01/11/2021
** Passion Drives Everything **
The Family Behind Rugged Den Outfitters
I have some Good News, Gladwin. There’s a brand new business Downtown, with a mission to serve the blue collar workers of our community. Rugged Den Outfitters is tucked into the lower level at 105 W. Cedar Avenue, and it’s packed with men’s clothing, apparel, and enough high quality goods and gear to keep the workin’ man goin’.
RDO is a passion project turned partnership between husband and wife team Blair and Matthew McGourty, along with brother Sean Pickard. It all started when Blair was driving down Main Street, keeping it between the lines and wondering what’s missing. She asked herself, “What does this town need?"
She thought about it a lot. She slept on it. She prayed on it. She talked with her friends and family. Soon she learned that she wasn’t just wondering what she could bring to Gladwin…She was deciding what her own future would look like. She knew that life held something more for her and her family.
So she called her brother Sean - a creative Marine Corp. veteran with a broke-in pair of boots and wisdom beyond his years. She pitched her idea of a men’s clothing store that caters to a certain rugged lifestyle. Turns out, Sean was having similar thoughts. He was itching for something new and exciting. What’s the next chapter look like? What can we create? His wheels started turning. Sparks flew. Ideas started flowing. They were on to something, and it was time to ride the wave.
After many heart to heart talks between brother and sister, and a whole lot of support from Blair’s husband Matthew, Rugged Den Outfitters was born. They went to work on their quest to build the men’s clothing store they knew our town needed. It’s Rugged for the hard working tradesmen and farmers with busted knuckles and callused hands. The Den is for life on the homestead. Finally, the Outfitter - for the sportsmen who are passionate about everything outdoors.
Sean and Blair have entrepreneurship in their blood. Mom and Dad, Vicki and Joe Pickard, both know all too well what it takes to own their business. So when it came time to decorate, build merchandise displays, and put in the sweat equity - they were both there to help with the heavy lifting.
Sean, Blair, and Matthew have already earned an early education in the challenges facing small businesses. From logistics to supply chain issues. The early mornings and long nights. Burning the candle at both ends and the middle. The work, the stress, the risk, the investment…all while keeping family at the forefront. It’s a balancing act, but they believe in it, and they’re committed to bringing something positive to our community. So they kept the foot on the gas, and fed their passion.
Saturday, Oct. 30th - their dream came true when Rugged Den Outfitters opened the doors to the public for the first time. It all came together less than 6 months from the day Blair had a big idea while driving down Cedar Avenue.
When you walk down the steps into the Rugged Den at 105 W Cedar Ave - you’re instantly immersed in the Rugged Den lifestyle. First you’re greeted by a bull elk mount and two antique hewing axes. Rough-sawn lumber, hand-crafted displays, and rusty old pioneer tools further tell the American story. It’s authentic, inviting, and purpose-built to fill a need that no-one else in town is filling.
These aren’t just products. There’s intention behind every item they offer. Matthew is an Army Veteran, and Sean served in the United States Marine Corp. They’ve made it a priority to feature Veteran-Owned brands - a mission that’s near and dear to the hearts of two soldiers who have entered the next phase of their own lives. Brands like Got Your Six Coffee Co., and Warlord Beard Oil are Veteran-Owned, and made right here in the United States. They’re also brands that remain committed to giving back to the service men and women who fight for our freedoms everyday. RDO also features some Michigan Made products, and even some creative goods made by local craftsmen.
Other brands available include Wrangler, Lee Jeans, Grunt Style, Dri-Duck, Stormy Kromer, Fox River Socks, Ge**er Knives, 5th Gen Metalworks, AJ Design Co., and more. The store also features a handful of specialty food products including Michigan Brand Premium Meats, and a slew of carefully curated offerings from Crisp & Co. The RDO experience is made complete by an array of branded apparel designed by the RDO crew, including stainless tumblers and popular Richardson hats with a leather patch donning the Rugged Den Outfitters logo.
We all want Gladwin to thrive, and stand out as a destination town. We all hope our community continues to grow and attract new people to live and work here. So many of us have ideas of what our town needs, or what will make our beloved community better. Whether it’s a new clothing company, a restaurant, or an experience. But only a select few are willing to take the risk. Only some are willing to stick their necks out there, and lay it all on the line for the betterment of our hometown.
That’s exactly what Blair, Sean, and Matthew have done. They took the risk. They bet on Gladwin. They had an idea. They turned that idea into a plan, then put that plan into action. They poured blood, sweat and tears into Rugged Den Outfitters. I know it’s cliche’. But that’s what it takes to run a small business. Hard work. Faith. Sweat equity. A whole lot of support from the community, and maybe just a little bit of luck.
It takes drive, commitment, and a Rugged Spirit. These three have it, and they’re doing it for the right reasons. So stop in. Show your support. Sit down on the couch and have a cup of coffee. Soak in the lifestyle. Spend a little time picking their brains about why they decided to set off on this journey. You never know. Maybe you’ll even discover an untapped Rugged Spirit of your own. Now that’s Good News.
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 12-4
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