Backcountry Experience

When Jill Shuman started pitching retailers her natural blister prevention product, eNZees Foot Soother, in 2016, Backcountry Experience was her first stop. Having built his business on expert bootfitting, Ben Rockis, the store's owner, was immediately all in.  "She looked at me ...read more

*This article is the third in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers the development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. The scariest ...read more

*This article is the second in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers the development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. It was ...read more

This article is the first in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. There wasn’t an ...read more

The black-curtained maze at Grassroots Connect is swarming with like-minded independent specialty retailers placing orders, talking shop, sharing ideas and, yes, commiserating about the challenges they face every day in their businesses. This group of retailers, all members of ...read more

As two fires rage in southern Colorado, employees of Durango’s Backcountry Experience are driving to the front lines to deliver wildland boots, sleeping pads, and other essentials for emergency responders. “This is not something I’ve asked them to do but they’re doing it to be ...read more

Politics was a big theme for 2017—in our country and in our industry. So many outdoor gear companies stepped up to take very public political stances around public lands. In some cases, it makes the cash register ring. But there are lots of customers out there who want gear ...read more

Tom Zajicek, a beloved employee of Durango's Backcountry Experience died on Sunday in a tragic climbing accident on Starlight Peak, in California. Zajicek, an experienced climber, reportedly summited the 14,200-foot peak at 2 p.m. with Laura Scull, an associate professor of ...read more

Ben Rockis is the first person to tell you his investment in Backcountry Experience back in 2003 may not have been completely thought-out. “Being young and dumb, I wanted to own a business so bad that I didn’t really look at the numbers and where the business was health-wise,” ...read more

After five weeks working the sales floor, Tom Barney reflects on the many lessons learned. It's very easy for brand executives to talk about how they are committed to supporting independent specialty retailers. It's another thing entirely for them to take time away from the ...read more

Tom Barney, former CEO of Osprey Packs, tackles the sales floor. His involvement with Backcountry Experience has taught him invaluable lessons about retail, and he encourages other executives to take a break and learn. Tom Barney spent more than 15 years at Osprey Packs before ...read more

There's only one way to fully understand—and help solve— the challenges that specialty retail shops face today: Log time in a shop. That's how former Osprey CEO Tom Barney is spending his holiday season, and every day is a new lesson. My second week at Backcountry Experience was ...read more