In a first for the company, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) will open a 850 square foot shop-in-store at the newly renovated and expanded University of British Columbia (UBC) Bookstore in Vancouver. The MEC Outpost opens tomorrow. The shop will feature more than 100 popular MEC-brand products.
The MEC Outpost will feature ‘lifestyle apparel’ as well as clothing for cycling, running, hiking and yoga. Products will sell at regular MEC prices and the UBC Bookstore will receive a portion of the shop’s monthly sales.
MEC is a co-operative and it only sells to its members. Existing members will be able to shop at the UBC Outpost, and new members will be able to join the co-op. UBC Bookstore staff will be available to assist people with membership inquiries and purchases.
“With the Outpost, MEC has come full circle,” said Gary Faryon, Chief Retail Operations Officer. “A handful of UBC students started the co-op in 1971, and forty-three years later we are excited to be back with a new MEC store format that will serve students and the wider university community right on campus.”
UBC’s Managing Director of University Community Services, Debbie Harvie, said: “We are delighted to welcome MEC to UBC. Its high-quality products, sustainability practices and community engagement are in line with the UBC Bookstore’s values. The Bookstore continues to evolve its products and services to meet the needs of the UBC community, including students, staff, faculty and campus visitors.”
