Wally Smith
Wally Smith
anderson axes beginning buddies climbing europe ice informal met money needs northwest perform purchase quality sent
In 1938, Lloyd Anderson and some of his climbing buddies here in the Northwest were hard-pressed to find ice axes that met their quality needs and would perform well for them in the field. And so, they pooled their money and sent off to Europe for a purchase of ice axes, and from that informal buying-club beginning sprang REI.
begin business enjoy fairly longevity month months people retail sabbatical throughout time unusual
We have a sabbatical program, which is fairly unusual throughout industry, but I think really unusual in the retail business where people who have been with us for 15 years begin to take a month off, and then up to two months off with longevity to get out and enjoy time away from work.