KORE Outdoors Podcast

Lloyd Vogel is the CEO of Garage Grown Gear, the online retailer that has become the go-to site for ultralight backpacking gear as well as the place to discover new brands and craft gear makers.Here are a few of the topics covered in this episode:The Importance of Differentiation: Why specialty retail needs to focus on unique, valuable, and convenient offerings.Taking Risks to Stand Out: How embracing lesser-known brands can lead to success in the outdoor industry.Lessons from GGG’s Journey: The role of strategic partnerships and supporting vendors with innovative solutions like small loans.Building a Thriving Audience: Tips on leveraging giveaways, email lists, and existing communities for growth.Long-Term Focus vs. Trends: Why following trends can be risky and how to ensure your brand evolves with the market.Advice for Founders: Lloyd’s tips for outdoor entrepreneurs on making impactful moves and focusing their energy where it matters most.A Changing Landscape: Lloyd’s thoughts on the current reckoning in outdoor gear retail and what it means for small businesses.The KORE Podcast is a production of KORE - Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. You can learn more about KORE here.Want to get in touch? Email us at koreoutdoorspodcast@gmail.comShow Notes:Garage Grown GearSenchi DesignsVirginia Foothills DesignsInbox When Ready - email inbox managerLight Phone - mobile phone Lloyd usesYou can connect with Lloyd on LinkedIn: Lloyd VogelYou can connect with Christian on LinkedIn: Christian Rawles

Brendan Madigan is best known for his role as the owner of Alpenglow Sports, an independent outdoor retail shop in Tahoe approaching its 50th year of business. But Brendan's real superpower is his ability to build communities.Brendan also runs the Winter Speaker Series which will hit $2 million raised for local charities in 2024. He's the co-owner and race director of the Broken Arrow Sky Race as well as the co-founder of TrailCon. Here are a few of the topics that Brendan discusses in this conversation: How he is building a community of customers through Alpenglow Sports and the events that he runs Why specialty retail shops have a responsibility to give back to their communityHow trains and retains longterm staff at AlpenglowThe important role that challenger brands play in the outdoor industryLinks to things mentioned in this episode:The Act of Listening with David Isay Raide ResearchDPS SkisStart With Why by Simon Sinek

Cam Brensinger is the founder and CEO of NEMO Equipment, the outdoor equipment company renowned for its innovative tents, sleeping pads and sleeping bags. In this episode, Cam shares some of his mountaineering adventures that led him to start NEMO. He also tells the story of spending 12 years and $10 million before reaching profitability and how he's continued to buy out investors on his way to building a family-owned brand that will last for decades. Other topics in this episode include: * The bravery that comes from ignorance * How adventure brings out the best of us* The benefits of being a privately-owned company* Patiently growing NEMO with close to zero ad spend* Why ‘how we do things’ is more important than ‘how much’* Vision and values as guardrails * The importance of having people who will challenge you* Lateral and linear design processes

Casey Shaw is a product designer who has played an important role in outdoor apparel design and fabrication through his work at Cloudveil, Arcteryx and Patagonia. There’s a good chance he has contributed directly or indirectly to one of your favourite pieces of outdoor apparel.This episode is a wide-ranging conversation about how Casey approaches product design, how he thinks about innovation and the stories behind some of his favourite projects. He truly is a polymath and this conversation barely scratches the surface of his wide-ranging interests and skill sets. Here are just a few of the interesting topics he covers in this conversation:* Why climbing is the best activity for testing apparel* Tuning racing motorcycles & sound frequencies* Designing for a very specific activity leads to better products in general* Using cleverness (instead of money) to solve problems* The story of creating the Atom LT for Arcteryx* Working for Yvon Chouinard* Designing the worlds best down parka* Having a process for problem-solving* Measuring is as important as making* The theory of comfort* Risk with discretion can be a tool* Finding the sublime balance in life and innovation

Eoin Comerford was the CEO of Moosejaw Mountaineering for 12 years, from 2012 to 2024. During his time at the Michigan-based outdoor retailer, he launched many new initiatives including the Outdoor Accelerator, a topic discussed in this episode. He also led Moosejaw through an acquisition by Walmart and, later, by Dick’s Sporting Goods. Eoin is currently an advisor to, and investor in, early-stage outdoor brands. He is the Principal at Outsize Consulting where he spends his time advising founders and working with retailers and investors in the outdoor industry. A few of the topics covered in this episode are:Three things every founder should focus onThe advice Eoin gives every founder he works withPitfalls to avoid when raising investment capitalHow to create a plan to profitability

Raquel Vélez is the founder and CEO of Alpine Parrot, a company that makes technical outdoor apparel for sizes 14-30, which, until now, has been a category that the outdoor industry has all but ignored. Raquel has a background in engineering and she used her experience working with Bay Area tech companies to springboard her journey into entrepreneurship. In this conversation, she breaks down how apparel patterns are made and why previous methods for creating plus-size apparel didn’t work. She also discusses the important role that mentors, peers and her time in accelerator programs have played in keeping her going through turbulent times.

Georgia Grace Edwards is the co-founder and CEO of outdoor apparel brand Gnara. She is a driven business person who has raised millions of dollars for her company by winning pitch competitions and winning over investors. Gnara is well-known for its patented Go Fly zipper technology, which allows women to pee outside without removing clothing. They produce their line of apparel, like the popular Go There Pants, as well as license their Go Fly technology to other brands.In this episode, Georgia Grace talks about the power of pitch competitions, how to grow customer loyalty by being transparent, and why solving a real problem is the best inspiration for facing the challenges of growing a brand.Gnara has recently launched a second Kickstarter campaign for its Go Free Leggings. For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/kore-outdoors-podcast/#craftgearfromhere #shoplocal

Alex Lauver is the Senior Director of Materials, Innovation and Sustainability at Outdoor Research. As his title implies, he operates at the intersection of multiple disciplines. He works on projects that bring innovation to market as well as on the  operations side of the business. It's a position that requires the ability to take complex topics and explain them in a way that makes them easy to understand. In this episode, Alex discusses the role that innovation can play in product development and how to foster innovation within an organization. He shares his perspective on sustainability within the outdoor industry as well as the challenges we face moving to a more circular economy. He also gives an overview of PFAS substances, what they are, and how new regulations will change the way technical apparel is manufactured.You can read more about Alex and some of the insights from his work on linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-lauver/For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/kore-outdoors-podcast/#craftgearfromhere #shoplocal

James Friedrich is a senior merchant at Mountain Equipment Company and a consultant at his firm Venturing Up. James has experience on the brand side as well as on the retail side, which provides him with a unique perspective. In this episode we learn how to position your product in the market, the importance of the value equation, how to price your product and how to work with retailers to have successful sell-through of your products. 

Robin Hall is the co-founder of Town Hall Outdoor Co, based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which produces high-quality, sustainable outdoor apparel for kids.In this episode, we talk about utilizing in-person events to gain traction as a new brand, working with co-founders to bootstrap the business and the importance of finding the right retail partners to work with.Robin loves the outdoor industry and helping other up-and-coming brands grow. She is a founding member of the “Rural is Rad” movement, which helps shine a light on the brands that are being started in smaller communities.You can learn more about on their website townhallco.com and you can connect with Robin on LinkedIn.