Alpine Shop Blog

Come celebrate the spirit of the islands with us this Thursday, June 27 at all Alpine Shop locations as we celebrate Olukai Island Day.

Each of our stores is giving away a pair of Olukai Sandals that day. All you have to do is come into any location and register to win with us. But you have to do it inside the store on Thursday. No on-line entries for this give-away!

Plus, we’ll have free Popsicles for all customers back in our footwear departments to help you get in the summer/island vibe.

Come visit any Alpine Shop location on Thursday, June 27 for Olukai Island Day and you could win a free pair of Olukai sandals!

About Olukai Sandals :

Every product Olukai makes must offer style, durability, and comfort from heel to toe. They pay close attention to every element of design, starting with the use of custom-made lasts and anatomical footbeds to ensure superior fit. Premium materials are carefully selected to be beautiful, durable, and soft against your skin. Handcrafted details honor island culture with authentic artwork. Behind every pair is this commitment to quality for those who wear them and those who craft them.

[KNOXVILLE, TENN., June 10 –] If there was a Stanley Cup for the independent outdoor retailers of North America, you could say St. Louis-based Alpine Shop just took home the big prize.

At the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Awards Banquet held on Saturday, June 8, at the Knoxville Convention Center, Alpine Shop took home the Retailer of the Year award for the first time in its history.

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA) is an active network of 70 independent retailers across the nation working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Alpine Shop has been a member of the organization since 2002.

Owner Russell “Holly” Hollenbeck, who purchased the store in 1978 and has run it ever since, fought back tears as he accepted the award with his wife and Alpine Shop co-owner, Lisa Hollenbeck. “My goal has always been to get up in the morning and be excited about going to work,” he said. “And have everyone who works for me feel the same way.”

Alpine Shop received the honor based on voting from the entire membership of the GOA.

Alpine Shop is also one of three finalists in the Retail category for the 2019 Inspiration Award from Outdoor Retailer, the largest U.S. tradeshow and business event for the outdoor industry. That award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Denver.

About Alpine Shop:

What began in 1973 as a small climbing shop in Webster Groves, Mo., now serves almost every type of outdoor enthusiast from backpackers, hikers, campers, paddlers, and cyclists, to snowboarders and skiers at our four locations in Missouri and Kansas. After 45 years in the business, it is Alpine Shop’s vision to see Generations Transformed by Discovery Outdoors. (And we’d like to see the St. Louis Blues win the actual Stanley Cup in Game seven this Wednesday.)

Friday, May 17 is National Bike to Work Day and the whole month of May is National Bike Month.

So how can you participate? Well, if you’re an experienced rider, just jump on your bike and ride! Pretty simple, right? And if you can ride to work on National Bike to Work Day, even better!

But what if you’re not such an experienced rider? What do you need if you’re interested in starting to commute by bike? Well, here are a few tips that we hope might make the experience more fun than you expected.

1. If you don’t have a bike already, well, you might be surprised to find out that is a requirement. But, you’re also in luck, because we have some of the best commuter bikes you’ve ever seen. The Specialized Turbo Vado and Turbo Como E-Bikes take a lot of the stress out of commuting. The pedal-assisted system is just like riding a bike – only a lot faster and a lot easier.
   
   Now, some people might say that an E-Bike would be cheating for National Bike to Work Day. We couldn’t disagree more. The simple truth is riding an e-bike still means you’re going to be pedaling – the bike doesn’t move unless you’re being active. And as far as we’re concerned, as long as you’re being active and you’re not adding another car to the roadways, you’re staying true to the purpose of the day.
2. Plan your route ahead of time. The route you drive to work may not be the safest for you to ride your bike on. Look for streets with dedicated bike paths or at least a wide-enough, and safe-enough shoulder that leave you room to maneuver in the face of other vehicles.
3. You’re probably going to want a bag to bring a change of clothes. There are plenty of options. Or you can just grab an old backpack and see how it goes!
4. Be safe. Wear a helmet. Make sure your bike is in good working condition. Obey all traffic laws and make sure you signal your turns!

You might also be interested in joining us at our Kirkwood store on Thursday, May 16 for our Basic Bike Maintenance class!

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 12, and Alpine Shop is filled with extraordinary gift ideas for that special lady who helped raise you into the adventurous spirit you are today! To help you celebrate her, here are some of our favorite gift ideas from the Kirkwood store. (Many of these gifts are available on-line at alpineshop.com, too!)

Inspired by traditional Hawaiian palm frond braiding, Olukai designed the premium leather straps on the sophisticated U’i Ko’o (literally “Beautiful” in Hawaiian) sandal in the same artisanal way. Modern and comfortable for all-day wear, the U’i Ko’o has an adjustable strap for added support for all of life’s escapades.

Filled with the same insulation as your favorite puffy jacket, the Rumpl Original Printed Puffy Blanket Throw National Parks edition is perfect for anyone with wanderlust. There are six different versions of these blankets with some of the most iconic locales on the planet. Pick out her favorite place and let her dream of her next trip while staying warm under the blanket.

While most things are better outdoors, it’s especially true of wine. But nobody wants to deal with broken glass on the pool deck or the campground. The 10 oz. Wine Tumbler is the YETI answer to enjoying wine in the wild.

If your Mom is the kind to make sure her patio is decorated to the T, check out our large selection of wind chimes and metal outdoor decor at our Kirkwood store. Featuring original pieces from talented artists, you’re sure to find something that fits your Mom’s sense of style.

C.C. Sun Hats are another new brand for Alpine Shop that’s perfect for the upcoming summer season with plenty of styles to choose from that Mom will love wearing – especially to the pool or hopefully the beach.

Inis fragrances and lotions capture the coolness, clarity and purity of the sea like a seashell captures the sound of the sea. Check it out in the women’s section of our Kirkwood location.

A customer favorite that we’re finding it harder and harder to keep in stock, the Spinster Sisters Soy Lotion Candles combine the room-enhancing scents of a candle with a soy body lotion that will make your Mom’s skin feel fantastic. There are a number of fragrances to choose from. Find the one that matches your Mom’s tastes.