In my store that is.
I work at a small mom and pop in Bennington,VT. For right now, we carry mostly soft goods. However, we are very interesdted in helping the folks on the trail. What should we carry?
So far, I have thought of the following…
Denatured by the .oz
White Gas by the .oz
Duct Tape
TP
Aquapure
Polarpure
What else? We are also planning on running a shuttle twice a day durring the months of July and August.
Weatherman
The tech-geek in me is coming out, but I’m sure a reliable computer and internet connection would be nice. Also there are a lot of people asking how to transfer pictures, at least on the forums, so offering a multi-card reader and cd burner so that folks can mail home pics might be real nice. Hey, if you’re shuttling to and from trail, you can pick me up and I’ll even set up the system if you buy the equipment.
Speaking of services, handling maildrops might bring some folks in, but then again, they might also maildrop supplies to themselves that they may buy otherwise at your store.
Ideas for goods: DEET, nikwax/waterproofing/seam sealing, toothpaste and dental floss. That’s all I can think of for now.
Wyatt (as yet trailnameless)
Thanks for the reply
We have talked about an internet connection. I’ll show the boss your reply.
Weatherman
Phone cards might be helpful for hikers.
Hikers always seem to dig junk food, drinks, beer and cigarettes, but I figure you’ve already got that covered:)
A-Train
TOILET PAPER: Can you sell individual rolls of toilet paper? Perhaps break open a 24-pack, repack each roll in a ziplock bag and sell the rolls individually?
WATER TREATMENT: I see you have polar pure. How 'bout carrying Aqua Mira too.
BATTERIES, BABY WIPES.
REGISTER/PHOTOS: You might consider starting a hiker register and taking hiker photos with a polaroid camera. That would definitely bring hikers into your store.
yogi
yogi
If you can create the facilities, a quick shower would be great so they don’t have to stay in a hostel or hotel…a la truckstop style.
Jeff
even if you cant create an indoor shower, you might be able to get away with hanging a spicket err what do you call it shower head outdoors in a sunny spot with some some fine pea rock underneath for drainage, and that would allow people to at least hose off. as long as the hose is in the sun the water shouldnt get super cold for a quick hose off. Or you could even run it from a hot water tank if you wanted the trouble of running pipe–kind of like some beaches do to help you get the salt water off. May not be the warmest but a chance for a scrub down would be well liked. put a little wooden 3 sided enclosure up if you can and you’ve got a camp shower. Of course being in a town this might not be practicle.
Things I’d like at a store. Hmm. Maybe some shelled bulk peanuts. Does your store make serve Ice Cream/make Milkshakes? made to order sandwhiches -like a deli?
hmm gear wise, its tough to say, because so much gear is out there and so many people like so many different things. there are tons of different water filters and filter replacements. tons of different clothes.
but someone will always probably need new socks and new polypro shirts. and they have a long shelf life if you get good socks. You might even get someone in town to silk screen the name of the store on your shirts. a little advertising never hurts.
big boy
I’m going to be real technical here, so bear with me;)
That goop stuff to patch shoes/boots.
Wild Hare
Regarding food, toilet paper, and all other items, you need to carry or break down items into hiker sized portions like, a half dozen eggs in a box, a stick of butter (instead of a pound or whole box), potatoes and onions and apples and whatever by the pound (not by the bag), small bags of stuff like rice, lots of ramen, lipton noodles in small packages, single rolls of toilet paper (someone already mentioned that), small portions of sugar and salt, tuna in the pouch, small cans of any type foods (hiker sized), small boxes of spagetti, zip lock bags (pint and quart size), hiker size portions of anything, frozen meats (individual size portions), cheeze (one pound blocks).
Dehydrated foods (fruits of all kind, beef jerky, etc). Hikers love them because they are a tremendous weight savings.
So think small sized portions of items just for one person, which can be carried.
See you out there. :cheers
Maintain
Dear Weatherman,
A partial list of suggestions:
Sincerely-Conan.
Conan
Dear Weatherman,
Ten more suggested items:
Shoe Goo.
Super Glue.
Tweezers.
Hiking boot shoe laces.
Lithium batteries, size AA.
Notebooks: 8.5" x 11", college ruled, 200 pages.
Writing pens with waterproof ink.
Duct tape.
Submarine sandwiches.
Vegetables: Onions, potatoes, carrots.
Sincerely–Conan.
Conan
“22. Shampoo (including dandruff shampoo).”
is dandruff a problem on the trail?
And what about Bodyglide?
weatherman
POTATOES - If you carry food, I’d like to see the individual packets of Idahoan brand mashed potatoes. The “loaded potato” flavor is my favorite. There are about 5 other flavors. The Betty Crocker and other store brand potatoes aren’t as tasty as the Idahoan.
OLIVE OIL
SHAMPOO - someone mentioned this. Be sure it’s the small travel-sized bottles.
yogi
Food without trans fat, please. Did anyone mention beer yet? See if the boss will let you get a small short order grill in. Give hikers the best burgers and log fries you can and word will spread. Even if it’s just a coney dog van on the side lot with a picnic table. Now I’m all hungry…
Outdoor hot shower like at Hikers Welcome would rock. So where is this store, what’s the name? Wait a minute, you’re on 7? Isn’t there a diner on the north side of 7, west end of town that has blue berry pancakes? Aw, they’re the best.
Bushwhack
J-Bweld, permatherin(?)(tick killer), small first aid products sold individually (bandades, mole skin, cloth tape), COFFEE (ground and indiv. packets), indv. ziplock baggies, indv. trash compactor bags/contractor cleanup bags. You could make a small fortune off of some good homemade jerky…and fruit leather…
Ohioan