Outfitting the outdoor adventurer
Taken from The Powell River Peak, March 14, 2002

Sam Sansalone, owner of the new Powell River Outdoors, shows a spring salmon he caught off the shores of Powell River. Powell River Outdoors celebrated its grand opening on Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23 2002, and has everything the outdoor adventurer needs for an excursion to paradise. Working with the public and a love of the outdoors led Sam Sansalone to realize his dream of owning a sporting goods shop.

"I've always enjoyed working with people, and helping them out with their sporting needs is very rewarding," says Sansalone over coffee at his shop, located below Taws Cycle and Sports on Marine Avenue.

He's chosen a catchy name for the business, Powell River Outdoors, because that's what he brings to the table for his clients.

"I've had a great deal of experience in this field and I like being able to use my knowledge and expertise to enable people to have a more rewarding outdoor experience, whether it be fishing, hunting, or just sightseeing via rock climbing, mountain biking, or out on a canoe or kayak."

Hooking up with the experts at Taws, who have been in business for more than 30 years, is a perfect match. "The two stores complement each other. We'll be able to help customers with all their sporting and hunting needs."

"I had my first taste of Powell River on a weekend getaway," says Sansalone. "It didn't take me long to realize how unique and special this town is. "I was amazed with the network of lakes being in such close proximity to the ocean. It truly has the best of both worlds."

A short time after this outing, Sansalone moved to Powell River to manage the sporting goods department in the localdepartment store. "Salmon fishing was at a peak, and I was able to learn a lot about sporting goods products as well as meeting many of the locals who have enjoyed the outdoor resources in Powell River."

Two years later, Sansalone was offered a job at Inland Pacific Distributions, a major supplier of outdoor sporting goods products located in Langley. "I didn't want to leave Powell River, but I knew that opportunity would enable me to widen my knowledge of the products available".

"I began in the shipping and receiving end of the company and worked my way up to the position of sales rep. I got to travel to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, servicing all the sporting goods shops."

Through his travels, Sansalone made contacts and was able to gain valuable knowledge as to why some shops did well in the marketplace while others struggled and closed down. Almost all the successful shops had one thing in common-the shop was run and owned by someone who could relate to customers' needs through his or her own personal experience-from having been involved with the products they were selling.

In 1994, Sansalone took a job in a local tackle shop.

In 2001, Sansalone had a chance to continue toward his dream about owning his own shop. The owners of Taws approached him and suggested he use the Outdoor Den location, built about three years ago below their store, as a place to set up shop. After a few meetings, a deal was reached and Sansalone's dream came true.

Powell River Outdoors is no longer just a dream. He's made it a reality.

"I really believe Powell River has huge potential to grow as a major tourism destination. We have so many resources, and it's so vast and beautiful here. We need to take care of what we have, but I think we can showcase Powell River for all it has to offer."