In 2018, a report from the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that about 37.4 million tons of ‘miscellaneous durable goods,’ including sporting goods were sent to American landfills. Recycling programs specific to skis and snowboards help by diverting hundreds of tons annually.
In 2007, Adam Vernon was trying to decide what to do with all the ski gear that he and his family had accumulated over the years.
“I had too much ski gear and it was cluttering up the garage,” Vernon says. “I saw ideas for ski chairs and ski benches and decided to create something I could sell. I made a ski chair and put it on Facebook. It sold quickly and then I immediately started getting orders.”
A Business is Born
As orders began pouring in, Vernon’s daughter convinced him to create a Facebook page to advertise and sell his creations. He then began sourcing skis and snowboards from various thrift stores, online marketplaces and garage sales.
“I ended up getting a ski donation from Ft. Carson and they were all white,” Vernon says. “My daughter thought they were a little boring and she asked if she could paint them. She painted Colorado flags and various mountain scenes that were very popular with my customers. Before long, my son and his friends joined in building and painting chairs. It was great having my family get involved.”
A Bigger Space
Vernon and his family created and sold ski furniture from their garage from 2007 until 2014. They had their eye on a potential business space in Manitou Springs with great visibility on Manitou Avenue. In 2014, Vernon secured their desired spot and finally had a dedicated workshop with a large outdoor display area.
Over the last 11 years, Colorado Ski Furniture has grown their team to 20 people.
“During the pandemic when people had more time to shop and extra money to spend, we could barely keep up with orders,” Vernon says. “I had to hire more painters, carpenters, and people to source and pick up ski gear. I have a really great team that feel like family.”
Expanding Product Line
The success of upcycling ski gear inspired the team to come with other projects utilizing golf clubs, whiskey and wine barrels, snowshoes and barn wood. They were able expand the product line to include art, home décor, corn hole board sets, patio sets, indoor and outdoor furniture, coat hooks and hall trees. They offer something for every budget and aesthetic.
In addition to more products, they introduced a vinyl wrap option for more customizable projects. The vinyl offers a more efficient way to add logos, text and branding to a product.
“We do a lot of business with high-profile companies who want to feature their brand in a really fun way,” he says. “Our giant ski chairs are a top seller along with branded patio sets. We have collaborated with Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, X-Games, The Four Seasons, Capitol One, and various ski resorts around North America, just to name a few.”
Colorado Ski Furniture also offers rentals for events like weddings, anniversaries, corporate events and parties. Want a ski chair or gondola to use for photo ops? They offer these along with other items to make your event stand out.
A Final Note
“At Colorado Ski Furniture we pride ourselves doing high-end, quality work that is built to last,” Vernon says. “We go above and beyond to deliver an even better project that the one you envision.”
Website: https://coloradoskichairs.com/
Address + Phone: 419 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs | 720.594.7091
Instagram + Facebook @ColoradoSkiFurniture