The Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE) will move into a former Old Navy store on Burlington, VT premier retail street in May in a move that will quadruple its overall space. The over 44,000-square-foot location will allow for expanded inventory and product selection and a dedicated area for GearX.com.
“The demand for quality outdoor products in this area continues to grow,” said Marc Sherman, OGE co-owner and visionary. “When we heard Old Navy was leaving its space in one of Burlington’s most sought-after locations, we jumped on the opportunity to sign the lease. It feels good to move our locally owned gear shop into the spot previously filled by a national retail chain.”
OGE’s current retail location provides a total of 10,000 square feet of space, 3,000 of which is used for offices and warehousing. In their new location, OGE will have over 44,000 square feet spread over two floors. Retail displays will initially occupy over 15,000 square feet of that space with room to add additional retail space in the basement. The rest of the space will be used for offices, a warehouse, and GearX.com.
The growth of GearX.com, which now accounts for 25% of OGE’s revenue, was a large factor in their quest for a bigger location.
In addition to more elbowroom, moving onto Burlington’s premier shopping avenue is expected to increase store traffic. “Our old location has served us well, but it has always been more of a destination spot,” explained Sherman. “The shopping crowds tend to stay on Church Street, and don’t venture down the side streets. This is why for the past four years we have opened a seasonal annex on Church Street to reach a larger audience. In our new space, we will remain a destination for core athletes seeking the best values on equipment, but also expect to attract more walk-by traffic.”
Along with new customers comes new gear. OGE plans to increase the selection of products for their core customers, as well as offer more gear for the person who enjoys getting outside every so often.
The news about OGE’s relocation comes just after another outdoor retailer in Burlington, Climb High, announced it was closing its doors. According to Donohue, OGE will begin carrying some of the brands that were popular at Climb High so Vermont athletes can still purchase their favorite gear from a locally owned retailer.
The move this May happens to occur around the store’s 16th anniversary.