For those of you that are not aware of the brand, Snow Peak produces and sells premium outdoor and outdoor lifestyle products. The company was founded in 1958 by mountaineer Yukio Yamai.  Dissatisfied with existing equipment, Yamai started the company to create superior outdoor gear. Snow Peak opened this Portland store in 2013 “…to connect American consumers to products beyond Snow Peak’s well-known titanium cups…” (D.K.Row The Oregonian 3/29/2013)

The Portland OR store is Snow Peak’s North American Flagship store; another store opened in SOHO in late 2015. The store features the Snow Peak product line including stoves, cookware, utensils, tents, tableware and flasks.  Included with many uncommonly good camping products, they also sell more exotic products such as a titanium sake flask, silicone chopsticks, titanium straw and their “solid stakes” tent stakes that are possibly the most indestructible tent stakes available.

While the amazing product often draws the attention of most shoppers, you should take the time to examine the way they display their product. The store is in the 1915 Dale Building that has been beautifully updated. The store is filled with wood, exposed brick and great natural light from the front windows. The displays are clean and crisp.  Signage is simple and limited allowing the product to speak for itself.  Take a close look at their lighting.  You will notice that the display of titanium Sporks is lit using several different lights that bath the product in a subtle light that eliminates shadows.

As for the service, I have always found the staff attentive and helpful without being intrusive.

If you are in Portland, OR., you should check out the Snow Peak store.

-This is the first of what I hope will be an ongoing series of posts about the stores that I shop in and admire.