O-p16-17 Mountain 9/19/08 12:45 PM Page 16
MOUNTAIN BOOT - Outdoor Retail
SGB
www.sgb-sports.comSports and Outdoor
The Mountain Boot
Company
It's been a period of steady growth for the Newcastle-based Mountain Boot Company, and they've rounded off their portfolio of brands
nicely with Outdoor Research. Managing Director Steve Roberts told SGB all about what they do, and how they're growing…
W
ith a constant bombardment from the media with fewer suppliers, our goal has been to put The it's been a year of change from all of our core suppliers in
about how difficult times are getting, along with a Mountain Boot Company in pole position to be a strong that, for example, Scarpa have launched two new product
genuine slowing-down of high street trade, many supplier to withstand that market change. We currently lines which are bringing added growth to our existing
distributors are looking to broaden their product provide our retailers with exceptional brands and service portfolio. One is a range called Scarpa Alpine Cross,
offering to customers so they can offer more reasons for in footwear, rucksacks, sleeping bags, which is a range of cross-terrain shoes spanning price
the retailer to come back. The Mountain Boot alpine hardware and we're now able to points from £65 to £90; it's been manufactured in the Far
Company, with quality brands in its stable like extend that with the addition of East, which is allowing us to reach a new range of price
Deuter, Grivel, Scarpa and now Outdoor Research, Outdoor Research to cover some points and a different level of construction and aesthetic
has done exactly that, and, says Steve Roberts, OR classic accessory categories like that we just couldn't achieve from our European factory.
is the company's 'roof ' which completes their gaiters, headwear, handwear, storage, It's a very complementary range to what we already do. So
'house'. SGB found out what an impressive bivvy and shelter, and really far, the retailer take-up on that for SS09 has been nothing
house that is… significantly with OR adding in an short of phenomenal; it looks like we're seeing around a
apparel range to our portfolio for the 40 per cent business growth opportunity in pairage terms
SGB: Exciting times for The Mountain Boot first time. for the Scarpa brand by introducing that collection. It's
Company – can you elaborate on recent We've had a number of looking very strong.
developments? approaches from different clothing Additionally, we've introduced a range called Lite
Steve Roberts: This year for us has been a brands over the years, but this is the Trek, which has been designed at a time when we
significant year of change; every year first time the company's actually recognise that price inflation is rife within footwear. This
gets busier but there's no doubt entered that market, because we've year, we've all seen products move over the
this has been the busiest of our been waiting for what we magic £100 barrier; as we see that, we're all
working lives that I can recall, consider to be the right brand conscious that, no matter what happens
with lots of exciting things on the table. Guide30+SL in clothing to fit with our current with inflation, £100 is still an absolutely
We've significantly added in a new brand to our brand mix, our customer base, and to fit in with critical price point in the UK. With
portfolio which is the innovative American brand our strategy of service and supply. Outdoor that in mind we've engineered
Outdoor Research, which we start distributing in January Research has ticked all the boxes on that front. two products within
09; we've already started forward selling for that spring- the Lite Trek
summer season. The best way I can describe the addition SGB: What about the other brands you take care range to come in
of that brand really is that it's the roof on our house. As of – Deuter, Grivel and Scarpa? and offer the
the market consolidates and retailers are looking to work SR: In terms of the existing brand development TerraGTX. Scarpa brand, with
16 SEPTEMBER 2008
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53