If you’re into the happenings in the outdoor industry, this might be a big week. There are whispers across the industry that while the economic times aren’t good, they’re not necessarily bad for everyone.

The big-ticket items, however, aren’t seeing anything promising. Over the past two weeks we’ve seen some manufacturing consolidations and layoffs in the RV industry. Financial observers say that the slowing spring may only be the prelude to a very soft summer and fall.

And as fuel prices rise, all economic sectors are being impacted, from the sales of RVs and boats to fishing tackle. Everyone –including the manufacturers – is feeling the impact of higher fuel prices. If it costs more to move a product to market, there’s only one way to recover that increase: raise prices.

Before you start talking about “big companies passing the buck” to the little guy, remember the people in those “big companies” are paying the same increases at the grocery, gas pump and retail stores as the rest of us.

In the engine of commerce, gasoline doesn’t necessarily power the engine, but it certainly lubricates the parts. Today, the high cost of lubrication hits everyone, even if lubrication is used metaphorically.

As a consequence of rising travel costs, fewer people are taking “major” vacations. Instead, they’re destinations closer to home and cutting back on recreational activities. The first part may be good news for regional destinations, but it’s not necessarily good news for amusement operators. Many middle class families are telling us they’ll still travel this summer, but they’re going to be heading for places where they can make their own entertainment, rather than counting on packaged activities.

If you’re a travel destination that’s not convenient to large segments of the population, you’re already feeling the pinch.

If you think that’s an over-simplification, look no further than Las Vegas.

Hotel room prices are down- as is demand. Gaming “takes” are down, and cranes that were busily adding to the hotel and condominium capacities in January are now sitting idle as developers – and bankers - are putting the brakes on projects.

If you’re in the boating industry, no one needs to tell you how bad it was last year – or that this year’s shaping up to be even worse.

Last year’s domestic marine market was down; to date this year, it looks to be down from those numbers - by double digits. That means excess capacities. Excess capacities to mean cutbacks. Those translate to fewer people working. Layoffs ripple outward to other parts of the economy.

There are several companies feeling the pinch – and in the boating industry, analysts say Brunswick might be a bellweather for the industry. With a myriad of lines and sizes from tiny watercraft to luxury yachts, Brunswick’s already feeling the slowdown. The Baja powerboat line will cease operations at the end of the month – its assets were sold to Fountain Powerboat Industries. Nearly three hundred people in Bucyrus, Ohio will be impacted.

In January, Brunswick announced it would shift its Hatteras Yacht production to its facilities in New Bern, North Carolina. Swansboro, the former location, lost 200 jobs in the corporate streamlining.

If industry observers are correct in what they’re telling us – and they’ve been on target so far (unfortunately) - at least three more boat labels are about to announce significant cutbacks. A fourth has quietly stopped production for the remainder of 2008 because existing inventory seems more than capable of meeting already marshmallow-soft demand.

Later this week, it will be a battle of retail giants as Cabela’s opens its first store in Maine. It will be interesting because that location, Scarborough, is L.L. Bean’s home turf.

Last year, L.L. Bean cranked out $1.6 billion in revenue from 10 retail stores and 16 outlets. Their stated growth goal is to have 32 stores by 2012.

Nebraska-based Cabela’s has 27 retail stores, with three others in the works. Their revenues were $2.4 billion. Now, it will be a 125,000 square foot Cabela’s going up against a 220,000 square foot, 24-hour L.L. Bean location.

If you’re a customer, it means a choice as where to best spend about four hours (according to Cabela’s research, consumers spend about three and a half hours in a per store visit- and drive as far as 100 miles away to shop there) of quality shopping time.

In fact, both stores are as much outdoor destination as retail outlet. L.L. Bean’s store features an indoor trout pond and offers kayaking, fly fishing, archery and shooting classes. When the Cabela’s opens Thursday, it will feature a two-story mountain, with a stream flowing down into a trout pond (complete with gigantic moose mount) and a 20,000 aquarium featuring native fish from across North America.

How big a deal is this?

City officials are being quoted as saying it’s going to “dwarf” the town’s 350th anniversary celebration. Extra police are going to be on hand to direct traffic, an overflow parking and shuttle system is in place, and hotel rooms are booked as shoppers are coming to town the night before – just to be there when the doors open.

An L.L. Bean’s spokesperson says the company welcomes the “healthy competition” and that they’re in the business of encouraging a healthy lifestyle. “We think competition is good,” she says, “and it’s a good thing that we’re all inducing customers to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.”

Can’t argue with the sentiment.