How Do We Choose Our Partners?
As Scotlands National Outdoor Training Centre, we are frequently approached by companies interested in working with us, this means we are fortunate enough to be able to work with the best companies in each field. We dont just work with anybody. The Cairngorm plateau, our coastline, our rivers and lochs, can all be extremely hazzardous work places in the wrong conditions, especially if you have the wrong equipment. That is why we extensively test all of our partners kit, before agreeing to work with them. It also means that they receive continual feedback from one of the harshest real life testing environments available.
Very high on our list of critera is that our partners are ethically minded. We care passionately about the environment and the sustainable use of it, therefore we check throughly that our partners beleive, support and act according to this.
The other important factor is build quality. Our instructors place a huge burden on their equipment, in some cases more than an average customers life time of product use in less than a season. None of our instructors would be happy to use kit that was not built to last and function well in the conditions they work in. This is why you can trust the recommendations of our team and have faith in the products we use.
The key goal of our partnerships is to ensure that you, our customers, have access to the best possible kit, available through our stores, optimising your learning experience We highly recommend taking the opportunity to test the equipment we have, before you start shopping yourselves.
We would like to thank all our partners. We have a superb working and social relationship with them and long may it last.
Here is what they have to say about their relationship with the Lodge:
ELLIS BRIGHAM
With 24 stores throughout the UK, Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports is one of the UK’s largest outdoor equipment retailers. They are well known for their high level of customer service and product knowledge they offer, which made them a perfect match for Glenmore Lodge. When announcing the new partnership, starting on 1st September 2012, Mark Brigham, Marketing Director at Ellis Brigham says ‘We have long been admirers of the breadth of courses and the expertise that Glenmore Lodge possesses and we are thrilled that the team at Glenmore feel we are a suitable partner with which to support their business strategy. We very much look forward to working with Glenmore Lodge.
THE NORTH FACE
The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, will be providing Glenmore Lodge’s instructors with all their mountain clothing as well as outfitting our stores with waterproof and insulating layers for our customers to borrow.
On the launch of the new partnership (1st September 2012) Alex Beasley, The North Face’s UK Country Manager UK said “To be associated with Glenmore Lodge is a wonderful opportunity to further improve our Summit Series product by using the feedback from the instructors in our design process. Furthermore the fact that Glenmore Lodge is Scotland’s National Outdoor Centre will allow us to extend our staff training program to include a testing outdoor experience with input from true professionals to further help sell through of the brand for our retailers. To say we are excited is an understatement!”
P&H
As our tag line " The British specialists in sea kayak design" suggests we have a long pedigree for fine designs and outstanding craftsmanship. Being out on the water is in our blood and we pride ourselves on delivering the choice, quality and innovation you would expect from people who not only design and build kayaks but who actually use them too. Our experience is what has kept us at the very forefront of the industry since we started designing and manufacturing sea kayaks over 30 years ago.
The skill, dedication and passion of all our staff is what takes the company forward and maintains these high standards. These are the same qualities and standards we see at Glenmore Lodge which is why we are proud to be a sponsor.
PYRANHA
Pyranha is not just another canoe and kayak company. In 1976, a small group of British paddlers collected a trailer load of cutting edge fibreglass boats from our factory in England, loaded a few more on the roof of their van, drove them 7500 miles to Mount Everest and paddled them down the first descent of the Dudh Kosi. Since then, we’ve stayed at the cutting edge of white water paddling. We’ve built a global group of paddlers like the team at Glenmore Lodge . Their feedback helps shape our boats. We’ve supported numerous world class expeditions. We’ve won a host of accolades for our leading designs but most importantly, we’ve researched, tested, prototyped and developed our boats year on year to make sure that you get the most out of your day on the river.
We’re still primarily run by kayakers, which means we’re run for kayakers. We’re not owned by a holding company so we don’t have to bow to a non-paddling board of directors: our bottom line’s the same as your bottom line, which is having fun on the water!
GRANGERS
We are a technology-based company specialising in cleaning and waterproofing products that protect and restore your outdoor gear.
