In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting one Black-owned outdoor business per day. You can read the complete series here.

Owner: Mark Boles, co-owner

Year founded: 2019

What we do 

Intrinsic Provisions is an outdoor apparel and accessories store in Hingham, Massachusetts. Our goal is to introduce customers to new brands that they otherwise might not have a chance to discover. We carry a curated selection of brands, but a wider selection of product within those brands. This allows us to tell a fuller brand story and communicate our commitment to certain brands versus others.

Intrinsic Provisions utilizes a hybrid business model akin to pop-up and traditional retail. This model enables us to have a couple of what we call “anchor” (somewhat mature yet emerging) brands, like Stio, which we know will draw in customers. Then we can introduce those customers to what we call “discovery” brands like Vermont Glove, Purist, Corbeaux Clothing, Ruggette, Reima. The anchor brands lend a halo of credibility allowing customers to have some trust in trying the discovery brands.

What makes us special in the outdoor industry?

We like to think of ourselves as brand storytellers, and the best stories happen outside. Intrinsic Provisions is more than just a store: it’s a place where passion lives. It’s a place where there’s a belief in community, where everyone is welcome. The items we offer are thoughtfully-curated because of a belief in those brands and the people behind them. Almost all of our brands are independently owned and have some element of sustainability and in several cases are certified B-Corps. We’ve taken the time to get to know these brands so we can convey their intrinsic value.