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

Hi Mike, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted a roofttop tent and I had questions about roof racks, tents, awnings, and other car camping related accessories. I found it wild that here in Colorado of all places, it didn’t exsit. Even REI’s massive flagship store in Denver sold tents back in 2018, but didn’t stock them, they weren’t educated on the topiic and didn’t have any to get hands on. The places I called nationally were rugged to say the least, the attitude of if you have to ask, it’s probably not for you. I knew there were others like me that were interested in the growing segment, and I wanted to share, show, educate and build community.

What should our readers know about your business?
We’re a small shop, with BIG brands. Family owned and operated since 2018, we pride ourselves on customer service. By carrying all the top brands, we can speak freely on the pros and cons as you shop the competition. Our showroom allows you to get hands on with the products and we actually use them so we can confidently advise and answer all your questions. We’ve learned that one manufacturer can’t knock it out of the park every time, in every category, that’s why the best builds pull from all over to create a system best suited for their needs. We’ve not only curated the best brands, but the best products within those brands. We understand these premium products come at a premium price, so we offer a full showroom with hands-on displays and demonstrations so you can see it before you buy it. We’re here to talk pros and cons, advise on fitment and compatibility, and help improve the way you get outside. We’ve done the research and have streamlined the process to save you time and money.

Starting this business was tough because the model didn’t really exist. Retail is tough as is, add in the fact that the majority of the products we sell are big and heavy, so freight cuts into our margins quite a bit,. There’s a bit of an education factor that goes into the build process, navigating the pros and cons of certain systems came with experience but there was no blueprint, instruction manual or comp to really guide us.

I wasn’t scared of criticism and I didn’t fear the unknowns. In one way, the fact we weren’t basing it off of an example made it easier in a lot of ways to create exactly what we envisioned. We believed and just had the mentality if we build it, they will come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Denver’s River North, it features my favorite hotel the Ramble, a boutique 50 bedroom get away in the heart of the Art District, the whole street is filled with art, good food and beer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife and kids were the reason I started this business. I wanted to be around them more, I wanted to build somemthing along side them. Without their support none of this would be poossible. Not only picking me up during the tough times (and there was a lot) but also lending a hand. My kids help at all our weekend events and my wife is really hands on with all aspects of the business.

Website: https://spiritof1876.com

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