Gander Outdoors, formerly Gander Mountain, Inc., and now Gander Outdoors, Inc, founded in St. Paul, Minnesota, is an internet retail outlet for hunting, fishing, camping, and all-around outdoor recreation goods and services. They are one of the more well-known sites on the web for hunting and fishing gear. For many people who like to hunt and fish, this retail outlet can provide a good source of merchandise that they cannot find locally. Here is what they have to offer:
* Closing Time – The website for Gander Outdoors is currently closed. No current or future sales are scheduled. No reason was given as to why the site will be closed. We will keep looking for new Gander outdoors stores. In the meantime, we will keep our eyes on those RVs for sale at closing time!
* Bankruptcy Records – On March 7, Gander Outdoors filed for bankruptcy protection. Two weeks later, the company declared bankruptcy protection and released its plans for immediate closure. At the time, they were expecting to sell all of their inventory and close all of their North American RV dealerships by the end of March. Although no specific dates have been given, we believe they are saying it will happen by the end of March.
What does this mean for consumers?
For customers still interested in finding RVs for sale in the Twin Cities area, it means there may be fewer options than initially anticipated. Gander Outdoors has had trouble selling its inventory in recent months, so dealers won’t have as many choices. Even if they do get some more choices, there is no guarantee they’ll all be available at the same time. Because of this possibility, the possibility of having to sell your Gander Outdoors RV to pay for the bankruptcy filing becomes a little more real.
The other unfortunate development from the news is that the long-term employees at Gander Outdoors had to learn the hard way that they can have to face the unemployment line when they leave the company. If you’re an employee who has worked here for at least two years, you will likely have to learn the hard way that you’ll be laid off at the conclusion of the current season. If you’re currently working and you accept the layoff, we would advise you to thoroughly investigate the possibility of applying for unemployment before your next paycheck arrives. If you genuinely apologize for your conduct, the fact that you’re now unemployed will give you some comfort.
If you’re an extended family member or a friend of someone who has been a long-time employee at Gander Outdoors, it would be appropriate for you to send them a personal note informing them that the company is experiencing some financial difficulties and asking them to please consider helping to cover some of the costs of the store would be a great gesture on their part. Don’t be surprised if they take this up immediately. Many of our customers bring their children with them when they shop at our store. For these families, having the full-time job of caring for a young child and then also being responsible for the expenses of an out-of-town travel trailer could be quite a burden.
One of the sad realities of human existence is that no matter how much you may sincerely apologize for something, there will always come a day when you have to say sorry. Unfortunately, that comes sooner than you might have anticipated. If you feel strongly that you’ve done a good job for the last three years at Gander Outdoors and wish to continue working there, it’s probably best if you consider applying for a different position at another outdoor store. Although we don’t make recommendations, there are stores like REI that do have positions available and would be a better fit for you.
As you can see, there is more to this story than meets the eye. However, suppose you own or manage a Gander Outdoors store. In that case, it’s important for you to take stock of your current situation and determine whether or not you are dealing with the best possible opportunity for a fresh start or if you are simply moving out of the line of fire as the parent company closes its doors. While it is understandable that you may be feeling the pressure of the store closing and wishing you had more time to spend with your family, we urge you to remember that if you act responsibly and honestly in the process of finding another outdoor recreation venue, it will truly be a blessing for all involved.
