Page 35 - Flathead Beacon // 12.25.13

FLATHEADBEACON.COM
BUSINESS
DECEMBER 25, 2013 | 35

Schierl said last week, standing in the through,” Schierl said.

Paddleish shop at 105 Wisconsin Ave. There isn’t much dining space at the
“We have to make enough proit through moment, with a bar made out of a wood-
several (means).”
en paddleboard with seating, along with
Schierl, who opened the paddleboard a cozy couch in the paddleboard shop,
shop in 2011, said he had considered just where patrons can sip their espresso
shutting down for the winter and relying drinks and watch ski movies.
on summer as his time of plenty, but he It could all be adjusted to it more ta-
realized he’d miss out on the opportuni- bles, depending on what the chef wants,

ty to keep engaging with his customers.
Schierl said.
So instead of trying to rely on just In addition to the cofee and poten-
selling primarily summer equipment tial meals, Paddleish has also partnered
while the snow is falling, Schierl decided with Meadow Lake Resort, who has an
to diversify.
ambassador at the board shop who can
Now the warm paddleboard shop provide valley information and sell dis-
serves espresso, aimed at those custom- counted vacation packages, as well as

ers headed up the road to make tracks on gifting people with free activities.
Big Mountain. Schierl also invested in a Local collaboration will be key for
line of snowshoes, which his shop rents future success, Schierl said. He’s sell-
out at $20 a day. This side of his business ing Montana Cofee Traders cofee, and
is called Fresh Tracks.
works with the Montana Bike Hostel
“Snowshoes are very similar to pad- year round.
dleboards,” Schierl said. “Everybody But even just being open in the win-
can do it.”
ter has helped the paddleboard side of
Winter gear for sale at Paddleish. In addition to renting and selling gear, they are planning to open
Since opening two years ago, Pad- Fresh Tracks, a cofee and breakfast spot, in his Whiteish shop. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
the business, he said. Since he is there to
dleish has grown signiicantly; its sales make cofee and rent snowshoes, he can
increased so much the company had to also answer questions about the boards partment, Paddleish taught kids how to mer plans, Schierl has more immedi-
move from its original location in White- and sell some during the holiday season.
paddleboard last summer.
ate changes to work on. Along with the
ish to its current spot, on the north end So while this winter will show him The collaboration was extremely espresso and snowshoes, he wants to
of the viaduct near the intersection of whether his new business model works, positive, Schierl said. He was able to ind someone to rent out the kitchen in
Wisconsin Avenue and Edgewood Place.
Schierl said he’s open to the options that keep 20 boards at City Beach, and the his shop and create meals that skiers can

The new location allows for easy keep him busy.
classes were sold out all summer. Next grab to go.
access to Whiteish Lake and the City “It’s really exciting,” he said.
summer, he hopes to add adult classes, “The food is the next thing to really
Beach, Schierl noted, and also puts the For updates on Paddleish Sports, as well as classes for competitive paddle- dial in,” he said.
shop on the direct route to Whiteish visit the shop’s Facebook page at www. boarding, both on rivers and lat water.
The space needs to be inspected by
Mountain Resort.
facebook.com/PaddleishSUP or www. That could also lead to potential health oicials, and Schierl said he’s al-
Paddleboard classes have also been paddleish-sports.com.
weekly races, and Schierl also has hopes ready been in conversations with chefs
very successful. Through a partnership [email protected]
of including shorter races for kids.
who might be interested.
with the city parks and recreation de-
But regardless of upcoming sum-
“We want (customers) to cycle

Merry From
4-8 pm

Christmas
284 North
Meridian Road,
Kalispell
756-1333
and

Happy
2141 US Hwy 2 E,
Kalispell
(pickup window)
756-3100

New Year

from your friends at

1120 US Highway 2 East in Kalispell

406-257-3406