For nearly 100 years, RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 Outdoor Store has been helping Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 adventurous spirits get the gear they need to thrive in some of the worldB次元官网网址檚 best forests, mountains, and oceans.
Throughout its history, the store has evolved, starting as a bicycle sales and repair shop in 1929, and then evolving into the general sporting goods store it is today, but one thing has remained unchained. It remains owned and operated by the Robinson family.
On March 1, 2022, fourth-generation Robinson Erin Boggs officially took over the business along with the first non-Robinson co-owner Matt King, from her mother Gayle Robinson, though the transition started in 2017.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been quite an exciting and amazing ride, and now we are really starting to put our own stamp on it,B次元官网网址� said Boggs of the first year running the store. B次元官网网址淭he highlight which rings true from 1929 to today is the foundation the business is set on B次元官网网址� to provide customer service, value, and knowledge to the community.B次元官网网址�
Boggs said she never really saw herself stepping in to continue the family legacy, moving to Montreal at 17 to pursue a career in social work. But as she returned to Victoria and started working at the store under her mother to help pay off student loans, she started to realize how much she enjoyed being in the store.
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At the same time, Gayle was starting to look toward the future for the store and reached a point where she faced three options. She could close the business when she retired from it, sell it to a new set of owners, or start succession planning for the next generation.
B次元官网网址淚 realized I love to hike, I love to travel, and I love to help people, and I could still help people through the store, it just looks different,B次元官网网址� said Boggs. B次元官网网址淚t means a lot to be that next generation, and to think of the opportunities the previous generations made sacrifices and worked hard to provide. I never imagined I would be doing this today, but to watch my mom turn this business around as a female in a male-dominated industry and how she operated with integrity and being true to the community B次元官网网址� it means so much to be carrying that forward now.B次元官网网址�
While the store remains in good shape and business is strong, Boggs said the five-year transition period and first year of complete ownership was not without its challenges. COVID especially came out of nowhere, forcing the store to shut down unexpectedly, and forcing the family to completely rethink how to run the business.
B次元官网网址淭hat experience gave me so much confidence because we had to make really tough decisions without a lot of information. But we did it well and ended up coming from a lot of financial loss and a scary time to recovering and doing really quite well.B次元官网网址�
With the first year of ownership behind her, Boggs continues to look to the future and how she and King will put their mark on the business. Questions have been asked about introducing online shopping or opening a second location, but Boggs said her focus is to stick to the core values of the business in one brick-and-mortar store.
But while the core of the business will remain the same, some things are evolving. More and more community events are being planned to help support the customer base which has made the business what it is today, and BoggsB次元官网网址� interest in social work is beginning to show its influence as well, with the store recently hiring its first neurodivergent employee.
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justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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