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Are you a good fit for Backcountry's ambassador program? The Backcountry Strategy. What Backcountry Ambassadors Represent We're known for our Gearhead Expertise, that’s why we’re seeking ambassadors who are thought leaders in outdoor sports, embodying qualities such as education, innovation, and inspiration. We currently boast a select group of athletes and content creators and plan to recruit more grassroot partners to build community hubs central to our stores. We call our ambassadors the Backcountry GOATs. Value Creation by Backcountry Athletes and Creators In today's evolving athlete landscape, value extends beyond traditional media coverage. Our athletes and creators contribute significantly through robust social media presence and on-camera prowess. For instance, the promotion of the latest "Venture Beyond" YouTube episode (featuring athlete and Backcountry podcast host Nils Mindnich) saw up to six times more engagement by partnering with Nils’ social media channels. Authentic Passion for Gear is Essential Alignment with our core Gearhead Expert foundation is paramount. Ambassadors must authentically share our passion for gear, ensuring they resonate with our brand identity. Our ideal ambassador is already a trusted source of gear knowledge within their social circles, serving as a catalyst for conversations and inviting others into the realm of outdoor pursuits.
One of our values here at Backcountry is to “Hire and Develop the Best”. Which is why we’re so excited to highlight a member of our Homegrown Herd, Scott Huddleston, our Chief Digital Officer! 🐐 What is your current role?🐐 "I am currently the Chief Digital Officer responsible for Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, and Steep and Cheap. Within this role I’m responsible for the Website Experience, Performance Marketing, Retention, Loyalty, and Marketplaces." 🐐Is there anyone who has helped you progress in your career at Backcountry? 🐐 "I have had supportive management that I reported to all along during my tenure with Backcountry. However, our current CEO Melanie Cox really embraced the MotoSport.com business and the team when she started in June 2020. Melanie appreciated what we accomplished at MotoSport and asked me to assume my current position at the beginning of this year." 🐐What is your favorite part of the culture at Backcountry? 🐐 "Cliché, but it really is the people who enthusiastically approach each opportunity and work together to solve difficult challenges. We have a “GSD” mentality, and it shows up in the work we continue to complete. Oh, and of course the dogs in the office!" Scott landed his dream job here at Backcountry. What would yours be?
You know Shaun White? He's the five-time Olympian, three-time gold medalist, and record holder for most gold medals in the X Games. We were stoked when White decided to collaborate with us to bring his apparel line, Whitespace, to the world. This year, we’ve worked with Shaun to bring an all-new women's line to the market! A bit from our CEO Melanie Cox in a recent feature in FashionUnited! “Female participation levels in snowboarding have been growing steadily over the past several years, so the opportunity to expand Whitespace with a women’s line was a natural next step,” she said. “The Backcountry team proudly collaborated with Shaun to bring its Whitespace women’s collection to fruition. In fact, our internal product developer and technical designer, who worked with Shaun on the collection, are both women who snowboard. It was a very personal project in which they were able to share their own ideas and feedback from their professional expertise and riding experience.” We’re so proud of our Owned Brands team for forging this path alongside Shaun to bring this vision to life!
Today is National Wildlife Conservation Day and we would like to give a shout out to our long-time partners in conservation work, The Nature Conservancy. Starting in 2008, Backcountry and The Nature Conservancy joined forces to protect and restore the natural landscapes, habitats, and resources that we all enjoy. We ask for a $1 donation amount on each purchase to send their way. So far, our customers have donated well over half a million dollars! In the coming years, we look forward to more volunteering, donating, and showing our support for The Nature Conservancy as they work to protect and restore the places where we live, work and play.
