Orvis was opened as a tackle shop in Vermont in 1856, and the company expanded heavily through retail catalogs — predating even the more well-known Sears catalog. 

Unfortunately, the business was hit hard by the Great Depression of the 1930s and nearly went under before ultimately selling to investors. Will its new business strategy shift allow it to survive the current economic turmoil? 

Company president Simon Perkins has stated that a limited number of stores will be closed. However, the locations that will be impacted have not yet been publicly shared. 

More than 100 employees are facing layoffs, which accounts for roughly 8% of the company's workforce. Perkins says they aren't leaving those employees without help and has promised two months of full pay and benefits, additional severance, and assistance with transition services for healthcare and employment. 

A print catalog just can't compete with digital marketing anymore, so Orvis's leadership has made the monumental decision to discontinue its iconic print catalog that has been part of the brand's identity for 170 years. This change will save the company 2,500 tons of paper each year and hopefully align with current consumer preferences. 

The business strategy shift appears to be preemptive, as no bankruptcy filings have been recorded yet. The announced changes will roll out over the next 18 months, and combined with the generous severance packages planned for impacted employees, it seems the company is making carefully thought-out changes rather than reacting to immediate budgetary problems.  

Many businesses operate under strategically balanced but unstable debt that crumbles under any unexpected economic shift, resulting in bankruptcy filings and announcements of closures and layoffs. Learn from the mistakes of major businesses and make sure you're crushing your own debt.