Bass Pro Shops isn’t just about rugged outdoorsmen, and it wants women to know that. So in March the cataloger/retailer of outdoor gear launched the 80-page Bass Pro Shops Collections, its first book to target women. Spokesperson Larry Whiteley says the Springfield, MO-based company plans to produce the women’s apparel catalog annually.
“What spurred the catalog was the growth of our retail stores and consumers finding out we are more than just a fishing store,” Whiteley says.
The catalog, which mailed to both customers and prospects, sells activewear, swimwear, lingerie, and accessories. The Collections line first appeared in Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World superstores in 2003. In addition to the proprietary brand, the catalog sells clothing from national brands such as Clarks, Columbia, and Merrell.
Founded in 1972, Bass Pro Shops mailed its first catalog in 1974. The company, which today mails more than 100 million catalogs and sale circulars annually, began an aggressive expansion into the retail channel in 2003.