Making Progress: Letter From The President

You have to love the buzz of our small town this time of year. It seems every other vehicle that passes has a canoe strapped to its roof, while the sidewalks fill with shoppers popping in and out of the local gems that line our streets.  

Here at Wintergreen, you can hear the sewing machines buzzing upstairs while folks browse our storefront. I enjoy the conversations, whether meeting new people who are visiting for the first time, or saying hello again to folks who are all too familiar with our story and our products. 

Given the attentiveness and support of so many of our fans, it is an intention of ours to continue to shed light on the challenges and opportunities of our business. 

Progress this year:

We are catching up on our order delivery from our large backlog last fall. We are so appreciative of the patience and confidence that so many of you have had in us to deliver. Though the challenges have been many: price spikes ofour materials, supply chain delays, the limited hand-sewing production capacity that is growing but just can’t be rushed, and all of the other nuances of a lifetime goods manufacturer in the U.S.A., we strive to meet the standards we have always held ourselves to.

The response from our team here at Wintergreen as well as the vote of confidence from our customers has been humbling and keeps me going with a jump in my step. 

Growing our production capacity while maintaining (and improving) our attention to quality has been a very big focus of our team. We are seeing results and we are starting to stock some of our most popular products again! 

Pricing was adjusted this spring to help cover rising costs while tackling internal cost reductions, keeping Wintergreen in a healthy spot as we navigate a climate that ebbs and flows. 

What’s new: 

It has taken some time to learn this industry, but each conversation with a visitor or local seems to add to my understanding of the needs and desires of our customers. I also greatly appreciate our employees whose skills and local connections bring much to the table, experiencing nature while becoming lifetime product testers and developers. With a renewed process for product design, Wintergreen is poised to fill some gaps in our product line in the coming months and years. We are lining up projects that will filter into our store and website that I know will excite you. 

We will use a similar approach to continue to bring modified or exclusive offerings to you. This year we have already offered colorblocked windshirts and sustainability edition vests, which were met with open arms. 

Lastly, our storefront is taking on a fresh look while holding tight to where we came from. Changes to the store will happen slowly and in phases. 

Enjoy the summer and please stop in and see us if you find yourself in the buzzing streets of Ely!

Jackson Harren - President