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May 18, 2007
New Marmot Closeouts in Stock!
Now's the time to pick up anything you've been thinking about from Marmot. We've just marked down a whole new group of closeouts that came in last week, so come check it out. Save up to 50% at one of our biggest sales of the year.
Softshells, rain jackets, fleece jackets, kid stuff...you name it. Now's your chance to stock up on top quality Marmot gear and clothing for cheap.
Also check out the savings on winter sale items, like hats, gloves, and jackets. Why wait til next winter when you can save big on the gear you need now? The best deals won’t last long...don't say we didn't warn you!
-> Softshells
-> Rain Jackets
-> Fleece Jackets
-> Kid Stuff
-> Hats
-> Gloves
Also on sale: Asolo Boots, Vasque Boots and Trail Runners, selected Keen Shoes & Sandals.
Posted by Mark McKnight at 2:34 PM
May 16, 2007
Wanna Bike to Work Tomorrow?
"A bike, a camera, and tons of fat cells to burn..." With a subtitle like that, Portrait of a Velocipedist is certain to be an interesting blog. Ryan Coulter, one of our e-commerce fulfillment managers, has started to chronicle his daily bike commute from the Southside to our warehouse on this photo blog. Check it out!
While you're there, think about whether it's possible to trade your car in for a bike commute. After all, this is Bike Month, and Thursday (that's right, tomorrow!) is National Bike to Work Day. What better time to start? You'll save the air a few tons of pollutants every year, and you might learn something new about your city. I started biking to work regularly a few years ago (now I walk, because I've moved so close to the office that I have to create the illusion that I'm actually going "away" to work, and biking is just too quick). It's amazing the different things you see on a bike that you just don't have time to see in a car. I love walking and cycling because they're on a human scale, and you can interact with other people face to face, something that's impossible in a car.
Do you bike to work? Walk? Unicycle? Let us know. We're collecting stories about how you, our customers and readers, have changed your lifestyles in order to reduce the harm you cause to the environment. We've already had some interesting stories about things like Tyvek wallets, and we're looking for more! E-mail them to Mark [at] rockcreek.com, and you could earn your fifteen minutes of fame right here on the Rock Creek Chronicle.
Thanks to the folks at the MotionBased Blog for the heads up on Bike Week.
Hey, why not pick up a sweet RockCreek Hincapie jersey for your daily commute?
Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:38 PM
May 15, 2007
Yakima Cargo-a-Go-Go Promo
We've just started the Yakima Cargo-a-Go-Go Promo on RockCreek.com. This is a great time to get a free cargo box accessory with the purchase of a Yakima Cargo Box.
While supplies last, claim your FREE Cargo Box Accessory with any Yakima Cargo Box Purchase.
Here's how:
1) Purchase any Yakima Cargo Box
2) Select your Accessory (up to $35 Value!) which will show up for $0 in your cart. You may choose a Cargo Mat, Cargo LED Light, Cargo Net, or Cargo Box Hanger.
It's that simple. Offer valid while supplies last, so act fast. If your accessory does not show up for $0, then the promotion has expired. Does not apply to previous orders. One per household. Valid 5/14/07 through 6/30/07.
Read about Yakima going green >>
Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:20 PM
May 14, 2007
Rock Creek Sponsors Successful TN River Gorge Trust Fundraiser
The Tennessee River Gorge Trust, Outdoor Chattanooga/OutVenture and Rock Creek Down Under partnered once again to bring back the much anticipated Kayak for Conservation.
“It was the perfect day for a paddle” said Outdoor Chattanooga’s Executive Director, Philip Grymes. Overcast skies and a calm wind made way for 55 kayaks streaming down the Tennessee River.
Participants were shuttled to the Suck Creek boat ramp to begin the eight mile adventure. Mid-way, paddlers stopped at the historic Pot Point Cabin to enjoy a delicious lunch donated by Greenlife Grocery and ice cold drinks thanks to Coca-Cola Bottling Company. After exploring the grounds, the cabin and getting re-fueled, everyone re-entered their boats to begin the last stretch of the paddle.
Rock Creek Down Under was the place to be during the “Post Paddle Party!” In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, lime garnished beverages, chips & salsa, guacamole dip and cubed spicy cheese were some of the favorites as the silent auction was underway. Michelle Melton won the ever-so-popular “date night” basket which had gift certificates to both 212 Market and Rhythm & Brews. Bill Lefton was the high bidder on several items including a sports watch donated by Rock Creek Down Under. Holly McWhorter won the overnight stay at the Beautiful Pot Point Cabin while the Park Family left with a 5 day trip to Florida! The North Shore, Southside, St. Elmo & Downtown Baskets were all favorites, along with all the fabulous books donated by, A Novel Idea, Rock Point Books & All Books!