What are we thankful for this year? We checked in with the Herd this Thanksgiving. Andrew Thompson, VP of Talent Acquisition and ESG “I’m thankful for the support system that I have in my family, friends and colleagues. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to have fun—life and work can be hard. I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who don’t forget to laugh. It matters..!!” Sophia Ludwig, Social Media Specialist “I’m so grateful for all of the amazing people that I get to work with and laugh with every day” Alex Moliski, Copy Manager “There’s a lot to be thankful for working at Backcountry, but I find myself always coming back to two elements: opportunity and potential. You don’t get that everywhere." Hannah Roecker, Backcountry Gearhead Expert “I am thankful for the lighthearted competition and fun atmosphere at Backcountry. I love everyone's passion to get outside (so much hype for the ski season) and to outfit others to get them outside having fun too.” (Pictured, Andrew Thompson)
It’s World Children's Day and we’re celebrating the kids (that’s a baby goat) today! The Herd is packed with parents and as a company, we are so excited to support not just our employees but their families, too. With both maternity and paternity leave, gear discounts offered for the whole family, and our favorite, Bring Your Kid to Work Day, Backcountry is stoked to support healthy kids getting out and getting after it!
A day in the life of Gearhead Expert Team Lead Dan Iverson! Dan has been with us for 3.5 years and boy are we lucky to have him. Known as a go-to problem solver and a trusty leader, Dan’s fans are everywhere. A day in Dan’s shoes: Morning - I roll out of bed five minutes before work and stumble across the house to my office to get the day started with my favorite assignment—bike reviews. I make sure the orders are complete and compatible, before bikes get picked and brought to our mechanics. I check that Di2 builds aren't missing wires and that someone's not trying to put Superboost wheels on a Boost bike or a BB30 bottom bracket in a BBRight frame (could you even image?). Midday - I grab coffee and work through emails, coordinating communication between Gearhead Experts, the bike shop, buyers, and other teams. Between answering emails I research new bike industry tech and occasionally critique the team's memes! Afternoon - Before I head out, I make sure any reports I'm working on are wrapped up and meet with our sales lead team. After work - I'm either riding my bike or thinking about riding. I'll often roll my gravel bike out the door to the XC trails or hit the hiking paths and deer trails up and down the river bluffs near town. In the summer I'll be searching for a swimming hole or in the winter a cozy bar/coffee shop to plan the next bikepacking trip.
Yesterday we celebrated America Recycles Day and you know we love to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our incredibly talented Owned Brands team! Our in-house brands (Backcountry and Stoic) feature products that integrate post-consumer recycled polyesters and nylons—here’s just a few: - Our Last Chair Stretch Shell & Insulated Ski/Snow program are built with a recycled polyester shell and paired with a recycled Primaloft (R) insulation. - Our performance-focused Teo ALLIED Down styles and MTN Air EVOLVE jackets are paired with a partially recycled Primaloft (R) insulation. - Both of our Stansbury ALLIED Down and Oakbury programs use a recycled polyester shell & lining. The Oakbury styles also include recycled Primaloft (R) insulation. - We also updated our Winter/Softshell Fleece Lined On The Go this year to be a recycled polyester blend. Just a few ways we’re doing our part!
The season of gifts is nipping at our heels and the Backcountry Group Sales team is wondering what’s on your team’s gift list. Keep everyone dry in the Backcountry Runoff 2.5L raincoat or pick up the Backcountry TEO Allied Down or Backcountry MTN Air Evolve jackets for those out in the cold. Let the Herd keep your group looking sharp, warm, and dry! You can get in touch with our Group Sales team at groupsales@backcountry.com.
It's International Accounting Day and we have a #HerdHighlight for you! Our accountants aren’t just number crunchers (though they do keep a close eye on snow totals). Kai’s been with us for about a year, so we caught up with him about life at Backcountry and beyond. What does the day-to-day look like for you in your as a Sr. Accountant? Each day at Backcountry is an adventure! I kickstart my morning with a cup of coffee and a quick hello to my four-legged colleagues. As a Senior Accountant, my job is to understand the numbers that make our business work and how to use them to move forward. How have you grown and evolved since starting at Backcountry? I've grown quite a bit in my year at Backcountry. I joined the team after a few years in public accounting, and the switch has been excellent. The best part has been discovering a work-life balance that allows me to progress as a CPA while embracing my passions outside of work. What is your favorite part about working for Backcountry? It might sound cliché, but my favorite part of working at Backcountry is our fantastic team, including the dogs! Accounting might not always be the most glamorous career, but the people you work with make all the difference. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by an extraordinary group, they're a big part of why I look forward to coming to the office each day.
