The Buyer's Perspective | Alpine Shop

Alpine Shop is one of the largest brick-and-mortar Norrøna dealers in our Territory and is continuing to see success with multiple collections. In this Buyer Perspective, we check-in with Hannah Vollmer (owner) on how she’s approaching the technical apparel side of the business and their thoughts on Norrøna .

Tell us a little bit about your shop. What sports do you cater to, and what sets it apart from other shops?

The Alpine Shop has been in business since 1966 serving the greater Sandpoint area. We specialize in ski and snowboard in the Winter months, and bikes and watersports in the Summer months. We have one of the largest selections of apparel and equipment in the entire inland Northwest, and our goal is to provide an exceptional experience to every customer that walks in our doors.

What lead you to choose Norrøna over other apparel brands?

Norrøna’s quality, attention to detail, and unique color stories are what compelled us to bring in the line.

What collection are you currently carrying from Norrøna, and why?

We carry mostly lofoten and tamok because their style and fit best meet the needs of our typical customer, a resort skier who might find themselves in the backcountry from time to time. I also like to pick up pieces from falketind and trollveggen to compliment those collections.

Where have you seen growth in the technical apparel categories over the past few seasons?

We’ve seen growth across the board. With more people in our area than ever before, there are just more participants which is super fun!

What’s the most frequently asked question about technical apparel that you receive from customers and how do you address it?

It usually has to do with waterproofing and what kind of protection they’ll need for the type of skier that they are. There are many great waterproof membranes out there, but our team are firm believers in Gore-Tex. We get plenty of wet days on the mountain, and to stay truly dry we think no one does a better job than Gore-Tex.

What, if any, strategies are you using to bring new customers into your store these days?

We really rely on our instore experience to be our best advertisement. Because of our location on Schweitzer mountain, we draw people from all around the area. We hope that if they have a great experience once, that they will tell their friends and return again and again.

Are there any specific Norrøna products that are seeing the most success in your shop?

I would say the lofoten line in general does a great job of meeting our customers needs at a great price point.

Any upcoming or past trips that you’re particularly stoked about?

My husband and I did a five day backcountry ski trip at Beartooth pass last year which was definitely a highlight. This year we are expecting our first kiddo, which will be a different kind of new adventure!