What do you want to see from a shop?

yeahitsdave

yeahitsdave

Active member
I know this thread has been made before, but I seem to be having difficulty finding it. If anyone knows it offhand, that would be awesome, but regardless, people have probably come up with new responses by now.

After working in a mildly successful shop for a while and seeing how shortsighted it has been, and how much room for growth there is, it leads me to think there's go to be a pretty strong feeling across the industry. Shops are ok, but could always be better.

So, what things would you want to see from a shop?
 
outerwear. i hate having to go online to get my ski shit because the shops around me carry shitty Burton stuff, or gaper shit. Some quality outerwear would be really nice. And free stickers
 
Please elaborate on what and why you think they were short sighted. I've been working at a shop for over 6 years and i have to say, I use to think it was pretty short sighted. Yet, through the years I have come to realize that sometimes working in a shop may make you biased because you ve seen so much stuff over and over, while most skiers and boarders shop once every two years. What I think is cool and core, (stuff like voleurz for example) is not always that popular with people that arent that into the actual ski or snowboard culture, which is usually over 90% of the people even in a true pro ski shop. I also understand the the vibe can change from city to city and from mountain to city.
 
Oh, and i love great service and a smart selection. (Does not have to be huged. I think everyone can agree that almost every ski company today can make a decent product.)I also love when they seem to be implicated in any what way in the industry. Host events, encourage film companies, overall stokeness of the employees when theres snow)
 
That's more what I mean, hosting premieres, hold contests and other events, plus the overall vibe and feel of the shop itself- the shop I work in still feels like it was build in 1986 (it was) lacks any discernible personality. It's kinda a self fulfilling prophecy, you walk in, and don't expect a huge return. The service is good, selection is moderate (albeit poorly thought out, lots of overlap and not in a good way) but you wouldn't expect it to retail cater to needs or drive a culture at all.

My question would be more, how would you achieve that?
 
for starters a knowledgeable staff. that goes for shop techs and sales staff. i find, and its probably because i live in NY, that i know more than most of the sales staff. and im not saying im a know it all. it also worries me when i walk in with my skis taped off where i want them mounted and the shop tech looks confused.

and it annoys me when every single shop only sells salomon bindings. good outerware is a bonus.
 
evo gear is probably the most legit shop i can think of in the country. They care about skiers like us because they are skiers like us. They hook up fat if you've had problems they carry an array of gear/skis/clothing/movies ect. And plus there shop only charges a 35$ mount.
 
Rails in the back, definetly, also like someone said some legit outerwear, and a wide selection of stuff.
 
yes! Pinewski's is the best. They've always been super helpful, friendly and easy to deal with. Definitely worth the long drive for me. It probably pays off for them too because I've recommended the shop to practically every skier that I know.
 
Unpretentious and knowledgeable staff, emphasis on functionality over style, expert bootfitters. So rare nowadays.
 
Most definitely! Especially about the unpretentious part. I don't know how many times I've been helping my friend, sister, dad pick something out at a shop when a sales person has spouted some crazy gibberish about why you should buy a certain thing.
It's been as bad as a salesperson telling my dad that he should buy his ski boots on the large side so they are more comfortable and so that he wouldn't get "skier's bruise" (he meant shin bang). When I was like, " Oh, are you sure? (I was sure, I was just trying to be nice) I thought shin bang had something to do with landing to far backwards or skiing backseat." The sales man then preceded to ignore me and talking directly to my dad right next, said "Ahh, I see you brought your little skier with you, I bet he's gonna be the next Shaun White." (this was when I was 15) Turning to me he told me it was because some ski boots aren't built right and the cuff leaves bruises on your shin.
The fact that the guy was an ass to me because of my age bothered me more than the fact that the shop hired someone who knew jack-shit about skiing.
 
had a similar situation, needed to buy a binding, didnt know too much about the bindings, but knew the obvious basics. Guy tried telling me a 120mm brake would be fine on a 87mm waist. and they would just fold in when i clipped in. Told him, that some others had told me different (NSers) and he just mumbled that they would fold in. Spoke to the next shop and they said i'd ruin the binding so quickly if i had a 120 mm brake.

I think the most important part is a shop who is focussed on the actual providing good goods/services rather than making the money. Like there are a few ski shops in my area and you can really tell them, just the different way the market there stuff.
 
bootfitters are huge- knowledgeable staff- most people are willing to spend the money- but you need to show them why this upgraded ski would benefit them- Iselection is key- obviously you cant have everything but a decent mix is greatcheap tuning- we all know how much wax costs- cheap mounting- obviously not 5 dollars but around 40 is reasonable- definitely not 75 dollars like the shops around in here
 
ski movies playing, a shop for kids who know what they want and actually ski. a shop more focused on hard goods or actually water-proof outerwear beyond tshirts or clothes.
 
non snowboarder workerscool outerwearfree stickersa mini jib setup inside would be cool haski videossalesnext years line up
 
A shop that has an atmosphere that doesn't really feel like a traditional store. It'd be nice to have a store downtown or close by that locals could just hang out at. Not saying that they wouldn't be buying stuff, the locals would, but also where you could hangout, sit down, talk to the salespersons bout the newest awesome/insane thing happening in skiing and watch a new ski movie.
 
This. The best bootfitting I ever had was at a little shop that wanted nothing to do with freeskiing. At first I was put out by the staff's attitude towards me based on what I was asking for, but in the end I think they got a better understanding of why I ski park just as much as big mountain. I love that little shop, they know their shit.
 
Already been said....Bootfitters.
Some really good ski tuners too. I always go to the same shop for tunes but they're a dedicated race shop. It'd be great to have a some good tuners who know about park skiing too. The race shop always put in a really nice structure but they often take a huge amount of material to get rid of the burrs underfoot from rails. Fine for racing but unnecessary for park skis. They also got confused when I asked for the tip and tail to be slightly detuned but am really specific about the bevel I want and them not moving my DIN setting.

 
Shit you can't find anywhere else, and guys who know what you mean! Too many times I've gone in and asked for the most basic stuff and the guys are clueless as to what I mean!
 
And again...bootfitters!
Its always going to be tough for a store to get the sort of people on NS to buy their skis from there because its always cheaper to get them online. But, I'll always buy boots from a store near where I ski.
Also, when gapers ask which store to go to I always recommend the same place and its because of the boot fitter. In my case I recommend Beaver Creek Sports. Yeah, it in Beaver Creek but they've got a boot fitter called Dano and if he's good enough that the likes of Tanner Hall will come to Beaver Creek to get him to fit their boots then he's good enough for any of us.
 
I want a shop that has everything. All the best outerwear, so i don't have to get it on-line and get the wrong size and have to send the damn thing back a million times, free wax, a place where people can chill (summer set-up) and doesn't get shitty clothes for women. Women want long jackets and tees too, no pink pricy shiny short shit. Oh, and alot of stickers. haha
 
I too would like a shop that is exactly like what jibij was with the ski movies always playing, and an environment that really made you feel comfortable, but with the bootfitters idea as well. We understand that a shop cant carry all outerwear brands and stuff, but a nice variety of styles is nice.
 
I want a shop with people who actually ride twin tips, and don't just tell you "oh I skied those last season". The last thing I want is a yes man, that tells me he's skied every type of ski and or boots in the shop..when in fact the dude is a snow boarder. Thats why i'll never buy stuff from the last shop I got boots at. Bunch of used car salesmen that tell people anything they can to make a sale.
 
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