jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,054
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Post by jazzmom on Sept 20, 2019 8:13:51 GMT -8
REIs’ inventory is pretty much limited by their national HQ and now there’s no more lifetime returns. But their return policy is still great for things that I can't be sure about until I actually use it... like those minimalist trail shoes that I'm intrigued by but could be a total bust.
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Post by johntpenca on Sept 20, 2019 9:49:03 GMT -8
Which leads me to the second concern - the store that will be impacted greatest will probably be the locally owned one Sorry to hear that Jerry. I always liked The Basecamp and their staff while I lived in Billings. I'm kinda surprised REI is opening in Billings; it seems unlikely to me the local population can support a store as large as REI unless they have a business model tailored to Billings. Didn't you mention this previously? I do hope you keep your local stores but anything that could smack Cabella/BassPro, Sportsmans Warehouse or Rocky Mountain Discount Sports makes me happy. I don't see REI as a competitor to Cabela's/Bass Pro Shop. Different markets.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 20, 2019 10:52:49 GMT -8
I don't see REI as a competitor to Cabela's/Bass Pro Shop. Different markets. Yes and no... there's a tremendous amount of crossover in "soft goods" which is ultimately where stores like these (including REI) make the bulk of their profits. REI will have more of an impact on Cabela's and Scheel's than you might assume.
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rangewalker
Trail Wise!
Agitate, organize and educate.
Posts: 1,029
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Post by rangewalker on Sept 20, 2019 11:37:10 GMT -8
I don't see REI as a competitor to Cabela's/Bass Pro Shop. Different markets. They are in my area for hiking goods especially footwear and outerwear. Hell, my first Pac-Lite Goretex parka was a Cabela's label item.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,082
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Post by reuben on Sept 20, 2019 11:52:37 GMT -8
Locally I had an EMS and a Hudson Trail. Both eventually closed. I don't know how much of their business was to true outdoors people (hiking, cycling, skiing, etc.), but this is a rather trendy town, and every time I was in the stores they had plenty of customers. Maybe the rent was too high. I seem to remember that one or the other, maybe EMS, went totally online, and has no more brick and mortar stores.
There's an REI about 45-60 minutes away. I go there a couple of times a year, but I'm pretty set with my gear, other than an occasional pair of shoes. I can pick up good socks at local running stores. Like many, I've evolved to cottage manufacturers for some big ticket items like tents, and a tent or pack isn't usually something that gets replaced every year or two.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,877
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Post by driftwoody on Sept 20, 2019 14:42:20 GMT -8
Frankenhiker says:
REI - good. Fire - bad! Drink - good. Smoke - good (except with fire).
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Post by stanley on Sept 20, 2019 15:43:04 GMT -8
REI's business model has changed so much over the years that I'm surprised they are still opening stores. I think the only thing I could find in stock at the SE Denver CO store for the past 5 years was fuel canisters. Everything else you needed to order online. Not much of a hiker, climber, bper store anymore.
