Nova Scotian Outdoor Outfitter Stakes Out Moncton Home
MONCTON–Sue Stanfield’s two adventure lifestyle retail stores, Take It Outside and the Trail Shop, will soon be ready to equip Greater Moncton to explore the great outdoors.
Stanfield plans to open a combined store featuring both businesses at 50 Granite Drive in early April 2022.
“It will basically be one door leading into both–everything will be combined inside,” said Andre Roy-Girard, retail operations director for the Trail Shop and Take It Outside.
Both businesses are owned by Stanfield, who is the wife of Jon Stanfield, the president and CEO of Truro-based underwear giant Stanfield’s Ltd. Jon Stanfield also is listed as a director for both Take It Outside and the Trail Shop in the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks.
Roy-Girard said Sue Stanfield launched Take It Outside in 2012. She purchased the Trail Shop, a prominent long-time Quinpool Road stalwart in Halifax, in 2017 from the now-defunct Trail Shop Co-operative Ltd.
Roy-Girard told Huddle there’s still some fit-up work to be done to prepare the 6,000-square-foot berth north of the Trans-Canada, near Costco for the two businesses.
“The building was up already, so they’re putting the walls up and getting things ready for us, so there’s enough work to do–but not much,” he said.
The plans to open the two shops with a staff of 15 in Moncton will cater to a growing passion for hiking and outdoor activity spurred by people rendered shack-happy by pandemic restrictions and an interest in shopping local.
“There are plenty of places near Moncton, like the Irish Town Nature Park and trails like the Dobson Trail, to enjoy so we do feel that the Trail Shop specifically brings a little extra. A lot of the brands we carry are not in the Moncton area,” said Roy-Girard.
Roy-Girard noted the Trail Shop is “a bit more hardcore,” providing goods and accessories for camping, kayaking, and hiking. Take It Outside is “more casual-chic,” focused more on fashion with an outdoorsy flair.
“It’s more for going, maybe, for a walk with the dog or something like that,” said Roy-Girard of the latter business.
When asked if the prospect of opening in the same city as major outfitter Bass Pro Shops was daunting, Roy-Girard said it wasn’t a significant concern.
“I think competition is always good and I think that we bring a bit more expertise and depth of knowledge into our products and outdoor accessories,” he said. “I think they’re far away from us and it won’t affect us too much.”
The Trail Shop has two locations in Nova Scotia: one in Truro and one in Halifax. Take It Outside has locations in Truro and Dartmouth Crossing. A third location–Take It Outside Elevated–recently opened in Halifax.
The new Halifax location features a streamlined, personal shopping experience that allows customers to book a time slot and what they’re shopping for through an app. Customers then visit and try-pre selected products specific to their size and preference.
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While both locations offer high-end outdoor equipment and accessories, with brands like Yeti, Canada Goose, Arc’Teryx, and Blundstone in their inventories, Roy-Girard noted they provide goods at more affordable price points as well.
“Basically we’re giving you a bit of a good-better-best option, so we don’t always bring all high-end brands. We try to find good quality, good price brands as well. We have a great range,” he said.
The Trail Shop and Take It Outside’s new Moncton home is owned by the Gray Group, a Charlottetown-based real estate and development company.
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].