Dana Drummond is a long time outdoorsman whose hobbies often required high quality- and expensive- equipment. He became an expert at searching through Craigslist, yard sales, community swaps, message boards, etc. to find the perfect gear for his needs. Although it was often less expensive than buying the gear at full retail, a great deal of time was consumed in the search. This sparked his journey to business ownership. His mission was to create a gear shop that created a culture and community that outdoor enthusiasts were drawn to.
It took five months of preparation to open the doors officially at the Hoarding Marmot. Five months of work that included financial projections, accumulating inventory, searching for a location and working with Anchorage Business Advisor Kimberlee Hayward on the feasibility of opening a second hand sporting good store in Anchorage. After just a few months in business, the sales confirmed what Drummond had suspected all along- that Anchorage had been desperate for an outdoor clothing and equipment consignment shop.
“I first went to the SBDC when getting ready to start the business. I didn’t know where to begin. I had some ideas about what I needed to consider but wanted to find out what I was missing. There was plenty! I attended one of the free intro classes and worked with (and continue to work with ) their great advisors,” said Drummond.
The Hoarding Marmot has become increasingly popular in their short time in business. They have been featured in the Anchorage Press and have found a wealth of support from their community. You can learn more about the Hoarding Marmot at their website or follow them on Facebook for updates. They are located at 1231 West Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage, Alaska, across the street from Middle Way Cafe.