Their employees always seem first rate. Both in store and on trail building projects where I had them on my crew. Stopped shopping there. IIf I need to order online I'm more likely to pick a different merchant. think my dividend this year was 4 cents.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 20, 2019 18:29:15 GMT -8
it seems unlikely to me the local population can support a store as large as REI unless they have a business model tailored to Billings. I think the problem is that there will be too many outdoor related stores in Billing. I'm pretty sure, personally, that REI will do well here. As for being a bit large, the current Scheels Sporting Goods store here in town is the largest retail building in Montana and it seems to be doing well and their products and prices aren't anything special . While unlike, REI or the Base Camp, they have large gun and fishing departments, they carry a lot of general outdoor gear including bikes, canoes, kayaks and backpacking gear. Those lines will be in direct competition to REI's line. Be interesting to see how it pans out. I can't believe REI would consider a store in town without doing their homework They must think it's going to work and I think their track record is pretty good.Another thing that bothersome about the new REI stores is that always seem to be on the edge of town in strip developments. Unlike other REIs as in Denver, Seattle,and Spokane (ones I"m most familiar with), which are downtown. This just contributes to sprawl and hurts the downtown retail district. A downtown location would have really helped keep that area vital but I suppose that's not really their concern. It just appears that's their market strategy for now.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 20, 2019 18:37:31 GMT -8
Yes, but it also depends on the size of the backpack/climbing community those stores serve. Billings, MT is a city of 100K, but is far more a "hook and bullet" community than a "backpack" community. Well, once again I'm going to have disagree somewhat with my well respected posting colleague, from Bzoeman. While I realize that Bozeman is a multi-faceted oudoor city - how could it not be with a location like that - I doubt there are many more cities that are as hunting and fishing orientated as those in Gallatin county. To be sure those activitess are big in Billings but I doubt that on a per capita basis that they are as large they are in Bozeman. The backpacking/hiking and even climbing community here are equally strong as hunting an fishing.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 20, 2019 18:55:54 GMT -8
Californians are definitely not moving to Billings, MT. Again, I have to differ and I live here. I run into transplanted Californians all the time, including two new families that moved into my neighborhood this year. We seem to get a somewhat different breed of Californian though. I'm pretty certain a large number of Californians and refugees from other urban areas, moving to Bozeman come to retire having made their fortune and for the recreation and quality of life which is undeniably great if you can afford it. In Billings, they seem more interested in just making a living in a viable city - not that Bozeman isn't. Billings is extremely versatile and has a fairly reasonable cost of living and a pretty strong economy. Just my observations. No hard facts to back it up. It would make an interesting study for some graduate student in sociology at MSU-Bozeman or MSU-Billings. For the record, all the transplanted Californian I've met seem to be very nice people who will be an asset to the community.
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Post by johntpenca on Sept 20, 2019 19:39:27 GMT -8
Billings is extremely versatile and has a fairly reasonable cost of living and a pretty strong economy. Just my observations. No hard facts to back it up. It would make an interesting study for some graduate student in sociology at MSU-Bozeman or MSU-Billings. My take was Billings had opportunity in gov't and medical. Not much else to attract people that want jobs. Hence the Cali's cashing in on their Cali homes and moving to MT, ID, CO to retire. Those who leave Cali for those places are a different breed of Californian; more into quality of life/nature than materialism. I'd move to Billings in a heartbeat if the California ex hadn't devastated my finances; Billings housing is out of my range. When I was there in 2005 a reasonable home ran around 250k; what is it now? ETA: hard to believe it was 14 years ago I was in Billings; seems like yesterday.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 20, 2019 20:11:15 GMT -8
When I was there in 2005 a reasonable home ran around 250k; what is it now? Of course, it depends on the area of town and condition of the house, but you can still get a pretty nice place for $250,000. It probably won't be very large, but certainly adequate, depending on your tastes and needs, I supose. A comparable house in Bozeman or Missoula would be a lot more - probably over $100,000 more.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 20, 2019 23:22:32 GMT -8
Hi Jer, no disagreement from me that there are indeed Californians that move to Billings. However, I’d wager the vast majority of them are settling in Western MT. And of course here, it’s a contributing factor in the 20% increase in housing costs last year alone. Something Billings, thankfully, has been spared.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 21, 2019 5:25:32 GMT -8
No doubt about it, most people moving to Montana settle in the western part of the state. I mean the plains and prairies don’t generally appeal to a lot people like the mountains do. The exceptions, of course, are those who go to work in the energy related industries in the eastern part of the state but that’s a whole different demographic. Good or bad, and there's some of each, it’s a trend that is bound to continue, more so in some parts of the state I.e. Bozeman than others. Sustained, moderate, controlled growth seems the best to me. But how to attain that is the question.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 21, 2019 6:15:34 GMT -8
My daughter lives in Billings Jer, she's a nurse and the MSU Billings nursing program was her first choice in the state to finish her training because of the quality of the hospitals in Billings. No other healthcare facilities in the state compare with Billings, which as you know, are phenomenal given its population. Also, in spite of the cost of living (housing) being substantially higher in Bozeman, Billings pays nurses more than here. Go figure.
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