As the holiday shopping season arrives, many in the Lehigh Valley are turning to nature for inspiration and stocking up on gear as they head for the trails, rivers, and parks that attract outdoor enthusiasts to the region. Small Business Saturday offered a window into that world with an entrepreneur who shares that same passion.
In downtown Easton, where holiday lights tightly wrap the tree branches near the forks of the Delaware River, Easton Outdoor Company opened its doors as more than a place to buy gear. It’s a place where beginners and seasoned adventurers get real guidance from people who know Lehigh Valley’s trails, waterways, and parks firsthand.
“A large part of what we do here is kind of educate or guide customers through that process,” said owner Adam Fairchild, an Easton native who founded the store downtown in 2011. “Somebody might be new to camping or backpacking and they have no idea what to do, what products to buy or where to go hiking or camping.”
Easton Outdoor is a notable part of the Lehigh Valley’s vibrant outdoor economy, supporting a wide range of activities in the region’s striking natural environment. From hiking the Appalachian Trail to cycling along the nationally acclaimed Lehigh and Delaware Heritage Corridor, the Lehigh Valley is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
One of Fairchild’s favorites is Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, a state park in Northampton County where visitors can hike, bike and, on some trails, ride horses.
“We have beautiful rolling hills and lots of greenery, especially in spring and summertime, and we have plenty of waterways that people can access and really enjoy here, between the multiple rivers and creeks all over the place,” Fairchild said.
From outfitters such as Easton Outdoor Company to guided expeditions, those businesses are among the many that give the Lehigh Valley its distinctive character. It’s the kind of quality-of-place advantage that draws talent and positions the Lehigh Valley as one of the fastest-growing regions in the Northeast.
Among them is Emily Thompson, a 30-year-old animator who relocated to the region after her job went remote. She was drawn to the Valley’s blend of nature, historic towns, and endless opportunities to explore. 
“There are trails, farms and so much history here,” Thompson said in an LVEDC interview last year. “And it’s really cool if you get lost because you see interesting things you didn’t know were here.”
Small businesses make up 93% of the Lehigh Valley’s business establishments. Supporting entrepreneurs and the outdoor economy are among the priorities of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) in the organization’s recently adopted strategic plan for 2025-2027.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the Outdoor Recreation industry is a $563.7 billion industry, accounting for 2.2% of the nation’s GDP in 2022. The CNBC/National Retail Federation Monitor reported sales of sporting goods, in particular, were up year over year by 7%.
(Bottom photo courtesy of Discover Lehigh Valley®)