From a Vancouver Workshop to a Global Brand — The Story of Arc'teryx

A little discovery at Markville Mall

Today, I was at Markville Mall. Nothing particularly unusual about that. I was enjoying a Lucullus curry beef bun and a cup of McDonald's coffee when I thought about something I had noticed during an earlier visit.

A new shop had opened in the mall. The name was Arc'teryx.

I had seen the brand before, particularly among some of my ping pong friends. They seemed to like it very much. They told me that its products were exceptionally well made, although the prices were considerably higher than those of ordinary outdoor clothing.

They also told me something interesting. Arc'teryx was originally founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was later acquired by a Chinese company.

That caught my attention.

Being curious, I asked my AI companion to investigate the company's background. What I discovered was quite an interesting business story.

It started in British Columbia

Arc'teryx was founded in North Vancouver in 1989. Its original business was called Rock Solid, and it initially concentrated on making climbing equipment.

The founders were outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to improve the equipment available to climbers.

In 1991, the company adopted the name Arc'teryx, inspired by Archaeopteryx, an ancient bird-like dinosaur.

This was not originally a fashion company trying to sell expensive jackets. It was a small Canadian business trying to solve practical problems for people who enjoyed climbing and challenging mountain environments.

That is an important distinction.

From Canadian ownership to international business

The company's ownership history is equally interesting.

In 2001, Arc'teryx was acquired by Salomon Group. In 2005, Amer Sports acquired the business.

Then came another significant development.

In 2019, a consortium led by China's ANTA Sports acquired Amer Sports. The consortium also included other investors, including Tencent and FountainVest.

Amer Sports subsequently became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2024.

So my ping pong friends were broadly correct about the Chinese connection. However, the ownership structure is a little more complicated than simply saying Arc'teryx is owned by a Chinese company.

ANTA is the largest shareholder of Amer Sports, which operates Arc'teryx.

What a journey for a business that started in British Columbia!

Why are the products so expensive?

Arc'teryx specializes in premium technical outdoor clothing and equipment.

Its products include waterproof jackets, winter clothing, climbing equipment, backpacks and footwear.

Some of its jackets use advanced GORE-TEX materials designed to provide protection against wind and rain while allowing moisture to escape.

The company emphasizes design, construction, performance and durability.

Of course, I am not a mountain climber. I am more likely to be found playing ping pong with my friends or enjoying coffee with Julie at a shopping mall!

I probably don't need a jacket designed for climbing a mountain in difficult weather conditions.

But I can understand why serious outdoor enthusiasts are prepared to pay more for equipment that meets their particular needs.

There is a difference between buying something because it carries a famous brand name and buying something because its features genuinely serve a purpose.

A lesson in business

What interests me most is not the price of the jackets.

It is the company's business journey.

A relatively small Canadian enterprise developed a specialized product, established a reputation for quality and eventually attracted major international investors.

I see three lessons here.

First, specialization matters. A business does not necessarily need to sell everything to everybody. It can succeed by doing one particular thing exceptionally well.

Second, reputation takes time to build. Customers who trust a brand can become its strongest supporters.

Third, a good Canadian business can grow beyond its original market and become an international success.

My little conclusion

I started this investigation because of a new shop at Markville Mall and a few comments from my ping pong friends.

A simple conversation led me to discover an interesting Canadian business story.

This is one of the things I enjoy about using artificial intelligence.

I don't have to be an expert in outdoor clothing, international acquisitions or corporate ownership. I can simply ask questions, explore the answers and learn something new.

At my age, I still enjoy discovering things I didn't know yesterday.

And perhaps that is the real message behind my other blog AI123.ca.

Learning does not stop when we get older. Curiosity keeps us moving.

Next time I see my ping pong friends wearing their Arc'teryx jackets, I will know a little more about the brand they are so fond of.

I might even ask them whether their jackets are suitable for playing ping pong!

Just kidding. I don't think I need mountain-climbing equipment to return a table tennis serve.

David Au

Exploring → Learning → Documenting

Hashtags: #Arcteryx #CanadianBusiness #BrandStory #BusinessLessons #ArtificialIntelligence #LifelongLearning #LearningAtAnyAge

La Salle College Changed My Life. At 80, I Am Still Learning.