“The collaboration the Trust has with Rock Creek Down Under & Outdoor Chattanooga is such a great fit” said Julie Beach, TRGT Business & Development Director. “They have the expertise, gear and equipment while we have this great recreational resource protected for all to enjoy… ‘Tennessee’s Grand Canyon.’”
ALL proceeds from this event go to support the mission of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust… to enrich our community by conservation of the Tennessee River Gorge through land protection, education and the promotion of good land stewardship. To get advance notice of events like this, join the TRGT today! Visit our web-site for more information: www.trgt.org.
For details on Rock Creek's environmental commitment, read their environmental statement
About Rock Creek Outfitters:
Rock Creek Outfitters, member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, is a specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, RockCreek.com and ClimbingGear.com, Rock Creek Outfitters provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, and adventure racing. Rock Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For this reason, it uses outdoor retail as a platform to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship and to improve public access to the backcountry.
Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:12 AM
May 4, 2007
Yakima Going Green
I just heard about Yakima going green for Earth Day this year, and I think it's great. We've worked with Yakima for years, and have been developing that relationship lately, with the addition of our online Yakima Rack Configurator, for example. So I was excited to find their new Web site, yakimapayback.com.
Earth Day comes around but once a year, and it's a great time to sit back and consider our impact, our "footprint" in this world. I've noticed that since Earth Day this year, we've seen a rash of "green" marketing. Unlike previous years, however, it doesn't seem to be fading away very quickly. Imagine a huge holiday based not on consumerism for consumerism's sake (like, um, that one in December, for example- which I happen to love just to put the record straight). Imagine a holiday based, rather, on ethical consumption. This idea has taken hold pretty deeply, and it makes sense to me. We're going to eat, live, work, and play... so why not do it with a consciousness of how each activity affects the rest of the world? If you can choose a better product that will not have to be replaced as often, or choose to purchase from a company that gives back to local access issues, why not do it? I guess the only other option is voluntary extinction, and I'm not really on board with that one.
Here at RockCreek, we've always been focused on the philosophy of "Leave No Trace," and it applies just as much to our daily lives as it does to use of the backcountry. So it's always nice when you can live out your environmental commitments in your home, at work, and at play. One way you can do that is by supporting companies that are conscious of the fact that their business causes environmental harm, and that take that knowledge and use it to make a concerted effort to reduce that harm.
On this front, Patagonia has led the way since the old hard man days before I was born. But more companies are getting on the environmental bandwagon, and while we can't assume they're all doing it with the kind of idealism embodied by the Yvon Choinard's "do no harm" philosophy, I think it's a good thing that more companies have stood up and acknowledged their impact on the rest of the world. Instead of running from this realization and trying to hide the harmful sides of business, some companies have stepped up to the plate and have begun to look closely at their operations and have begun to actively offset the harm they cause. We should applaud these companies for their guts and for starting down a difficult road.
Here's what Yakima says about their new Planet Payback program:
At Yakima, we’re dedicated to helping people get out and enjoy this great planet of ours. Unfortunately, carbon dioxide emissions, a leading cause of global warming, are rearing its ugly head like Medusa on a bad hair day. And that has the potential to make our planet decidedly less enjoyable for everybody. (Except kayakers who always wanted to paddle around downtown Manhattan, but let’s assume they’re in the minority here.)So as a responsible company, we were forced to look at ourselves in the mirror. And our first thought was, “Dang, we dress spiffy.” But then we were like, “Holy smokes. We’d better do something about all the carbon dioxide heating up Earth’s atmosphere.”
For us, that means we are finding ways to reduce our waste, aggressively recycle and change our distribution strategy to limit fossil fuel consumption.
Then, we focus on offsetting our “carbon footprint” with the help of our friends at Carbonfund.org. Under the Planet Payback program, every Yakima product’s carbon footprint has been measured, and then offset through a donation to Carbonfund.org. These donations support a combination of renewable energy, reforestation and energy efficiency projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions locally and globally.
Check out the site- there's a carbon footprint calculator and links to information about offsetting your impact. You can even vote for your favorite environmental effort, which gives you a voice in how Yakima uses their enviro money. Hooray Yakima! Kudos to you guys.
