Request for help/information from people who play in the snow - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Save Us Sutter · 11-13-2009, 01:58 AM

As some of you may or may not know, I recently took over management of Montana's Services, a store/restaurant/rv park/gas station/laundromat on the South Klondike Highway in the Yukon. This place was basically run into the ground over the past five years so I've been pretty much starting from scratch.

Anyway, the snow is upon us here, the summer tourism season is over and I have to rebrand the store for the winter. We are located at the base of Montana Mountain and see many snowmobilers, skiiers and other crazy outdoor enthusiasts who don't mind it being 30 below while they are out playing in the mountains.

So my questions are for those of you that find yourselves out in the snow a lot and what you might like to see in a "convenience" store near the base of a mountain.

1) Energy bars? Yay or Nay? what kinds? Brands? Flavours?

2) Energy drinks? Same questions.

3) Other convenience store foods? Microwaveable stuff? Snack foods? Fresh fruit?

4) Restaurant: What types of foods? Be as specific as you can.

5) Equipment? Small things like gloves, or snowmobile oil or stuff like that. What do you break a lot or find yourself wishing you could buy near by? We can't stock new snowboards, but maybe there's some kind of tape or lace or tool that we could carry.

6) Right now we are open 8am-8pm. Do you start your days earlier than this? End them later?

That's all I have right now. I may add some more as I think of them. Any help you guys can give me is greatly appreciated as I am pretty new to this running a business thing.

P.S. All Flames games on the big screen in the restaurant if any of you ever find yourself up this way!

Phanuthier · 11-13-2009, 02:09 AM

1) Energy bars? Yay or Nay? what kinds? Brands? Flavours?

Energy bars, probably yay but not to a huge amount. Energy bars, if needed, are usually bought in advance. I'd say other foods that are "homely" like soups, always enticing and an escape away from disgusting energy bars.

(If you do go with energy bars though, I like the PowerBar yougart ones myself, Cliff is just too dry)

2) Energy drinks? Same questions.

I don't do the energy drinks stuff, but gatorade/powerade I guess? Especially in the cold, its real easy to get dehydration and not know it till you are dry heaving (sp?). Or any long endurance sport, versus competitive sports.

3) Other convenience store foods? Microwaveable stuff? Snack foods? Fresh fruit?

Like above ... soups.

4) Restaurant: What types of foods? Be as specific as you can.

Probably warm foods, but not like campbells soup. If they really do a lot of outdoors, freeze dried food is really common and I know I've had far too much of it. Homemade food after a few days outdoors of camping food is a beautiful thing.

5) Equipment? Small things like gloves, or snowmobile oil or stuff like that. What do you break a lot or find yourself wishing you could buy near by? We can't stock new snowboards, but maybe there's some kind of tape or lace or tool that we could carry.

Certainly, those hand/feet warmers. I don't know what particular sports they have there.

6) Right now we are open 8am-8pm. Do you start your days earlier than this? End them later?

Maybe 6am-8pm?

Good luck!

driveway · 11-13-2009, 02:48 AM

sorry, I thought this was going to be a thread about cocaine...

Trojan97 · 11-13-2009, 04:42 AM

Beef Jerky...Always beef jerky.

carom · 11-13-2009, 09:07 AM

Jerky, lots of coffe and tea. Cheep gloves, goggles, touques, ect. You probably can't go wrong with greasy spoon type stuff (anything fried). Anything quick would work also, like soup and microwavable stuff. I wouldnt stock up too much on inventory of mechanical stuff untill you get a good idea from the locals on the things they really need. I am always a big fan of the 5 cent candy as I can bring a huge bag around with me all day without too much trouble.

I will add some more stuff if I think about it. What happends to the smallest desert in the world in the winter?

Methanolic · 11-13-2009, 09:24 AM

Nice thick wool Socks!

4X4 · 11-13-2009, 10:26 AM

Batteries, jerry cans, patching kits, compact hand tools (like stubby screwdriver with changable bits and hand held allen key sets), flashlights, maybe a folding shovel, and always have a tow strap available for sale.

burn_this_city · 11-13-2009, 10:50 AM

I'd definitely keep popular 2 stroke oils, motor oils, jerry cans, chain oils on hand for the snowmobiling crowd. Can't go wrong with energy drinks, energy bars, snacks ect.

