Canadian outdoor retailer MEC is opening its first permanent MEC Gear Swap retail concept store as part of a broader refresh of its Kelowna store in British Columbia.
MEC Gear Swap is said to allow members to “trade in used outdoor gear for credit, shop secondhand equipment, and access repair services” through a dedicated 2,200-square-foot space adjacent to the Kelowna store.
The retailer first launched its online Gear Swap marketplace in 1997, becoming one of Canada’s earliest peer-to-peer outdoor gear communities. At its peak, there were over 21,000 listings. In 2022, the Gear Swap online platform was retired, but MEC has continued to hold in-person Gear Swap events twice yearly.
MEC noted that the opening of the MEC Gear Swap store “comes as resale has become more prominent across retail in recent years.”
“Canadians are looking for smarter, more practical ways to get outside without always buying new gear,” stated Peter Hlynsky, CEO of MEC. “Gear Swap has been part of MEC’s story for decades, and this pilot gives us an opportunity to bring trade-in, resale and repair together in one dedicated space. Kelowna is the right market to test and learn because we have a deeply engaged outdoor community here, and we’ll be listening closely to member feedback as we continue to evolve the experience.”
If MEC expands the concept, future rollouts will be guided by community feedback and operational learnings.
The MEC Gear Swap store launch coincides with a broader refresh of MEC Kelowna, building on MEC’s evolving retail approach introduced in Laval in 2025. Updates are designed to improve store navigation, strengthen product and brand presentation and better reflect how members shop across multiple seasons and activities. The refreshed assortment will continue to focus on key regional activities, including trail running, hiking, camping, and cycling, supported by ongoing investment in staff training and field-based expertise.
Image courtesy MEC
