At some point, Aaron Gerwing is hoping his vision will leap from the digital realm into something a little more bricks and mortar but this will do for the time being.
Gerwing recently launched Stratford Outdoor Outfitters (SOO), a website that he’s building into a one-stop-shop for anything you need for fishing, hunting and other outdoor pursuits. The idea came to him when he realized that he had to leave town to track down the products he wanted.
“Stratford Outdoor Outfitters was birthed out of necessity, as I found myself travelling out of my way to go to stores that had products I was looking for,” he said. “I mentioned to my friends that Stratford would be a great place to have an outdoors store. With a strong local outdoors community and regular tourist traffic, Stratford has a lot to offer a growing business.”
Gerwing is starting SOO small, focusing on the basics before he starts thinking about expanding. As he puts it, the list is endless when it comes to outdoor activities, and so is the available gear for it all.
“As we grow, we hope to carry well-known brands and develop a great rapport with customers,” he said. “Most of all, we’ll have impeccable customer service with expert advice. We’re hoping that within the next six months we’ll be able to move into a permanent physical location.”
In a world of online shopping where one site can blur into the next, Gerwing wants SOO to hone in on customer satisfaction and let those happy shoppers be what sets him apart from the rest.
“We may not be able to compete on scale with larger box stores, but knowledgeable, personal customer service goes a long way,” he said. “Another aspect is selling quality products – we aim to sell ones that will last and handle all the outdoor adventures you are on.”
He got his love of the outdoors growing up in Trochu, Alberta, where the outdoor life wasn’t optional. Gerwing would spend countless hours exploring and looking for things nobody else had ever seen, and that led him down this particular path.
“I have chased fish all over the countryside and got lost a couple of times doing it,” he joked. “I’ve been as far north as the roads would take me, and I’ve learned from every single experience along the way. I’m also known by my friends and family for never wearing a coat, and maybe it’s because I have spent so much time out in the cold that my body is used to it.”
Fashion and warmth concerns aside, Gerwing is looking forward to sharing his vision with Stratford and wants to share his passion for outdoor sports with his community just like it was shared with him when he grew up.
“I think finding adventure outdoors is such an amazing gift, and exploring, learning and trying new things is such an important part of Canadian life,” he said. “Stratford offers such a unique opportunity, almost like a gateway to adventure for a lot of people. From the Stratford Festival, to those passing through to go north, and the amazing people who live here. We want to be that gateway and equip you for your next outdoor adventure.”