Save Us Sutter · 11-13-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carom

.What happends to the smallest desert in the world in the winter?

That's where all the local kids go to snowboard/snowmobile/drink illegally.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I've got a meeting with the CTFN today and may have a few more questions later.

Does anyone know of any good snowboarding/snowmobiling websites/message boards?

Akai-Sesui · 11-13-2009, 11:11 AM

http://www.dealextreme.com/

Anything gadget oriented you'll be able to get from here. Flashlights, tools, rechargable batteries, blah blah blah. Best you take a look yourself; shipping is free.

carom · 11-13-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Save Us Sutter

That's where all the local kids go to snowboard/snowmobile/drink illegally.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I've got a meeting with the CTFN today and may have a few more questions later.

Does anyone know of any good snowboarding/snowmobiling websites/message boards?

www.biglines.com

www.newschoolers.com

are some that i know of as a skier.

Kybosh · 11-13-2009, 12:14 PM

Like most people that are crazy like me, I'm pretty well prepared before I head out into the bush. The things I'm most interested in is getting a hot coffee at the beginning/end of the day and have a place to get a nice hot meal. If you have a restaurant, I would make sure everything is heavy on home cooking (ie. lots of meat and potatoes with copious amounts of gravy).

Edit: I would also stock hand/foot warmer packs. Also, you should go for a walk around MEC or another mountaineering type of shop to see what kind of doo-dads people like to buy for winter activities.

Save Us Sutter · 11-13-2009, 01:15 PM

You guys are really, really great. This kind of stuff is priceless for a guy who is learning on the fly without a whole lot of support from anyone.

Thank you as well to CP as well for being a great source of information and a place where I am comfortable to come and ask anything, and always get a great response.

EDIT: For those of you saying Energy Bars, is there a certain brand that is better than the rest?

Tron_fdc · 11-13-2009, 01:54 PM

snowest.com is a great sled forum.

Anytime I head out sledding, I usually take a monster energy drink (I don't like Red Bull). Fresh sandwiches are usually a good idea, I buy a sub from Tim Hortons but if someone was making fresh sangers I'd hit it up.

2 stroke Sled oil is highly recommended. Put up a sign as well, guys like me forget to bring it all the time.

Dunno how in depth you want to get with your supplies, but sparkplugs and belts might not be a bad idea. They vary in size from sled to sled, but you can rape someone if they need one.

BEEF JERKY!!

Cheap wool socks, light work gloves, cheap goggles, cheap multi tools, stuff like that is "disposable". If I forget my goggles I'm only going to buy a crap pair that last a day until I get my good ones.

Jerry Cans that fit on the back of the sled (20 litre)

Cheap avi gear (probe and shovel maybe?)

hmmmm I'll add as I think of stuff I forget all the time.

Suzles · 11-13-2009, 03:22 PM

Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.

Soup and hot, crusty bread.

Sorted.

Tron_fdc · 11-13-2009, 05:25 PM

Oh yeah, you should sell muffpots and hotdoggers. Sledders love that sh*t.

mudandsnow.com is another website, as is dootalk.com

JohnnyB · 11-13-2009, 07:47 PM

Got any pictures from around where your store is? I don't have much useful input for your business, but I'm interested in where it's at and the environment.

Drury18 · 11-13-2009, 07:49 PM

Snickers Marathon is an AMAZING tasting energy bar. The Chewy Peanut Butter is so good.

http://www.snickersmarathon.com/marathon/marathon.htm

Someone brought a few kinds of these back to the office after their vacation. So good. And amazing enough actually rather good for you.

Phanuthier · 11-13-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Like most people that are crazy like me, I'm pretty well prepared before I head out into the bush.

Ha, I wish I could say the same! I've gone climbing/mountaineering and forgot... shoes, helmet, headlamp (big whoops), et al... I really think I should invest in a bivy with how reckless I am. I'm going to get myself killed one of these days forgetting something super important some time.

Another thing I forgot... tape. Tape for plugging tent leaks, tape for taping up joints and so on.

Also... big, 10L+ jugs of water. Easy to not have enough water.

Sliver · 11-14-2009, 06:41 AM

Stock rollies.