One of Canada’s most successful outdoor equipment retailers is 40 years old today.
Mountain Equipment Co-op – which was started in 1971 in Vancouver by a handful of mountain climbers from the University of British Columbia who couldn’t find mountaineering gear locally – officially marked its 40th anniversary Tuesday.
The six original members started the co-op by charging a $5 membership, which has not changed in 40 years. MEC has grown into a national company with 14 retail outlets in six provinces.
With 3.5 million members, 1,500 employees and sales of $261 million last year, MEC ranks 46 in Business in Vancouver’s Top 100 private companies list. (See “Co-op business model proves successful” – issue 1129; June 14-20, 2011.)
“MEC was founded by a small group of climbers who possessed an entrepreneurial spirit, a keen sense of adventure and a deep love for the outdoors,” said CEO David Labistour.
“These qualities live on at MEC today, helping guide our service to members, the quality and value-laden products we aim to provide and our desire to serve today and tomorrow’s generation of active Canadians.”
MEC has retail outlets in Vancouver, Victoria and North Vancouver. In June, MEC got the green light from the City of North Vancouver for an expansion that will see new 20,688-square-foot store at 212 Brooksbank Avenue near Park & Tillford Shopping Centre.
Nelson Bennett
Twitter: nbennett_BIV