Weekend Beach Read: June’s Outdoorsy Profiles, Articles and More!
What on earth happened to June? This month has FLOWN by. July is nearly here, and summer’s long, warm days are lulling me into believing they’ll stick around forever. They won’t, of course, so now’s the time we’re all trying to get outside as much as possible (especially here in my home city of Seattle, although I’ve recently been spending my outdoor time power-washing winter moss off the deck).
This last month in the QuickBooks Community we highlighted a lot of outdoors-based small businesses and explored the quickly growing outdoors recreation industry. (We even wrote some of it while sitting outside, so we could be totally authentic!) Here’s a roundup of all the great people we met and things we learned during June’s “outdoorsy” month. Check it out and then tell us: what are you doing outside this summer?
We met plenty of folks who turned their passion for outdoor adventure into paying jobs. From biking to hiking, offroading to boating, these active entrepreneurs make sure they get to work outside.
- Diana Marie Estey Gets People Outside and Strengthens Their Mind, Body and Spirit
- Ben Gucciardi’s Soccer Without Borders Helps Refugee Kids Adjust and Connect
- How Michelle Kagarmanov’s Family Revved Up Business At Their Black Hills Off-Roading Resort
- Gwen Sullivan Built a Business Around Being a “Fitness Misfit”
- Fitness Trainer Tyra Lovato Trusted Her Gut to Create a Business She Loves
- Happy Trails to You: Ryan Loften Runs Summer Camps for Mountain-Biking Kids
- VIDEO: How Ben Anderson of Icelantic Skis Turned His Passion for Skiing into a Successful Business
- How Matthew Jensen’s Electric Boat Company Stays Afloat Year-Round
These three apparel outfitters designed their own businesses making stylish togs for the outdoors obsessed.
- VIDEO: Gloria Hwang of "Thousand" Solves for Safety and Style
- Kelly and Will Watters Elevate Outdoor Apparel with Western Rise
- Muriel Bartol Made an Unexpected “SWRVE” – and Co-Founded an Outdoor Apparel Business
We learned that the Outdoor Recreation Industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and that it’s an industry filled with passionate people. We studied the industry’s success and shared some business strategy gold.
- The Growing Outdoor Recreation Industry Means Mountains of Opportunity for Entrepreneurs
- Bold Warranties Help These 10 Outdoor Gear Companies Make Customers for Life
- Small Business Trends for Making and Selling Sustainable, Affordable Outdoor Gear
- Selling the Outdoor Experience? Buyers Know It’s Getting Crowded Out There
- 6 Successful Small Businesses That Started At Their Local Markets
- Summer Is the Season to Try Self-Employment (Especially for Teens)
And finally, we delved into why getting outside is just plain healthy for you (and your work life).
- “Forest Bathing” and Beyond: Counselor Nani Waddoups Shares Tips for Self-Care
- My Top 5 SUPER-LAME Excuses for NOT Taking a Break On a Gorgeous Summer Day (What Are Yours?)
Sometimes we all need to take a step away from our desks to get the blood flowing. On that note, I have a whole pineapple that’s ready to hit the beach! Have a great weekend, all!
If the weather’s fine in your neck of the woods, how will you get out and enjoy it?
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