Karmik Outdoors
In today’s Partner Spotlight we’ll hear from Robert Gillingham of Karmik Outdoors about their AFFTA-endorsed rental program, Karmik.Pro.
Can you provide an overview of Karmik Outdoors and its mission in the outdoor industry?
Robert Gillingham: Our Mission is pretty simple. We want to establish and strengthen connections. We want to connect people to their outdoor gear; we want to connect finders to owners; and, we want to connect retailers and brands to their consumers. All the while doing the best we can to enrich our communities and the planet.
What inspired Karmik Outdoors, and how has the company evolved since its inception?
Robert: Our inspiration: this is a very common problem with desperate parties on both ends looking for a better solution. If you peruse the lost and found channels you will see more people who are looking to return items than people who are posting about losing items. People want to do the right thing, but they can't. We make returning simple.
The evolution of Karmik has gone from a simple ‘QR code lost and found sticker’ to a whole ecosystem designed to help businesses and brands establish deeper connections with customers. Karmik.Pro is our newest addition. We built this because many shops are unhappy with what they currently run. Some use excel or some use sticky notes or some have given up on rentals altogether. We built something that helps shops generate revenue, prevent loss and save employees and consumers time.
The third service we provide is for outdoor brands. We white label our service to be included with their products to help them differentiate and add value to consumers. There is a lot more to that but this isn't the place for that discussion.
Can you tell us about any memorable customer experiences or success stories related to Karmik Outdoors' products?
Robert: I love this question. Sometimes our gear means something special to us, we allow users to tell the story of their gear. For example, it’s not just a Buck knife; it’s the knife my Dad gave me for my first deer hunt. I love that we give people a platform to expres what their gear means to them. Actual Karmik ‘Story’: Most of the flies in this box were tied by my grandpa and they are the last physical item I have left from him. I never use the flies he tied but I bring them with me so it feels like he’s still fishing alongside me. We helped a fly shop recover 3 guide setups saving them mucho dinero. This also allowed them to get back to work the next day because of Karmik. I am extremely proud that our product/service actually works and does good for people and our communities. We have recovered dozens of items with tens of thousands of dollars in value.
Looking ahead, what are Karmik Outdoors' goals and aspirations for the future?
Robert: We want to be the platform that our fly fishing community trusts to save their shop money and gear while growing revenue. We can bring a little more technology to fly shops and support them in initiating or running a rental system. For brands, getting their new gear into consumers hands is critical to converting on sales. It is hard for people to invest in a $500+ product without confidence. We can help brands give consumers confidence.
Sustainability is a significant focus in the outdoor industry. How does Karmik Outdoors incorporate sustainable practices into its products and operations?
Robert: I think a lot of times brands say they incorporate sustainable practices into their company but can't even tell you what sustainability means. Not us, no way. With my background in wildlife ecology and conservation biology I am attune to waste and green efficiencies. We do everything we can to reduce our impact. Some actions include reusing packing and shipping materials; buying carbon offsets when given the opportunity; paying extra for recycled materials and providing recyclable material to our customers, eliminating single use plastics from our operation and many more. As a company, we participate in community volunteer activities frequently. As we grow we are launching Karmik Cares™ within the next year. This will be a mechanism for doing more and better. Honestly, I was appalled at the Fly Fishing Shows as they didn't even offer a recycling bin, anywhere. We have to do more, not say more.
Tell us a little bit more about you, how did you find yourself working in the outdoor industry?
Robert: I have always had a passion for outdoor recreation and an insatiable appetite for fly fishing. I have a background in Biology. University of Nevada Reno is where I got my bachelors and Boise State is where I got my Masters. I knew working in the outdoors was for me. I started Karmik Outdoors because of a problem I faced as an angler. While fishing one of our local rivers near Boise I found a fly rod. After the usual channels (Facebook, Craigslist, Online forums, Fly Shop visits) I could not contact the owner. I thought “there has to be a better way!” I want to return something and someone wants their gear back. I knew I could help solve this problem. Next thing I knew I was launching a biz in the outdoor industry and here we are.