Tag: innovation

The Arctic fascinated Jonathan Weber, so he was excited when he was chosen from a competitive field for a position with the United States Antarctic Program in 2016.

But, while the South Pole excited him from a distance, he learned even more when he felt how cold the freezing, desolate continent could be.

“At the South Pole, the summer season ranges from -60F to about -10F on warm days,” he said. “During the winter it can go down below -100F. So, your gear needs to be able to handle these intense temperature ranges.”

To cope with the extreme weather, the men and women stationed there need specialized clothing and gear, including “Big Red” Canada Goose USAP-exclusive parkas that are rated to keep you warm down to 40 below.

Little did he know it would end up leading to a lucrative side gig; one he plans to grow.

Knowing other cold-weather science and adventure enthusiasts, Weber believed there was a demand for high quality outerwear, not just for their function, but for their rarity and unique style.

“I became very familiar with the Antarctic Program’s specialized clothing and gear while I was deployed,” he said. “Like military surplus, most government agencies sell or auction off surplus gear. I made some connections, and was able to participate in this process after I came back from my first season in Antarctica. This led to purchasing my first few pallets of used gear.”

He set up a warehouse in East Stroudsburg and started selling the surplus gear through the website www.AntarcticSurplus.com. He was joined by Pat McGee, who became the co-manager of Antarctic Surplus. McGee helped organize the gear that Weber was buying.

They knew little about the items since they were bought in bulk, she said. They needed to sort through them to rate them by size, age and quality, and repairs older gear damaged or showing signs of wear.

There was variety, but the traditional “Big Red” parkas were their signature item, and the hardest to get.

“Some of this gear you can’t even find unless you’re from the Antarctic program,” McGee explained. “You really need to be on the lookout for this gear.”

 

The learning curve

They weren’t sure what to expect when they started selling in 2017. The parkas are not cheap, Weber said. Depending on the style, vintage and condition they can sell for up to $1,000.

“While I knew that there was demand for cold weather gear, I did not know if it would be profitable after the costs, shipping, repairs, etc.,” he said. “Luckily, our first experience was positive. We had a smaller amount of parkas and were able to completely sell out relatively quickly.”

Weber said he grossed about $40,000 in sales in just the first 24 hours of sales. But, there was a problem blocking the growth of his new business; he had to rely on the surplus auctions of the Antarctic program to gather new inventory, and those only come around when the program has extra gear to sell.

That next auction occurred earlier this year, and with their first experience giving them the confidence to go bigger, Antarctic Surplus bought even more parkas in a larger variety of styles. The also bought boots, ice picks and Antarctic-weather rated tents.

They learned from the customers who bought their batch that there was a market for a variety of items, McGee said. Their customers were mostly Antarctic explorers themselves, or just cold-weather sports enthusiasts.

“We hit a very niche demand,” she said.

A cool trend

The downy parkas caught the eye of the trendy crowd. Many Hollywood celebrities and trend setters wear the commercially available Canada Goose parkas. To own a vintage, exclusively made Antarctic program parka was a step up.

There were simple, practical buyers, too. Stacey Jones of New York City never owned a parka, so when he decided to buy only one, he wanted one that would last. So, he decided to go for the best. He wanted one super-warm layer that would protect him from the cold, but be easy to slip off inside.

He always had an interest in the cold continent, and his research led him to Weber’s site, and the Big Red parkas. For Jones, they were the perfect solution.

“Living in New York City the idea of layering isn’t practical. You go from one heated building to the next,” Jones said.

Learning who their customers are and what they want is an ongoing process, McGee said.

“It’s a trial by fire with the new items, but last time was pretty successful for us,” she said. So she and Weber are keeping an open mind about how to grow the business with their new inventory and the goods they hope to obtain in the future.

“The biggest limitations are obviously around inventory,” Weber said. “But now that we have been able to build up a good customer base we are considering different options for offering ongoing inventory; for instance, new products, or military surplus cold weather gear with regular availability.”

And as McGee minds the store, Weber is heading back to the place where it all began.

“I am about to deploy to a different area of Antarctica, Union Glacier, with a private operator within the next few days,” he said. “I’ll be working in communications and I’ll be bringing a good bit of ex-USAP gear back to Antarctica with me.

It’s an opportunity for him “to get back on the ice,“ he said, and maybe find some additions for his inventory while he’s down there.