Hidden Gems: Meet Samantha Luegger of LUE Outdoors

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Luegger.

Hi Samantha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
During 2016 my health issues were the worst they had ever been, so my doctors told me to close my Property Management/Housekeeping/Home Remodel Business: “No more physical labor! No more stress! You need to let your body rest.” So I closed my business, took some time off to get better, and when I was ready to go back to work part-time, I could not find someone willing to hire me as I could not promise to be reliable due to my health. Fast forward >> The Summer of 2018, LUE Outdoors started as an Ambassador and Affiliate Business – that is why the name is what it is; My name is Samantha LUEgger, and my job was doing what I love outdoors. The website (lueoutdoors.com) began as a place to share the companies we work with and believe in so much with all of you.

The original LUE Outdoors website was a place for outdoor lovers to connect with multiple companies in one place. Our favorite description: It was like a Mall. Close your eyes and imagine… When you go to a mall, there are stores from varying companies. That is just like when you came to the LUE Outdoors website: You were introduced to varying companies – kind of like looking in their display window and peeking in the entrance to the store. And then, if you like what you saw, you could link with the company (website) – like walking through the doors of a store in a mall. Good news for you: Under the Discover tab, you can still do all of this. We did not get rid of this part of the website because we still think you need to know these awesome companies and their products.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2019: We started Air BNBing in our home to help pay the bills (as I still could not find an employer willing to hire me with my health conditions) and so we could start saving to open a LUE Outdoors store. It was absolutely worth sharing our home with strangers because we now had the financial ability to start carrying a small inventory and selling products (made by the companies we were an ambassador/affiliate for) on the website, never mind meeting some great people along the way. By Fall 2020, we had done a very successful collab with Findlay Hats and were having enough sales could continue to slowly grow the business.

Early 2021 we began looking at the costs of opening a brick & mortar store. It was not a shock when we saw the lease prices here (we live in Summit County, CO), but it was still disconcerting, especially since we were not having any luck finding locations that would be ideal to have a successful retail business. We were blessed when people helped us find a home for LUE Outdoors: If it were not for the assistance and support of family, friends, and the local community, we would not have found a home for LUE Outdoors. Memorial Day Weekend (2022) was the Grand Opening of our beautiful new store in the Silverthorne Outlet Mall.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I would not say it has been a fairly smooth road. I would say it has been an interesting journey and a learning process, but not smooth. I think we have been thrown every obstacle a retailer could be thrown, and then there are all of my health struggles that impact my business, but we persevere, and I am proud of LUE Outdoors.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
LUE Outdoors is a Small Outdoors Industry Retailer based in Summit County, Colorado: You will find high-quality outdoors gear, clothing, and accessories in the store.

We focus on carrying products from Small (Eco Friendly) Businesses breaking into the Outdoors Industry and as much as possible businesses based in Colorado: We are very proud of the companies we work with!!!

We are often told people love the product offering we have curated and that we have a unique business that has something for everyone who loves to play outdoors. We have also been told quite a few times, “You are like a tiny REI, but you carry cooler products!”

Proud Mum: My son started his own Skateboard Brand last year, so we carry his skateboards (Unhinged Skateboards) and a small selection of skateboard products in store – the only small local business that offers skateboard products on our side of Summit County (Silverthorne -Dillon – Keystone – Frisco).

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If interested in working/collaborating with LUE Outdoors: lueoutdoors@yahoo.com Interested in supporting LUE Outdoors? There are a few ways to do so:
– Like, Comment On, and Share our Social Media Posts.
– Share our Website.
– Shop the Store or Website.
– Word-Of-Mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: lueoutdoors.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lueoutdoors/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LUEoutdoors 

Image Credits
The collage photo is collage of brand photos.