Established in 1937, we became the first company to produce environment-friendly water-based waterproofing. Our principle of producing ecologically sound, high performance treatments continues to this day.
Our proofing technologies replicate the water-repellence applied to boots, garments and equipment when they were new. You’re just re-applying the original treatment, so your gear works better for longer. As we like to put it; Original Performance Restored. As you can imagine, being able to work with Glenmore Lodge, is the ultimate testing ground for our products. It is also available for free for those of you who go there on a course. We are proud to be sponsors of a mutually ethical and world class outdoor organisation.
SCARPA
Whilst technology continues to provide a variety of new materials, which aid the development of modern footwear, it is the boot maker's skills that differentiate quality boots from cheaper boots.
It is these skills, in the selection of leathers, the lasting and make up of the boot and the harnessing of the most appropriate technology, which provide the magic ingredients in good footwear.
SCARPA has had over 50 years experience of making the worlds finest mountain boots. Today's SCARPA footwear represents the ideal marriage of craftsmanship and technology. We can also benefit from the Lodge instructor team who are out using our boots every day of the week. If they need to give us feedback or ideas w are able to experiment with the design team and take our footwear to the next stage. It offers a great synergy. We hope to keep this relationship working at such a productive level for a long time to come.
Glyn Padgett - Scarpa Team
www.scarpa.co.uk
SKI TRAB
The latest addition to our partner brands is Ski Trab. Ski Trab stated up thanks to Giacomo Trabucchi’s intuition and enthusiasm. Trabucchi made his first solid wooden skis in 1946. The Ski Trab factory is based in Bormio, a renowned skiing resort, boasting a tradition of skiing professionals and champions. Since its beginning there has always been a constant and natural contact with and influence from skiing and mountain experts. This has helped to ensure that the finished product meets the requirements of real skiers. The Trabucchi family, who still own the brand is now able to offer high technical and specialised products, making Ski Trab a leading firm in the ski touring, ski mountaineering and cross country fields. No ski has appeared on the podium of ski touring races more often!
TEKO / SUPERFEET / BACK COUNTRY ACCESS
PEAK UK
Peak UK pride themselves as being world class paddling wear innovators. All their products are designed and tested by experts, both at paddling and garment production. They use only the finest quality materials sourced all over the globe. All of their products are manufactured using the latest and highest quality techniques and machines available. Their test team and staff are the finest. Many World, Olympic and National Champions in all disciplines choose to Peak UK products. Peak UK and Glenmore Lodge are proud partners working together on product research and development in a tough Highland environment.
PETZL /JULBO
Way back in 1965, Ben Lyon, aided by engineer brother Graham, started making caving ladders. The name 'Lyon Ladders' was registered in 1973. In the same year Ben, with Mike Meredith, took a party of cavers to France, and called in on Fernand Petzl's 3-man workshop. Mike started imports to the UK, handing on to Ben's business in 1974, making 'Lyon' the first overseas Petzl distributor. The next move was to change our name to Lyon Equipment.
More leading Brands have been added to our portfolio including Julbo. Adding staff of exceptional quality has allowed us to develop an unrivalled range of gear and techniques for tackling every type of play, work, and rescue at height. (And other places too!) . Working with Glenmore Lodge, offers us the opportunity to show off the quality of our equipment. The Lodge stores, is full of equipment for use by the students and staff. There is no better showcase than a National Centre. We are very happy to be part of their very friendly and professional team.
Martin Berghad - Lyon Team
http://en.petzl.com
WERNER PADDLES
Ultimate Paddle Performance™ is Werner Paddles Mission. . . and Promise to You.
We believe Advanced Designs and a Great Fit are the key ingredients to achieving Ultimate Paddle Performance™ . . . therefore, to fulfill our promise we focus enormous amounts of energy to developing a complete selection of advanced paddle designs.
LAPIERRE / SOMBRIO
ANQUET
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Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, Scotland PH22 1QU
T: 01479 861 256 | F: 01479 861 212 | E: enquiries@glenmorelodge.org.uk
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