Cotswold Outdoor started out with the mission of advising customers on equipment for outdoor adventures and 50 years on, it continues to do the same, both online and in its stores.
The sports and outdoor specialist retailer, ranked Top100 in RetailX UK500 research, was founded by Tony Ingham and Charlie Barwell in 1974, when they opened their first shop in Cirencester, in the Cotswolds.
From the start, the emphasis was on quality products and sound advice, sold through a growing number of shops and, from 2000 onwards, its website. Today, the retailer has 74 shops and is owned by Belgium-based, privately owned, Yonderland, where sister retailers include Snow + Rock and Runners Need.
On the landing page of the Cotswold Outdoor website, shoppers can enter their email to join its Explore More members benefits club for offers, extended warranties and returns periods, services and competitions.
They can also click through to the Cotswold Outdoor presence on four social media platforms – Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube – and see payment options including PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
An advice and inspiration centre offers information on sports, destinations and equipment. This is one of the 1% of UK500 brands that offer live chat, through a Cotswold Outdoor bot which supports, among other things, scheduling appointments for instore advice.
The retailers flags up on its website the WEEE regulations around recycling used electronic equipment, along with a 2023 sustainability report from parent company Yonderland[2]. It offers a repair service, advice on looking after products to extend their life, and a recycling service.
Products are illustrated through a choice of zoomable images and video. Shoppers can see reviews and ratings, check stock in their local store and add items to their wishlist.
Delivery is free when shoppers spend at least £150. Online returns must be returned within 30 days of purchase, which is extended to 100 days for member of the Explore More loyalty scheme.
If shoppers have a question about information on the website, they can contact the retailer through channels including WhatsApp. Its largest social media following is on Facebook, where it has 124k followers for content that aims to inspire, engage and offer product information.
This profile first appeared in the RetailX UK500 2025 report, Amazon, Tesco, Asos, Next, John Lewis, Watches of Switzerland and Simba are all profiled in this 11th edition of the report.
Going beyond simple turnover or traffic, the UK500 measures how these businesses deliver value across the entire retail ecosystem, taking into account evolving consumer behaviour, economic headwinds and disruptive technologies such as AI.
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