Backcountry Essentials of Bellingham, WA has become the latest retailer to join Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.



Backcountry Essentials (BCE) focuses primarily on catering to the outdoor community, specifically: climbers, backcountry skiers, hikers, campers, kayakers, and people who enjoy the culture of the Northwest and Bellingham. The company began with the intention of being a gathering place for the local outdoor community. Their business philosophy recognizes that, while they have to sell a certain amount of gear to remain open, they ideally want to be a resource and meeting place where people can find out the latest information on trails, routes, and conditions, swap stories about where they have been, or learn about the pros and cons of the “latest and greatest” in gear. Since they love to test gear, they can give any customer the “real dirt” on everything they sell – how functional it is, how well it holds up, and how it compares to other products in its category.

 


“Backcountry Essentials has proudly helped sponsor events to benefit local environmental, conservation, education, and recreational groups such as Conservation Northwest, Whatcom Land Trust, the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, and ASAP(Alpine Safety Awareness Program),” said Roanne Miller, president of Grassroots. “They have also worked with business marketing students from WWU as they applied theoretical principles to real situations. Their dedication to great customer service and expertise while helping local youth groups, hosting seminars and classes on avalanche safety show their obvious commitment to their community. They are a natural fit for Grassroots.”

 

 

BCE co-owner Chris Gerston said he is particularly interested in learning from fellow Grassroots retailers, who have been in the business for decades. “This will be a great opportunity for us to grow,” he said.

 

 

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance unites 47 independent outdoor retailers with nearly 100 doors, as a strong voice to protect and promote the experience of outdoor enthusiasts across the United States. To learn more about Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, visit our website at www.grassrootsoutdoors.com