Season 4: Get Vertical! How Trailhead Went From Idea to the Top 1% скачать в хорошем качестве

Season 4: Get Vertical! How Trailhead Went From Idea to the Top 1%

From Idea to a Top 1% Store This business started 60 miles into a run — over an avocado quesadilla. In this episode of Get Vertical! Mike McCalley ( @Endure121 ) sits down with Drew Flowers of Trailhead Running Supply (instagram.com/trailheadrunningsupply/) to unpack how a niche trail running store in Dallas became one of the Top 65 running stores in America — placing it in the top 1% nationally. What began as a “crazy idea” at mile 60 of a canceled ultra race turned into a community-driven retail brand that competitors now try to emulate. This episode is about more than running. It’s about: • Hard career pivots • Niche positioning • Vendor skepticism • Experience design • Community as competitive advantage • Building something that can’t easily be copied If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, retail operator, or leader trying to build loyalty in a crowded market — this conversation will resonate. What You’ll Learn: How Drew pivoted from construction → graphic design → REI → specialty retail leadership The 60-mile moment that sparked the idea Why vendors laughed at launching a trail-only store in Dallas How to design a retail experience that tells a story Why community became the true moat How weekly rhythms like “Dirt Church” created momentum What it takes to be voted into the Top 65 stores in the U.S. Early mistakes with inventory and e-commerce Advice for launching a niche business Chapters 00:00 From Construction to Retail Leadership 03:30 The Leap from Design to REI 08:30 The 60-Mile Avocado Quesadilla Moment 14:00 Vendors Laugh at the Idea 17:30 Turning Skepticism into Partnerships 21:00 Designing a Store That Tells a Story 29:00 “Community Is the Secret Sauce” 32:00 The Trail Running Ethos vs. Road Racing 35:00 Dirt Church, Rocky’s Road & Weekly Momentum 41:00 How the Top 65 Selection Process Works 45:00 Inventory Mistakes & E-Commerce Lessons 49:00 Can the Concept Scale? 52:00 Advice for Niche Entrepreneurs 📍 Learn more about Trailhead Running Supply: https://trailheadrunningsupply.com instagram.com/trailheadrunningsupply/ 🎙 Subscribe to Get Vertical for more conversations with founders and leaders who turn bold ideas into real momentum. Connect with The Vertical Solution or Mike at: theverticalsolution.com @Endure121 instagram.com/mike_mccalley/ #entrepreneurship #retailstrategy #communitybuilding #smallbusiness #leadership #nichestrategy #founderstory #trailrunning