Words: Denise Mhlanga Images: Supplied
Exclusive stockist of international brand Patagonia in South Africa, Gone Outdoor has opened a store at 44 Stanley. We chat to Gone Outdoor Founder Grant Cleghorn.
How did your business start?
I’ve always felt more comfortable being outdoors and was fortunate to work in the outdoor industry in Europe for the last decade. A few years ago when my wife and I returned to South Africa, we started discussions with Patagonia about the possibility of introducing the brand here and we partnered with Patagonia last year and opened our first store 14 months ago in Cape Town and opened the second store at 44 Stanley on 6 October.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
We admire how they have taken something old and fixed it rather than have another “copy and paste” mall.
How did you find your premises?
We’ve always admired the space, so when we decided we wanted to open a store here, we contacted centre management.
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
We want to be an integral part of any community we serve and as an outdoor-focussed retail store, the space and location allows us to host events such as urban trail running groups on Saturdays followed by breakfast at one of the eateries within the precinct.
Who are your neighbours?
Rowdy and The Leopard.
What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area?
Fair and depending on space being rented out.
How many people visit your store each day?
We recently opened and we notice weekends are quite busy compared to week days.
Do you operate online as well?
Yes, we have a very informative website www.goneoutdoor.com and online shop. We also have interactive social media pages on Facebook (@goneoutdoor) and Instagram (@gone_outdoor).
Do you have any expansion plans?
Not now, expansion will be informed by whether our locations are serving the communities we are in adequately.
What’s your most popular service?
All Patagonia products come with an Ironclad Guarantee – “If it’s broke, we’ll fix it”, thus giving our clients peace of mind.
Gone Outdoor Supply Co.
083 249 4593
44stanley@goneoutdoor.com
goneoutdoor.com
