BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR WAS ALWAYS A BIT OF A DREAM FOR ME. I GREW UP IN THE KENNEBECASIS VALLEY AND MY VERY FIRST JOB WAS WORKING FOR A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THAT EXPERIENCE EXPOSED ME TO THE RELATIONSHIP A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS CAN HAVE WITH A COMMUNITY.

Fast forward a number of years and a couple of careers later, I made a leap-of-faith decision to switch gears, jump off the cliff, and finally open my own business.

I decided to combine my passion for all things outdoors and what we determined to be a gap in our local business offerings, and River And Trail Outdoor Company was born.

We are an independent outdoor adventure store that specializes in apparel, footwear and gear for people who want to enjoy the outdoors. The activities we promote include hiking, backpacking, trail running, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing.

Being a locally owned, independent business forms the foundation of our business philosophy. We grew up here, we live here, and we have chosen to do business here.

We can’t take it for granted that just because we are local, people will automatically shop at our store. We need to earn their business by being experts in both the products we sell and the activities we promote.

At the end of the day, we’re not just selling products, we’re also promoting a way of living a healthier life.

In addition to this, however, are the relationships we form with our customers and our engagement with the community. We do our best to support as many initiatives as possible. The busier we become, the more we can support. Local businesses give back to their community. They support those that support them.