Fun Offerings Coming Soon from Trail Builder Mag
Yes, we’re a magazine. But can you have a mag without merch (merchandise, gear, etc)? First of all, the question you might be thinking is, “why?” Great question. I vowed to myself that as I build this magazine (and company) I will be as transparent as possible. There are a few specific reasons we’re rolling out our own gear and other offerings. What are they?
First, to generate cash flow. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m starting and building this from scratch out of my own pocket. As I talk with potential contributors for our print magazine, I want to honor them for their time and talents, which means compensation for their writing and photography. How do we generate sales to pay before the first issue is out? Gear. It’s as simple as that. However, there’s a second reason for gear (or merch or swag) … branding. It’s fun spreading the message of Trail Builder Mag through gear that people can wear (or drink). With the sale of each item, our profit margin is a few dollars. But it’s a start.
We have a few new things we’ll be rolling out soon as we work towards the official release of Volume 1, Issue 0. So what can you expect?
First, coffee. Coffee and trail building go together well. There’s nothing better than showing up for a dig day, and there’s hot coffee waiting for you. Here’s a little teaser video of our coffee …
We’ve partnered with a local Portland-based coffee roaster (and great friend … Sam Wake of Kids & Cobras) to white-label our very own Trail Builder Blend (BTW, please buy other coffee offerings from Kids & Cobras). The Trail Builder Blend combines a chocolate-flavored coffee with a fruity one. A typical blend consists of two single-origin coffees, for example, a Brazilian and an Ethiopian. We’ll sell these in 12oz or 5lb bags. We figured a simple light roast blend is a great way to start.
Beyond coffee, we also are rolling out a five-panel hat and a beanie. Again, fun accessories for the trail and everywhere else.
When will all of this be available? Soon. As early as next week. That’s it. It’s as simple as that. The five-panel hats and beanies will be available for shipping worldwide. We’re initially only selling the coffee within the U.S. because of shipping costs. If you have any questions, please hit the button below and drop me an email. I’m excited to get more gear and goods into your hands.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