Shop for Yakima Racks at RockCreek.com >>
Check out our new Yakima Rack Configurator for a perfect fit >>
Read about other environmental efforts at RockCreek >>
Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:43 AM
May 3, 2007
Today is DIY Day: Do it for the Planet!
I've decided that today is DIY day at Rock Creek. The theme of creative re-use seems to be popping up everywhere I turn today, so I had to share some things I've come across. I just got an email from a customer, Kevin Gantz, from Atlanta, GA, who made a Tyvek wallet from a template on instructables.com and put one of our ClimbingGear.com stickers on it, and it's sweet!
So after that I got the Gear Junkie newsletter with this article on baking your own energy bars. Personally, with my cooking skills, I wouldn't risk it, so I stick to Larabars that I buy at our downtown store. But it sounds like fun, and the guy says they taste great.
Someone else sent me this link to a Wired magazine article about Timbuk2 developing a new fabric out of old plastic bags. I actually was given a strap pad made of these recycled bags a few weeks ago and they are very, very cool. The one I got has a San Francisco Chronicle masthead kind of melting across the back.
All that reminded me of an interview I had yesterday where someone was asking about our environmental initiatives, especially around packaging materials. As a follow-up to that, I called and had a discussion with our fulfillment and customer service manager, Clark Luckmann, about efforts he's making to make our packaging more environmentally-friendly. We've always re-used boxes and packaging materials that come in from our vendors, which has essentially eliminated the need to purchase plastic bubble wrap and other padding materials.
Years ago, we made an effort to resize our cardboard boxes to use less materials. We cut down the size of the box we send shoes in, using at least 20% less cardboard. Months ago, we switched over to plastic shipping bags for most of our small packages- basically anything that will not crush or break, like jackets, t-shirts, pants, etc. These plastic bags have a much smaller carbon footprint, and they don't take up nearly as much space in the UPS trucks, planes, and delivery vans, thereby saving on transportation fuel.
Now it's time to push that a bit further, and we're researching plastic bags made of post-consumer waste. These bags are also designed to be re-used, with another sticky flap available so you can put them aside to send your holiday gifts later.
All of that thought brought me back around to another enviro. initiative that we're about to launch. We have these organic cotton totes from Patagonia that we'll be offering very soon. (See the mock-up to the right). If everyone would use bags like these, we could save a ton of plastic from ever being produced.
It seems to me that one of the biggest ways we can reduce our impact on the environment would be to just learn simple DIY tricks like these, and re-use the things we have been conditioned to throw away. Surely there's something else that can be done with that Tyvek mailer, plastic bag, or cardboard box besides throwing it out, or even recycling it. Recycling is great, but it's even better to find some alternative re-use, eliminating even the energy it takes to recycle. Plus it can be fun, and green is hip these days, so you'll look cool while saving the planet. I think the next wave in sustainability will simply be to reduce our waste, or "dematerialize" processes like our friends at Tricycle (who recently wrote a great article about plastic bags) are doing with carpet sampling.
So, I've seen some great replies to our question "How do YOU go green?" Keep them coming! I love hearing about these things, and I'll continue to share them with you as they come along. Just shoot me an email at mark [at] rockcreek.com or reply as a comment here.
Related links:
Read our environmental statement >>
Learn how to recycle your old fleece and polyester clothing >>
See how Rock Creek switched to wind power >>
Posted by Mark McKnight at 1:52 PM
May 2, 2007
Gregory Pack Giveaway
We just launched our May giveaway on RockCreek.com, and it's a good one! This month we have a Gregory pack to give away, and it's winner's choice, either a Gregory Z55 or Jade 50 Pack.
These are both great ultralight backpacking packs from Gregory. If you're planning a trip in warm weather, you'll appreciate the new Jetstream suspension system, which allows for unprecedented airflow between the pack and your back while providing great support for those heavy weekend loads. They have a central aluminum stay made of hollow aircraft aluminum, which gives you great support without adding much to the weight of the pack. The Z55 or Jade 50 would also make great crag packs. Backpacker Magazine named this the "Best All-Around Weekend Pack" for 2007, and one of their testers gave it a great endorsement: "This is the most comfortable pack I've worn all year- in any category."
Can't wait to see if you win the contest? Pick up a Gregory Z55 or Jade 50 Pack from Gregory today at RockCreek.com.
See all Ultralight/Fast Backpacking Packs >>
Shop Climbing Packs >>
Check out trails in the Chattanooga area on our backpacking & hiking page >>
Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:50 AM
