Episode Details

Dave Lane dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue his obsession with climbing and spent the next decade sewing his own climbing gear in his basement. That obsession became Rock Solid, then Arc'teryx, one of the most globally recognized brands on the planet. But as Dave tells it, none of it was planned. It was a mix of luck, timing, the right people showing up at the right moment, and a dedication to making the best products possible. In this conversation, Dave traces the full arc: the borrowed sewing machines, the kitchen table chalk bags, the partnership with Jeremy Guard, the accidental rebrand, seven years without a holiday, and ultimately walking away from the company he founded.

Episode Highlights

• The "pebble in the pond" strategy: nail one product, build distribution, then expand one product at a time
• How a failed climbing gym accidentally formed the partnership between Dave and his co-founder
• The crisis that led to Arc'teryx getting its name, and how the logo came to be
• The story of how one order doubled their revenue
• The importance of design and brand when building a company
• Why naivete is an asset when building a company

Links
Apple in China (book)

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The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast  #koreoutdoors #craftgearfromhere