RICHMOND, Calif., April 10, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain Hardwear Inc., a leading mountaineering, outdoor equipment and clothing company, today announced the opening of the company's first retail store. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon, the 3,000-square-foot store showcases the largest selection of Mountain Hardwear apparel and equipment and Montrail footwear in the world.
"The store will allow consumers to see the full extent of our product in an environment that represents our brand from entrance to check out. In addition to being a dedicated mountaineering brand, we are also an active supporter of the environment, getting youth active, and mountain culture. Through promoting these values in the store, we believe that we can elevate our overall brand in this influential mountaineering market," said Mike Wallenfels, president of Mountain Hardwear and Montrail.
As part of the opening celebration, Mountain Hardwear will donate 10 percent of sales for the entire month of April to Multnomah County's Friends of Outdoor School, which supports week-long outdoor education camps for all sixth grade students in one of Oregon's largest counties. In addition, Mountain Hardwear solo adventurer and big wall climber, Mike Libecki, and Montrail endurance runner, Matt Hart, will be in attendance to meet customers and host in-store presentations.
The store design, by Portland-based 2 Hemispheres, incorporates the building's original wood floors and brick walls, juxtaposing them with industrial style details and fixtures to enhance the Mountain Hardwear brand image. Included in the store is a resource center for customers including a comfortable meeting area and a computer kiosk with links to outdoor clubs and non-profit organizations. "Our vision for the Mountain Hardwear store is one where it becomes a meeting place for the local outdoor community as they prepare for their next adventure," Wallenfels continued.
About Mountain Hardwear:
Mountain Hardwear makes cutting-edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for the most extreme conditions. Mountain Hardwear was established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans and is based in Richmond, Calif. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company, distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers in the United States and more than 40 countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product and customer service awards since its inception, reflecting the company's commitment to innovation and passion for the outdoors. For more information about Mountain Hardwear, visit www.mountainhardwear.com.