“Where other designers would work to improve a tool’s performance by adding on, Tom Frost and I would achieve the same ends by taking away – reducing weight and bulk without sacrificing strength or the level of protection.”
– Yvon Chouinard (Founder of Patagonia)
When you make a decision to sell things to other people, you need to make an important choice: will you push anything that sells? Or will you provide the best products? The products that you know, through your own experience and research, offer the quality and performance needed to exceed the customer’s expectations?
It’s easy to say you’d choose the latter; not always as easy to follow through on it. Pursuing a business philosophy based on this principle requires a deep commitment. It can mean a lot of extra “process” – educating customers not just on the superiority of the physical product, but also the long term benefits it provides over an inferior competitor. It’s often much easier for the customer and business alike to take the path of least resistance, i.e. take the cheap one, the trendy one, the least intimidating one, etc. However, in the long run, the inferior product not only is less likely to last, it provides a watered down experience that’s not as enjoyable.
Thorfinn Expeditions is committed to “the process.” We thoroughly enjoy promoting products which we believe elevate the sports and disciplines we are representing. Turning people on to the benefits of modern equipment and designs, which tend to be lighter, stronger, faster and more efficient, is far more rewarding for both parties. It does take a deep commitment, and may actually lead to the occasional lost sale to a generic alternative sold somewhere else. But we’re promoting a lifestyle, not just trying to move product. Short cuts are not an option.
Thorfinn Product Philosophy
All the products used and sold at Thorfinn, from our sailboat to the kayaks and paddleboards we carry, are selected based on the criteria most important to us:
• Safety
• Performance
• Utility
These sound like common sense points, however the perception on how they are attained can vary wildly. Does a kayak need be a heavy 55 lbs. of fiberglass to be strong and seaworthy? Is a design or style of outfitting best simply because it’s always been done that way? Or is it possible that heavy materials and outdated designs can equal dead weight?
While we have great respect for all types of historical design and building methods, we won’t let tradition hold us back. The vendors we work with have common philosophies guiding their design and production, philosophies that are in-line with Thorfinn: innovation, refinement, strength and performance. The result is a new style of high quality products that create a better experience for the user.
These products tend to stand out. They are built with lightweight materials like Kevlar and carbon fiber. Their shapes take on different lines than earlier, more traditional designs. Outfitting tends to be more simple and purposeful. All great points in our view; but they can confuse customers accustomed to more typical gear, which put heavier emphasis on recognizable designs and “bells and whistles” – with less focus on innovation and chiseling away unneeded features.
At Thorfinn we take great satisfaction in sharing the benefits of the products we carry. We truly believe that we’re selling equipment that helps shape lifestyles, not just hobbies. The right paddleboard or kayak can help the paddler unleash their desire to explore and adventure – for a lifetime; we embrace the opportunity to communicate these philosophies to our customers. As an outdoor education school and specialty retailer, it is second nature for us to talk in depth about the products in our shop. It’s fun, it’s rewarding and it’s the whole reason we’re in the outdoor adventure business to begin with.
Learn more about the products we carry:
