Andrew Commander: First off, what is your company and what do you do?
Michael Dunn: Our company is Eternalsnow.com, and we sell all of the snowboarding gear you would ever need for the active snowboarder lifestyle all year long. We specialize in smaller brands that offer cutting edge products and fashion. In summer, we sell skateboards and associated products through Eternalsk8.com.
AC: How did you first get started in this industry?
MD: Dropped out of school in SoCal to move to Northern California and work in a Snowboard shop.
AC: How do you try to compete in the online marketplace?
MD: By offering harder to find items by smaller brands and trying to stay ahead of the game on fashion trends and snowboard technology breakthroughs.
AC: What’s your turnover rate on products, and how frequently do you update your online catalogs with new items?
MD: Every 6-8 months. We update constantly with new products, adding to the product range as seasons change, but change the website completely twice a year in the early Spring and early Fall.
AC: What is the best selling product for your company?
MD: We have several: Airblaster outerwear, Thirty-Two snowboard boots, Technine snowboards, and in general, snowboard bindings and snowboard outerwear. In summer it would be DVS skate shoes and Vans skate shoes.
AC: Any fresh ideas about where your company is headed?
MD: Maybe not so much fresh ideas, but this is what we would like to offer: Trying to be more of a community for snowboarders by offering more information, video product explanations and demos, employee and customer reviews.
AC: Do you have any gloves that can actually keep my hands warm?!
MD: Yes, plenty! I would recommend the Burton Gore-Tex Gloves or Mitts.
AC: How would you like people to get the word out?
MD: We would love most of our growth to be through Social Media, as that would be a sign that we have happy customers; they wouldn’t tell their friends about a store they are not pleased to be associated with. We believe a customer review – either good or bad – is better than any paid advertising.
AC: Who have been the three most influential people in your life thus far?
MD: My Father, Steve Roberts, Ian McKaye
AC: What do you do outside of the office?
MD: Snowboard (of course), mountain bike, play a little bit and listen to a lot of music, watch movies, enjoy the gloriousness of Lake Tahoe.
AC: What’s your favorite website?
MD: Pitchfork.com
Big thanks to Eternal Snow for the stickers!!!
