Hi! We’re Sam and Sarah, founders of Gitchi Adventure Goods. In the relatively short time we’ve been in business, we’ve been asked one question many times: WHY? Why did we opt to hang a (e-commerce) shingle and wade into the scary/exciting world of business ownership? Well, we started Gitchi for three reasons.
We were seeking freedom and creativity in the work we do. In the past, our day-to-day had been largely filled with doing work for others, constricted by the rules and processes of the workplace. At the end of the day, we often felt pretty exhausted from navigating the daily grind. We just really wanted to create something that was ours, that we could envision and grow from the ground up, that represented our values, and allowed us to feel a greater sense of purpose in the world. We’re pretty sure that this desire is something that most humans share. And rather than sit back and let our story be written for us, we wanted to be the ones doing the writing.
At the same time, we wanted to create something that we were passionate about. We both love being outdoors. Getting outside – for a hike, a paddle, a ride – has always been the antidote to a stressful day and a way to keep balance in our lives. Just setting foot among the trees, the mountains, the lakes and rivers causes this ripple effect in our bodies; loosening our tightened muscles, breathing more deeply, and letting go of the thoughts occupying our minds. So it seemed natural to create a business rooted in our love of the outdoors.
Finally, we wanted to build a company with sustainability at the forefront of its mind. If our goal is to inspire people to enjoy life in the outdoors, it’s imperative that we sustain the planet. David Brower, a renowned environmentalist, once said, “There’s no business to be done on a dead planet.” We want to build a business with longevity, so we need a planet that is alive and kicking.
We’ve been waiting for companies to get on the sustainability train and to make it part of their business model. We’ve found a handful of companies who really get it -- recognize the need for a triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit in business -- and we greatly respect what these companies do. But largely, many companies don’t understand the full scope of sustainability. There’s a famous phrase we’ve come to like: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” In starting Gitchi, we decided that we need to try our hardest to be the company we’ve been waiting for. So we’ve set out to do just that.
“A desire for freedom and creativity, a love of outdoor places, and a firmly held belief in business as a driving force for the good of the planet and its people.
That’s our raison d’être.”
While our goal is to create products that make the planet better because they exist, we also recognize that the creation of any product – even the ones that so many companies label “eco-friendly” – is inherently detrimental to our planet. We consume resources along every step of the supply chain and in transporting goods to our customers. But we’ll keep striving to create products that cause less and less harm, hopefully doing better with each new good we put out into the world.
So there you have it. A desire for freedom and creativity, a love of outdoor places, and a firmly held belief in business as a driving force for the good of the planet and its people. That’s our raison d'être.
In the coming weeks, months, and years, we will be writing to you in this space, Between Two Pines: An Adventure Journal. What comes next will range from news about Gitchi to hiking recommendations to info about sustainable apparel. We’ve got lots to share and we hope to make it interesting enough that you’ll keep reading.
Ignite your adventure!
-S&S