Meet Ron Klein of Mountain Goat Products in Loveland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron Klein.

Ron, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Mountain Goat Products and the Mountain Goat Ski Tote was born deep in the San Juan Mountains of Telluride, Colorado. Our Ski Tote product was designed and developed to meet a simple unmet need; a lightweight, compact and efficient way to carry your skis without having to throw them over your shoulder, or however, you choose to do it! Those long walks from the condo, or parking lot to the lift, or while taking on “hike-to” terrain, can be grueling and uncomfortable to say the least. As a long time, expert skier living is ski towns, I really wanted to develop a solution for carrying your skis & poles, or snowboard, easily and efficiently.

So, as the design idea for the Mountain Goat Ski Tote developed in my mind, I sat down at a sewing machine and starting making some early prototype Ski Totes. Once I nailed down the design I was looking for, I made ten samples to test with friends. The feedback was off the charts, so I applied for a utility patent and trademark for the Mountain Goat Ski Tote and the Mountain Goat Snowboard Tote. With a patent-pending, large scale production and online sales began! Since our patent was awarded, we have grown our product line to include four different sizes of Ski Totes (Child, Small, Regular and XL) and four difference sizes of Snowboard Totes (Child, Small, Regular and XL); and about 20 different color options! Our sales have grown online and at consumer ski & snowboard shows, as well as wholesale to retail stores.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our greatest struggles, aside from a three-year patent process, is getting traction with the ski and snowboard retailers as a small product developer. The big winter sports industry association “SIA” (Snowsports Industries Association) is very expensive and it’s hard to attract retailers at the shows as a small, single-product company. It is equally as difficult to approach the big retailer companies outside of those shows for the same reason – we are a small company with a limited product line. Therefore, our wholesale sales to the winter sports industry retailers have been our biggest struggle.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mountain Goat Products – what should we know?
We have managed to develop and patent a very uniquely designed ski or snowboard carrying system that you wear like a backpack, but when not in use, it rolls up and fits in your jacket pocket! Lightweight (5 oz.) and compact (fits in your hand), our ski and snowboard tote is durable and time tested. We have specialized in the development of a product to help individuals and family’s carry their skis or snowboards on their backs rather than in their hands or over their shoulders, making any walk (at the base or upon the hike-to terrain) much easier and more comfortable. We are very proud of our unique patented design, which sets us apart from an awkward sling device or having to haul a backpack around all day when resort riding!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
A big part of our success is due to the effort of our Mountain Goat team, Elle Fryhling (left in photo) and Renee Klein (right in photo) for their marketing support!

We have also received great support from some of the smaller retailers who took a chance on a small product developer, such as Boot Doctors and Jagged Edge in Telluride, Sunlight Ski & Bike Shop in Glenwood Springs as well as One Stop Ski Shop in Steamboat.

Pricing:

• Child Size online is $19.95
• Small Size online is $24.95
• Regular Size online is $28.95
• XL Size online is $29.95

Contact Info:

• Website: mtngoatproducts.com
• Phone: 970-596-5353
• Email: info@mtngoatproducts.com

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