I needed a couple pairs of shorts and a pair of sneakers of some sort. One obvious place to look at when you live in the Cheyenne area is Sierra Trading Post. They first located in Cheyenne in 1992 after opening the business in Reno, Nevada in 1986. Cheyenne became the company HQ and they were the first tenants in Cheyenne Business Park, opening a retail store and fulfillment center on 40 acres in 2002.

The business was founded by Keith Richardson, and I understand from talking to a neighbor who worked at Sierra Trading Post that it was a friendly, family oriented company with little turnover. He was bought out by TJX Corporation in 2012, things began to change. TJX owns the brands Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods. We move down to Laramie County in September of 2015 from NW Wyoming. There was still a lot of the old store when we first went there. Because Cheyenne was headquarters, they had a bargain area with 2nds, returns, and sample stock (items sent to STP in the hope that a large purchase would be made). I got some good things there. Even as recently as 1 1/2 years ago, there was still a good selection of name brand boots and shoes at decent prices. Out of town guests used to enjoy running into town to look around STP, and they usually found some things to buy. Not now.

In 2018 TJX actually rebranded Sierra Trading Post to just “Sierra.” It was full of junk. Boots and shoes was especially pathetic. They are a Carhartt retailer and they still have a few items of clothing from Simms (damn few), otherwise, junk.

It’s a shame. I guess these corporations know what they’re doing, but they lost a customer.

I've been a long-time customer and had good luck with their B&M store in Columbus Ohio, and thru their website.

Those corps do not know what they are doing. They cut costs any way possible, then wonder where their customers went.

TMats,

I had wondered what had happened and your post explains it well. I had been buying from the Outlet for the better part of 2 decades but noticed of late that looking at what was available just didn't "float my boat."

Yeah I’ve noticed they suck lately, too.

Never underestimate the stupidity of an accountant with an MBA.

I’m convinced that to get an MBA one should actually have to run a business profitably for 10 years.

I USED to shop there online.

Sorry to hear this.

They opened an outlet not far from me and I found some great bargains. But, that was pre-Covid. I refuse to shop places that insist on masks. And until recently, in the Socialist Republic of Illinois, that’s everywhere. So, I haven’t been since late 2019.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
TJX owns the brands Marshalls...

Hmm, didn't know that. Makes sense though, the reject clothing store and the reject clothing mail order now online company. lol

I've been a customer for decades, long before they was an "online". Not that much seems to have changed to me though. Same odd collection of remainders and seconds. Always a gamble buying from them, but often it worked out well.

The last thing I bout from them was a pair of Chippewa boots, really marked down. Once I wore them I could tell why they had them. Odd looking and uncomfortable design. I have a much older pair of Chippewa from them, one boot fits great, the other does too, but it's almost impossible to get on because the upper was made too narrow.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Sorry to hear this.

They opened an outlet not far from me and I found some great bargains. But, that was pre-Covid. I refuse to shop places that insist on masks. And until recently, in the Socialist Republic of Illinois, that’s everywhere. So, I haven’t been since late 2019.

That was the other odd thing about going into their retail store. Masks. Wyoming has been wide open for some time now. When we went to the door and saw the “Masks Required” sign, we came to a dead stop. We could see 2 or 3 employees looking at us. We didn’t even have masks in the car. They said “c’mon in, we’ve got a mask for you,” and we did. Corporate policy. Did find a pair of shorts that I wanted to try on—their changing rooms were still closed. I said something like, “Why is this place operating like it’s still 2020?” Corporate policy. They were hopeful that things would ease up in a week or so.

I’m glad that some of you still find things you want at a decent price. I used to get the sales brochure/booklet from them all the time. In fact the neighbor I referred to was a graphic designer who worked on catalogs and advertising. She was let go a couple years ago when drastic reductions in staff were implemented.

Same thing happened to Eastern Mountain Sports 10+ years ago. They had a great store brand of clothing and gear and outstanding customer service/tech assistance. That is all in the past now and EMS is on life support.

Some of my best business clothing came from STP. I still have a Steinbock coat I bought from that at a fraction of true retail price in 2002, worn every winter since, along with a number of suits (same story.) They used to be my go-to for pretty much all of my footwear (several pairs of Asolo boots, Red Wings, etc.

I haven't even looked at their site since they sold over. There's a physical store near me, which is basically TJ Max with a few outdoor items thrown in. Sad.

If anyone has a lead on an online retailer that's what STP used to be like, please, post it.

I'm on the other side of the country so I used to buy jeans and casual clothing items there for years. They had a good selection and prices up until a couple of years ago when they did the rebranding. Right after that they were shut down with the Covid situation and seem to have opened back up in some form.
Now the prices and selection are not attractive at all so I've stopped buying from them.
By shopping around I've found others on the net that have what I want at the price I want but not always all in one place.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Those corps do not know what they are doing. They cut costs any way possible, then wonder where their customers went.

I would say you are partially correct.
Cutting costs and/or more like effectively managing costs is what they do well.
The actual business of whatever the product or service no so much in that they are not in tune to the customer like the original business.
Unfortunately a lot of small companies that have a good product, idea, service or whatever don't actually run a business very well and if whatever they so or sell is hot enough then they are a candidate to get acquired.
If not they go out of business.
But yes a lot of these acquisitions are with out of touch companies but it's not the cost cutting measures - it's not being in tune with the customer that does it.
IMO.

Probably some of each. One example, Sierra Marine made good quality aftermarket boat engine parts and was very popular. Recently someone new took over, perhaps the original owner retired. Now all their parts are made in China and of terrible quality. The current owners will run the company into the ground, and wonder what happened.

Working on the wholesale side of the outdoor industry, i can weigh-in on this topic...

Sierra Trading Post and TJMaxx are clearance retailers. They exist as a location where manufacturers and upscale retailers can sell their out-of-season inventory. If you find their inventory to be wanting or, short of what you've seen in the past, its because their vendors aren't selling-off or, have no inventory to sell-off to them. In which case, they are forced to buy 'in-line' merchandise from those retailers which means not great pricing or, they're seeking out clearance inventory from their 2nd & 3rd tier brands. For large quantities of outdoor apparel and goods, STP and MarMaxx usually get first crack at the inventory since they can do large amounts in one massive buy, rather than smaller retailers that'll nickel n'dime the inventory.

2020 there was a massive buy of inventory by the public on 'outdoor goods'; lots of free-time, stimulus check, remote work, etc.. combine that with pandemic shutdowns at the mill, factory, transportation and warehouse-level and we get what we're seeing. Less inventory because the shutdown dip is working its way up the supply chain, this whole year will suck. If you're thinking of winter sports or, considering a new tent, sleeping bag, cooler, even clothing...purchase it now, as there will likely be no 'next delivery'; the situation is 'slowly improving' but normalcy won't begin until the start of next year.