More and more women are taking an interest in hunting and the sustainable lifestyle that comes with it. The proportion of female Jungjäger (novice hunters) in Germany is now around 20 percent. This will only benefit hunting because having more women in hunting will also increase the acceptance of hunting within society. While the number of ladies who hunt is growing, outfitters are still struggling to offer a range for women that is attractive and large enough. As a result, women often have to arduously research to find something suitable for them. And the search becomes all the more extensive because hunting often becomes more of a lifestyle than a hobby, so the search extends to other areas, such as jewellery or dining, for beautiful pieces that relate to hunting.
Hunting from a woman’s perspective
This is precisely where Hunting Queen comes in. Women who hunt or want to become hunters can find listings for hunting equipment, clothing, lifestyle, and jewellery in just a few clicks on the online marketplace. There are also hunting- themed holiday packages, for example hunting and yoga in Namibia. Because who says hunting and wellness cannot go hand in hand? There are also courses for women so that they can broaden their hunting knowledge in areas such as zeroing in or improve their chainsaw skills. The first events have already been held. In addition to products, the website also aims to offer helpful tips for activities in forests and meadows. Hunting Queen has also been able to bring Austrian hunting magazine for women Die Jägerin on board as a media partner.
Hunting Queen was also represented at the Jagd & Hund hunting fair in Dortmund for the first time, and the response was overwhelming. Women hunters welcomed the possibility of having a place on the internet dedicated to them. “The consistently positive feedback encouraged us to continue pressing ahead with and expanding on the idea of an integral hunting platform for women,” says Stephanie Göhrig, Head of Marketing & Sales at Hunting Queen.
PASSION was interested to know how the idea for a marketplace came about and what Hunting Queen has got planned for women who enjoy hunting and outdoor pursuits over the next few months. We chat to Stephanie Göhrig, Head of Marketing & Sales.
Stephanie, was Hunting Queen developed out in the field?
Not entirely. It took several months to develop the project idea into a functional marketplace – it involved intense brainstorming sessions, market research, and countless conversations with other women who hunt. From the very beginning, it has been important to us that our platform is as open as possible to brands and companies that offer carefully developed and well-designed products for women who enjoy hunting, nature, and the great outdoors.
Are there many potential marketplace sellers?
There certainly are a few suppliers. Unfortunately, they often only have a very limited range or are only specialised in very specific products. For women who hunt, this often means elaborate research to find precisely the equipment they need.
And what does Hunting Queen do differently?
We want to have all the available products in one place. So we offer a marketplace where visitors can find pieces of equipment and lifestyle accessories from various areas, i.e. hunting, dog training or nature observation. At the same time, we want to use Hunting Queen to create a community that encourages women who like hunting and outdoor pursuits to communicate with each other – a community that makes it possible to get to know people with similar interests in person. That’s why Hunting Queen also has a blog, organises events, and sells hunting- themed holiday package deals.
Do women hunt differently to men?
Not necessarily, but women approach some hunting challenges differently to men and therefore prefer to initially stick together at seminars, for example on how to fire shotguns. Our discussions at trade fairs and events have confirmed this for us. As such, we are coming up with our own regular events and we are happy to work with carefully chosen partners here.
And what is your attitude towards men?
We are an open platform. It goes without saying that we are delighted when men find a beautiful gift or something practical at Hunting Queen – either for themselves or for their very own hunting queen.
Can you tell us more about the team behind Hunting Queen?
We are a diverse team with a broad range of skills – but we are all active and enthusiastic hunters. Our team consists of event and travel experts as well as media pros who take care of web design and online content. And, of course, we have colleagues in the back office offering us support. But we are also looking for reinforcements. For example, we are looking for hunting queens for our blog: women who are happy to share their experiences and knowledge of and enthusiasm for hunting or a related topic with other women who hunt or are interested in hunting. I am also delighted that we have Austrian magazine Die Jägerin – which has long been shining the spotlight on women hunters – on board as a media partner.
And what is on the agenda for the following months?
We want to give smaller manufacturers in particular the opportunity to target new customers via our platform. We want products that are lovingly hand-made to wow customers. We think these kinds of products will fit right in on the Hunting Queen website. So far, we have been able to attract Waldkauz, a manufacturer of hunting equipment that makes everything from cartridge cases right through to Loden rucksacks using the finest materials. And we have designed our own Hunting Queen jewellery collection with goldsmith Pia Laflör. Other companies have also given us the thumbs up, so we expect the product range to steadily grow. The best way to be informed is to sign up for the newsletter for regular information on new products on the Hunting Queen website.
Do you plan to go international?
We plan to start by creating solid foundations for the marketplace, focusing on the German-speaking market. But we are not ruling out expansion abroad. After all, there are many interesting companies there that make exceptional products for women tailored precisely to the country and the local hunting conditions. And, of course, we are already brainstorming ideas for this.