Some schools give you an education. Some schools give you something much more valuable. They help shape the person you become.

For me, La Salle College was that school.

I graduated from La Salle College in 1964. That was a long time ago. More than six decades have passed, and I have accumulated plenty of memories, some pleasant, some difficult, and some that still make me smile.

Looking back, I realise that my years at La Salle were much more important than I understood at the time.

A young boy with a future ahead of him

When I was a student, I wasn't thinking about how my education would influence the next sixty years of my life. Like most boys, I was busy with schoolwork, friendships, activities and the everyday concerns of growing up.

I certainly didn't imagine that one day I would be looking back at those school years as one of the important turning points in my life.

La Salle gave me an educational foundation. But it also helped me develop confidence, discipline and a sense of responsibility.

It introduced me to friendships that would last for decades. Some of my schoolmates became lifelong friends. Even today, those connections remain precious to me.

One of them is John, my good friend since Form One. We have shared so many experiences over the years. It is remarkable how a friendship that began in a classroom can continue throughout a lifetime.

From the classroom to the working world

After graduating in 1964, I entered the working world.

My career took me through several pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, Squibb and Ciba. I had opportunities to work in sales, product management, logistics and personnel administration.

Life was not always easy. There were challenges, changes, disappointments and unexpected opportunities.

I met people who influenced my career and people who gave me a helping hand when I needed one.

Looking back, I can see how the foundation I received at La Salle helped me face these different stages of my working life.

Of course, a school cannot prepare you for everything. Life itself is a demanding teacher. But a good education gives you somewhere to start.

At 80, I am still a student

Here comes the interesting part.

I am now 80 years old.

Many people might think that by this age, learning should have come to an end. Perhaps it is time to slow down, enjoy retirement and leave the complicated things to younger generations.

I have nothing against retirement. I enjoy my coffee outings with Julie, playing ping pong, spending time with family and grandchildren, and remembering the good old days.

But I have discovered something unexpected.

I still enjoy learning!

Recently, I became increasingly interested in artificial intelligence. I started experimenting with ChatGPT, asking questions, writing articles and exploring what AI could do.

Before long, I was using AI to help develop my website, AI123.ca, and document my experiences on Grandpa Journey.

I am certainly not a technology expert. I make mistakes, sometimes get confused, and occasionally need to ask the same question more than once.

But that is perfectly fine.

I have learned that the best way to understand AI is not simply to read about it. It is to start using it.

My AI learning journey has become another classroom, except that this time I have an AI companion sitting beside me.

There are no examinations, no report cards and no graduation ceremony. I learn at my own pace.

Two schools, two different stages of life

Sometimes I think about the connection between La Salle College and AI123.ca.

La Salle helped prepare a young man for the working world.

AI123.ca is helping an 80-year-old man explore a new world of technology.

The circumstances are very different, but the spirit of learning is much the same.

I am also discovering that learning is more enjoyable when it is shared. Through my writing, I hope to encourage other seniors who may feel that artificial intelligence is too complicated or that technology belongs only to younger people.

It doesn't.

If I can learn to use AI at 80, perhaps others can give it a try too.

My blogging projects also have a small social purpose. Any income they generate is intended to be donated to charitable organisations. It would be nice if something I enjoy doing could also benefit someone else.

Looking back, and looking forward

I owe La Salle College a great deal.

It was one of the institutions that helped shape my life. I am grateful for the teachers, classmates, friendships and opportunities that came with those school years.

But I don't want to spend all my time looking backwards.

There are still things to discover, stories to write and experiences to enjoy.

I have a family, grandchildren, old friends and new interests. I have a memoir to complete and two blogging projects to develop.

At 80, I may not learn as quickly as I did when I was young. I may need more coffee breaks and occasional naps!

But I am still curious.

And that, I think, is what matters.

La Salle College changed my life. More than sixty years later, I am still learning.

Perhaps the best lesson I ever received from my school was not simply how to prepare for life, but how to keep learning throughout life.

Thank you, La Salle.

And thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey.