Performance In Color

SKIDA

Skida is a small Vermont company that hand crafts headwear, neck warmers, and accessories specifically for the alpine and nordic skiing community. Their mission is to bring people together, encourage outdoor adventure, generate smiles, and create a better environment. 

History

Skida started small, dorm room size small. In 2008 Corinne Prevot, a young nordic skier started sewing fun colorful hats for her friends and teammates at her boarding high school in Northern Vermont. The demand for the hats started to grow and expand into the New England ski community.

Hats of Many Colors 

Headwear is a dime a dozen in the cold snowy winter weather, so differentiating oneself from the competition is key in order to make any gains in the market. Skida quite literally stands out from its competition by making headwear with bright colored fabrics and unique designs. Skida has 68 different patterns to choose from, this incredible variety is a key factor that sets them apart from others in the industry. They also roll out many different limited edition designs and fabrics in order to always keep a fresh perspective and have an edge on their competition.

Specialized Variety 

Skida's products are just as functional as they are colorful. They use many different functional fabrics to draw in their customers, but their products are designed with performance in mind. The founder was a high level nordic racer who made hats and neckwear that were ideal for the brutal winter sport.  They use printed poly-blended outer fabrics that are both breathable and moisture wicking. This fabric is perfect for the high endurance athlete that is breaking a sweat in the winter. They also have neckwear and hats that are lined with a mid weight fleece that cuts the wind for more warmth. Having these options in their product line are key for drawing in their target market, the active winter sports lover.

Keeping It Local

Skida strongly believes in supporting local business and they stay true to this by having headquarters in Burlington Vermont. They say that the heart and soul of their brand is being a truly local small business with products that are hand crafted by seamstresses in Northern Vermont. Having their headquarters just 2 hours away from where they are producing their products allows them to add fresh prints to their ever changing product line all while supporting their local communities. Keeping everything local is important to Skida and they use this in their marketing strategy and present themselves as a socially responsible company. 

                                    

Giving Back

A large part of Skida's marketing strategy is supporting local business, but another place that they have thrived in being a socially conscious company is by supporting cancer centers across the country. Skida's plus one program donates hats to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy on behalf of their online customers. Their bright colored hats add a little warmth and brightness to cancer patients. Although Skida does this out of the goodness of their heart, it is also tactical. They are promoting their product and boosting their brand image by being socially responsible and having a program like plus one. 

@Skidagram

Skida uses Instagram as primary social media and marketing platform. Here they connect their brand to the outdoor lovers and adventurers. They do a lot of product promotion through they're posts by having the product being worn in almost every picture. Their page is fun and adventurous and exhibits their many different designs and advertises their limited edition fabrics.

Photo by Mary McIntyre @Skidagram

Bibliography 

"Made in the U.S.A.: Skida Headwear" The Gearist. September 24, 2015.

"Mission" Skida. https://skida.com/pages/the-skida-mission

Skida. https://skida.com/