Upside Over Inc., the kids-focused outdoor retailer and e-commerce website, said revenues had grow 350% in Fiscal Year 2008. Management said it has benefited as more and more families are deciding to stay close to home and participating in what the industry is calling “staycations.”


According to a statement from Upside Over, families are shifting from lengthy vacations in exotic places to staying within 30 miles of home, purchase outdoor gear for their family to participate in local camping, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities. This trend has been identified by the Outdoor Industry Association as the key reason why outdoor gear and accessories sales continue to grow through 2008 – 2009 with an expectation for continued growth in 2010.


But Upside Over's growth also reflects the growing appeal of e-commerce. Currently over 40% of Americans have High-Speed internet access at home and it continues to grow.

 

“It's obvious to us that there is a dramatic shift in the marketplace towards specialty internet retail”', said Peter Dean, CEO of Upside Over, “Our teams commitment and focus on internet based Outdoor Gear for Kids means we can focus intently on our customers, provide the best selection possible, reach customers across the globe, and continue exponential growth into 2009.

“We have been exceedingly impressed with the capabilities and trajectory of Upside Over and its management team”, said Stephen Gilfus, a founder of educational giant Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq:bbbb), and early investor in the company via Gilfus Venture Partners LLC. “It's a credit to the team to see a company go from a start up to a multi-million dollar company in only 2 and a half years, in this economic environment.” ,”It simply proves out the leverage and long tail theory of niche markets in internet retail.”


Dean held key sales and business development positions with Fedex, DHL and Arzoon. Heidi Nelson, director of Product Development, held key Sr. buying positions at several companies including J.Crew, Talbots, and Orvis.


Upside Over is a multi-sport online outdoor retailer providing high quality, often hard to find, kids and family outdoor gear and technical clothing to mid- and upper-tier consumers. It provides kid- specific (ages 0-16) technical outdoor gear, equipment and clothing for a variety of activities.


 

The company's online store provides the best available collection of outdoor gear for kids and kids technical clothing. The company exists in one of the fastest growing areas of specialty retailing, the outdoor kid's market. Its online presence is located at www.upsideover.com and the company's headquarters and warehouse are located in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.