Pull Up A Chair With Steamboat's Town Hall

Photo courtesy of Town Hall Outdoor Co

When VF Corp acquired Smartwool and relocated its headquarters from Steamboat Springs to Denver, it lost some serious talent. But, what remained in Steamboat were two passionate, community driven, incredibly competent outdoor professionals ready to do something different.

Robin Hall and Jay Lambert (Town Hall’s current CEO and COO) partnered with industry expert Joe Solomon (current VP) and started canoodling on what they could do with their diverse pool of talents, while also creating jobs in Steamboat. After months of dreaming big, challenging current processes and asking big questions, they landed on intimately supporting their local community, giving the planet a more hopeful future and serving an often-overlooked demographic: kids. And, with all of that, Town Hall Outdoor Co. was born.

The name “Town Hall” is not a happy accident. A town hall is the heartbeat of a community — where people gather to enjoy each other’s company, ask hard questions and demand change for their immediate experience. This vision seeps into every aspect of this new company’s vision, and the founders want the brand to be known as the jolly, inclusive, approachable neighbor, not the elite, inaccessible, “cool” guy in the room.

The pillars of Town Hall are environmental stewardship, community, quality and trust. Every step of creating the business has been intentional: from research and development, identifying respectful partnerships for manufacturing and creating a sense of community.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Each of the founders intimately understand the urgent need to do things differently to help secure a healthy planet for their children’s future. For example, their current ski jacket is made of 95% recycled materials. Their biggest hurdle is sourcing sustainable and good quality Velcro and zippers, but their ambitious goal is to be 100% recycled by 2023. Not only is sustainability important in their product process, but the factories they work with are WRAP certified, and developing respectful relationships with their manufacturing partners is paramount. They also embrace sustainability in other ways, like offering local bike delivery in Steamboat (when possible), eliminating poly-bag packaging and using dead-stock materials off their cutting room floors.

COMMUNITY

Because one of Town Hall’s missions is to keep jobs in the founder’s treasured small mountain town, Steamboat has become part of the brand’s identity. The company is committed to hiring locals for all contract positions and intends to add five full-time employees in the next three years. Slow, sustainable growth is important to ensure the integrity of the brand is protected. Ultimately, Town Hall wants the brand to give back to the community — the community that inspired the brand. While there aren’t any plans for a brick and mortar store yet, a kid’s coffee shop/retail shop/community gathering place is possible in the future.

QUALITY

Photo courtesy of Town Hall Outdoor Co

Town Hall is serving a fast-growing customer (children), so heirloom pieces are at the heart of their lines. “Vetting the product is number one,” says Hall. “We are wholly focused on kids, researching with kids and working with kids.”

And, with a combined six kids under the age of 13, the founders use this resource in every aspect of the business. From color, fit and features, kids are at the heart of the company’s decision making. Their big dream is to bring manufacturing to Northwestern Colorado.

TRUST

To earn trust in the community, Town Hall is committed to making the outdoors accessible to everyone. Town Hall wants to get all kids outside. Whether they’re simply playing in their backyard, biking around the neighborhood or going hiking in the surrounding areas, the owners are committed to taking elitism out of the outdoors. To help with this initiative, 3% of the company’s profits are donated to various organizations each year. This year, their philanthropic efforts are focused on supporting immigrants’ navigation, integration and education through Integrated Community and helping children in Steamboat’s local Boys and Girls Club.

Photo courtesy of Town Hall Outdoor Co

FOUNDER’S SUPER POWERS

When Hall isn’t whipping up a batch of gingerbread cookies, she is busy keeping others motivated through enthusiastic positivity and epic fun. She is also exceptionally skilled at juggling a million things at once (what mom isn’t?!)

Lambert is about as even-keeled as they come. With a steady (and inventive) mind, he is the ultimate connector who ensures Town Hall’s relationships are respectful, honest, transparent and rewarding. And, according to Hall, he is the most amazing dad.

Solomon is a kid in the candy store of life. His epic vision, business acumen and ability to challenge the way people typically do things is admirable. And, while he might be in charge of “the boring stuff,” he also makes it incredibly fun — a feat in and of itself!

Originally published in the Spring 2022 of Spoke+Blossom.