Backwoods Acquires Boulder’s Neptune Mountaineering

January 14, 2013
SGB Update

Backwoods acquired Neptune Mountaineering, one of the last independent outdoor shops in Boulder, CO., and will continue operating it independently from its eight Backwoods branded stores operating in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas.


The acquisition, which was closed Dec. 31, provides the Austin, Texas-based chain access to Boulders robust active outdoor market and puts it in the ski business. It also enables Neptune Mountaineering Owner Gary Neptune to pass on his business, including its staff, to a family-owned company with a proven commitment to outdoor specialty retailing.


The acquisition was the first closed by a new company Backwoods CEO Jennifer Mull formed last year with a group of outside investors. That venture, which is 60 percent controlled by Mull, will continue to target outdoor specialty stores. Terms of the Neptune Mountaineering deal were not disclosed.


“We plan to maintain the atmosphere and culture of the store and continue the successes of the companys rich history in this community, Mull said of Neptune Mountaineering, which like Backwoods was founded in 1973. Our intent is to keep much of the customer experience the same.


Neptune Mountaineering will continue to house a museum of climbing and mountaineering gear that Gary Neptune collected, even as he retains ownership of the museums artifacts. Neptune Mountaineering will also continue to operate its e-commerce store separately.


We may find it important at some time to add Backwoods branding, but as part of the due diligence we found that Neptune has a very well recognized name in Boulder and extending beyond Boulder with climbers, said Mull. We felt that was something we wanted to keep.


Still, Neptune Mountaineering will bring immediate economies of scale on the purchasing front and expands Backwoods exposure to the ski business.
We are now wrapping up Fall 13 buying and, where it makes sense, we will take advantage of volume purchasing and we will certainly do that for Spring 14, said Mull. There also are opportunities to work with vendors more closely on marketing efforts, special events, sponsorships, etc. For some of our vendors, Boulder might be brand new opportunity.
Since it opened in 1973 in the shadow of Boulders Flatirons to repair climbing and ski boots, install edges on wooden skis and re-shaft axes, Neptune Mountaineering has gone on to become a premier dealer of backcountry backpacking, camping, climbing and skiing gear.
In the coming year, Neptune will turn his attention toward designing and leading trips for Backwoods Adventures, which already offers adventure travel trips on six continents. He may also assemble artifacts he has collected over the past 40 years into mobile museum exhibits that can go on tour.


I could not have hoped for a better fit than Backwoods and am very excited about the future of Neptune Mountaineering and my continued involvement, said Neptune.


 


 

Backwoods Acquires Boulder’s Neptune Mountaineering

SGB Update

Backwoods acquired Neptune Mountaineering, one of the last independent outdoor shops in Boulder, CO., and will continue operating it independently from its eight Backwoods branded stores operating in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas.


The acquisition, which was closed Dec. 31, provides the Austin, Texas-based chain access to Boulders robust active outdoor market and puts it in the ski business. It also enables Neptune Mountaineering Owner Gary Neptune to pass on his business, including its staff, to a family-owned company with a proven commitment to outdoor specialty retailing.


The acquisition was the first closed by a new company Backwoods CEO Jennifer Mull formed last year with a group of outside investors. That venture, which is 60 percent controlled by Mull, will continue to target outdoor specialty stores. Terms of the Neptune Mountaineering deal were not disclosed.


“We plan to maintain the atmosphere and culture of the store and continue the successes of the companys rich history in this community, Mull said of Neptune Mountaineering, which like Backwoods was founded in 1973. Our intent is to keep much of the customer experience the same.


Neptune Mountaineering will continue to house a museum of climbing and mountaineering gear that Gary Neptune collected, even as he retains ownership of the museums artifacts. Neptune Mountaineering will also continue to operate its e-commerce store separately.


We may find it important at some time to add Backwoods branding, but as part of the due diligence we found that Neptune has a very well recognized name in Boulder and extending beyond Boulder with climbers, said Mull. We felt that was something we wanted to keep.


Still, Neptune Mountaineering will bring immediate economies of scale on the purchasing front and expands Backwoods exposure to the ski business.
We are now wrapping up Fall 13 buying and, where it makes sense, we will take advantage of volume purchasing and we will certainly do that for Spring 14, said Mull. There also are opportunities to work with vendors more closely on marketing efforts, special events, sponsorships, etc. For some of our vendors, Boulder might be brand new opportunity.
Since it opened in 1973 in the shadow of Boulders Flatirons to repair climbing and ski boots, install edges on wooden skis and re-shaft axes, Neptune Mountaineering has gone on to become a premier dealer of backcountry backpacking, camping, climbing and skiing gear.
In the coming year, Neptune will turn his attention toward designing and leading trips for Backwoods Adventures, which already offers adventure travel trips on six continents. He may also assemble artifacts he has collected over the past 40 years into mobile museum exhibits that can go on tour.


I could not have hoped for a better fit than Backwoods and am very excited about the future of Neptune Mountaineering and my continued involvement, said Neptune.


 


 

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