Meet Ian Terry | Owner of DoomWood Outfitters

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ian Terry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In the Spring of 2022 I caught Covid and was having one of those wildly high fevers and for some reason I started thinking about what I wanted to do next. Perfect time to make a plan, right? I’d always been a fan of metal/hardcore/punk music and I also love hiking/the outdoors. I decided to combine these two loves and DoomWood Outfitters was born. I wanted to create something that was not only very cool, but would also eventually contribute to preserving nature and helping people who are usually ignored when it comes to the outdoors world get access and representation in those spaces. I wanted something that had input from all of the people I respect and admire and could eventually help my friends in their other creative endeavors as well. Its been a blast so far.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel like the best path a person can take is to constantly evolve and to use your previous experience to add to the next venture. I spent a decade playing in bands and organizing shows. I loved the DIY spirit of punk rock/metal and how you could just build the things you wanted to see if they didn’t exist where you were. I met so many of my best friends and really embarced the ethos. Eventually I was less interested in being in a band as I used to be, so I was searching for something new to channel all of my energy in to. After that I dove into the comedy world by first making sketch videos with my friends that were incredibly DIY and eventually started doing stand up. Almost ten years later I’d toured the country multiple times, ran a DIY comedy festival in multiple cities/countries, and made some great friends. Everything I did used that same DIY spirit and attempted to channel the same energy and ethos as punk rock/metal. Once I left the comedy world I spent some time spinning my wheels and mentally struggling with what I wanted to do next. I was over forty and everything seemed to scream “just get a normal job and do all of those things you’ve been avoiding for the last twenty years”. Once the idea of DoomWood popped into my head it really seemed like the next logical step. I could channel creative energy into something that combined things that I deeply love and also work with my friends to make something new and interesting. I’m really excited at what this could eventually grow in to, and what it could eventually lead to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If they are a drinker, Denver is pretty much a slam dunk. Huge fan of Ratio Beerworks, Trve Brewery, Black Sky Brewing, Spice Trade, and so many other spots in the city/suburbs. I aged out of going to shows and drinking every night, but you can’t beat the Hi-Dive for all around ambiance and energy. I’d definitely take them to an indie wrestling show like Lucha Libre & Laughs at the Oriental Theater to really show them how Denver parties. My go-to when friends visit in the snow-less months is to go up near Echo Lake and hike Chief Mountain and then hit Evergreen Brewery on the way back down. Its extremely Colorado and always a good time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Everything about DoomWood has involved collaboration. My girlfriend Melody helped really crystalize the idea and proofread all of the rambling things I would write. My best friend Brian Keith Nelson has been helping with a lot of the promotion and “professional modeling” while he’s out in Atlanta working as a stunt performer. I ran the initial name and logo ideas by a bunch of friends via text and really tried to formulate something for a broad audience that was still niche. My mom even helped design one of the shirts. The models for our shirts so far are friends and family, which is what the whole thing is all about. My mantra has always been “make cool shit with your friends”.

Website: www.shopdoomwood.com

Instagram: shopdoomwood