This holiday season, we want to remind you of the benefits of shopping at independent, brick-and-mortar stores. In addition to supporting a small, local business and keeping in-store retail shops alive and well in your community, there are so many wins for you, too. You get your item the day you want it, without any bulky packaging, high-impact transportation, or shipping delays.
You can try on sizes to make sure you get the right fit, and if you’re needing advice or expertise, you cannot beat the knowledgeable, experienced staff at local outdoor gear shops. We’re spotlighting a couple of our favorite local outdoor shops, but you can find your closest Flylow retailer using our Dealer Locator.
Bob Aavedal parked cars on opening day at Idaho’s Schweitzer ski area back in December 1963. He went onto work as a ski instructor at the mountain, where he met his wife, Linda. In 1966, Bob and a business partner, Terry Merwin, opened the Alpine Shop as a rental and ski shop at the base of Schweitzer, in a small basement room in the original day lodge.
They opened a second shop in an A-frame building in downtown Sandpoint, and it quickly became one of the most beloved outdoor gear shops in north Idaho. Back in the early days, receipts were written by hand, and you could buy a pair of gloves or skis and have the item added to your account (which, presumably, you would pay off by the end of the year).
In 2012, with dreams of retirement and travel, Bob and Linda sold the shop to Brent and Nicole Eacret. And by 2018, the Eacrets were ready for a new chapter, so they sold the business to their general manager, Zach Vollmer and his soon-to-be wife, Hannah, who'd worked in the outdoor industry as a sales rep. (The couple bought the business and got married in the same summer.)
“At the end of the day, the only way to know if something will fit and if you’ll like it is it try it on. You can save time and money by walking into a store and trying it on.” —Hannah Vollmer
The Alpine Shop is currently still under the ownership of the Vollmers, and they’ve given their two local shops a fresh feel: They remodeled the interior, reorganized the inventory, and introduced some new accounts. “When we took over, the shop mostly sold ski jackets and pants, maybe some layering pieces. It was very ski specific,” Hannah says. “I have really tried to bring more casual multi-functional apparel to the store. I like trying to find brands that you don’t see everywhere else.” (The Alpine Shop has sold Flylow since 2013.)
They added bike gear and have continued to refresh the offerings to keep up with year round demands in their area. “We always have a great product assortment and we’re always keeping things fresh and new so people always have something new when they walk through the door,” Hannah says.
The biggest thing the Alpine Shop is known for is their service, from ski repair to bootfitting to expert advice. “Making sure people are getting the best possible service when they walk through the door is our priority,” Hannah says. “We realize people can go online and buy things for cheaper. Really the only thing we have is our service. We have an incredible staff, with low turnover. That means our staff are really experienced.”
Their biggest challenge? Trying to compete with online shopping. “We’re lucky that we live in a small town, so it takes a few days for online delivery to make it here. So, if you need something immediately or you want personal service, you have to walk in the door,” Hannah says.
Hannah’s pro tip for a good gift for skiers? “Puffy knickers,” she says. “Insulated knickers are my absolute favorite thing on a cold day, and it’s not something you think about.” (You can pick up a pair of Flylow’s Puffer Pant or Puffer ¾ Pant at the Alpine Shop or your nearest Flylow retailer.)