Adventure 16 retail store blues

LA and San Diego’s adventure 16 (A16) outdoor store is down to just two locations from a max of 8.
For many years I’ve appreciated their nice knowlegable salespeople, good selection of tents backpacks etc and one of the last places left in so cal to rent camping gear.
I bought my first climbing gear there.
I’m worried about their future so I’ve decided to buy most of my outdoor adventure and travel items there if they sell it. With Sport Chalet and Sportmart stores gone we may soon just have REI as SD city and LAs only good outdoors retail store (not counting big 5 and Dicks which sell mostly lower end sporting goods).
Nomad Ventures in Escondido is excellent and a better choice for climbing gear.

Good post! Support local businesses like A16! 

Bummer to hear that. Bought my first pair of crampons from A16 in San Diego. Sometimes I wonder if it's not just the big box store takeover but also the small specialty retailer failing to appropriately market and get their name out there to compete with the REI's. 

A mix of different factors and REI. A16 WLA and SD have been in the same places since the 1970s. Most of the REI stores have changed locations or are newer.
Also Oshmans and sports authority all closed.

Tapawingo Markey wrote: Bummer to hear that. Bought my first pair of crampons from A16 in San Diego. Sometimes I wonder if it's not just the big box store takeover but also the small specialty retailer failing to appropriately market and get their name out there to compete with the REI's. 

That’s like saying that I could play in the NFL if I appropriately marketed myself. Btw I first visited A16 in December 1982, looking for info on getting to Trono. An employee drew me a detailed map. 

George Bracksieck wrote:

That’s like saying that I could play in the NFL if I appropriately marketed myself. Btw I first visited A16 in December 1982, looking for info on getting to Trono. An employee drew me a detailed map. 

I really don't think it is and don't take my statement as a slight against A16. I went there over REI for a reason when I lived in SD. I'm a huge proponent for small outdoor shops and worked at one for a few years and continue to support it since I've left. Small shops/outdoor businesses can still make it work these days if they create an image for themselves and create a sense of community around their business. However, I do think the biggest setback for A16 is being located in large markets such as SD or LA where I'd imagine it's more difficult to compete with the Big Box stores due to those being new to outdoor sports not being able to differentiate between REI and local shops. 

I’ve been spending money at the San Diego store to prolong them for another year. 

If you think you know gear, go to Nomad and be humbled

Josh Cameron wrote: Nomad Ventures is the best gear store EVER. My J-Tree climbing friend Josh Hall turned me onto them. Rei is cool, but leaves a lot to be desired. A-16 just straight up sucks. My wife worked at the San Diego A-16 in the early 2000's and quit because the sexual harassment was so bad (having her ass slapped on more than one occasion to her keys getting thrown under her truck because she wouldn't date a fellow co-worker, among other things).

I bought a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag from Nomad Ventures in Solana Beach back in 2003. Got it on sale and it's still the best sleeping bag I've ever seen. That bag is still going strong. Thank you Nomad Ventures.

Well, I also bought a sleeping bag in 2003 on sale but from A-16 and it's the BEST sleeping bag I have ever seen!

I met Royal Robbins at A16 when he released his book like 10 years ago. I love small shops for stuff like that and video premiers ect. 

Tristan Burnham wrote: I met Royal Robbins at A16 when he released his book like 10 years ago. I love small shops for stuff like that and video premiers ect. 

I never met Royal Robbins at Nomad! What does that tell ya?!!

A-16 is overpriced, poor management, profile their customers. 

Josh are any of the people who worked there then still working there? Did she report anything? A16 charges the marked retail price. That’s what REI does. 

Jeffrey Constine wrote: A-16 is overpriced, poor management, profile their customers. 

What does it mean to "profile their customers"?

If you don’t dress nice or look like you have money to spend the service team will  ignore you and walk over to a customer that looks like they are ready to spend bank. 

I remember Bruce's store being in Carlsbad for awhile.

I guess bums and hobos in the Josh Nomad store got treated well because many climbers there look like bums and hobos. Not as much at Escondido Nomad or any REI!

Jeffrey Constine wrote: If you don’t dress nice or look like you have money to spend the service team will  ignore you and walk over to a customer that looks like they are ready to spend bank. 

Sounds like a solid business strategy.

Tradiban wrote:

I never met Royal Robbins at Nomad! What does that tell ya?!!

Never did run into Royal! But hell, I  run into Clark often at Nomad. 

I did run into Becky a couple times at Nomad over the years. Don't know what that tells me, but shit, its gotta mean something...

 Adventure 16 closing Going out of business sale on Nov 27, and purge of rental equipment, etc on Dec 7.

wing thing wrote:  Adventure 16 closing Going out of business sale on Nov 27, and purge of rental equipment, etc on Dec 7.

Sucks, but I get it. 

Question:
If you were owner of a biz like this how would you revitalize the business?