Holy Schmoly. 5 years. That’s always been the magic number, at least in my head. Crossing that threshold means it has worked, is working and will work.
I’ve always believed, all my life, that would succeed. If I didn’t have that vision to hold on to, there is no way I would have had what it took to get the business off the ground.
And, yet, the dark and confusing times were real, scary and threatening. More than once I have questioned my sanity – and sanity.
But, we are a community, this time together, on a mission to support small, emerging and small brands – using cool, innovative, innovative outdoor gear while doing it.
As celebrates its 5th birthday, what impresses me the most is that it has grown into something without me. Yes, I still pour all my love and time into the business. But it’s not mine anymore. It’s ours.
is now owned by an amazing behind-the-scenes team that makes it stand out. For brands who value the platform enough to put their products (and themselves) on it. And, above all, it belongs to all of you, our customers, our community.
In fact there is no such thing as a successful business without customers. If you all weren’t there, helping us spread the word and buy products from our site, we wouldn’t exist. We can be part of that Bureau of Labor statistics that say half of small businesses fail in the first 5 years.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about our collective myths about startups in the US We tend to believe that you have to be a 20-year-old male living in a tech hub to launch a successful business. Unconsciously (and sadly, sometimes consciously) we see entrepreneurs as such only people who look like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
I’m proud to be crazy about many things with . But if someone were to hold my feet to the fire and force me to choose something I’m proud of it’s this: I was able to pull off as a new mom living in rural Idaho. (My daughter was 2 years old when the GGG store opened, and her idea began to take shape not long after she was born.)
Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, from all kinds of different backgrounds. What they share in common is a willingness to think outside the box and summon the great courage needed to put their ideas out there for all to criticize.
I strongly believe that it is time to reclaim the word ‘entrepreneur’ – to own it in all its diversity and inclusion. And to celebrate the people who release it year after year, not for glory (cuz trust me, there’s not much), but for the true love of the creative process.
I consider my gift – and by that I mean my way of giving. It’s my way of supporting small businesses and the people behind them. And it’s my way of encouraging people to get outside – because the first thing you do when you get cool, new gear is run out the door to use it.
There are billions of people to thank for helping me and get to where we are today. But two people in particular have been really helpful. The real reason is that is still kicking (and now crankin’).
My dear husband, Cory, has always turned his back on me. Words cannot adequately express how much I love you and how grateful I am to you for encouraging me to take the road less traveled.
And, to my business partner, Lloyd: Wow, just wow. I never take for granted how lucky I am that our paths crossed. Working together with you somehow leads to magic.
For that, I would like to raise a glass: here is everyone who has presented a dream in the kitchen, basement or garage. In my mind, it doesn’t matter what happens next. It is an act in itself, a willingness to fight for it, a belief that in any small way we can all change the world.
Thank you so much for joining me on the journey and I will see you again a little bit down the road.
XOXOXOXO,
Amy Hatch
PS If you haven’t seen the ‘About’ video we released this summer, check it out…