Conversations with Nathan Baller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Baller

Hi Nathan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Abode Outside was inspired by family camping trips into the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area located on the border of Minnesota and Canada. This area happens to be the most visited wilderness area in the country, and while I was growing up around the Twin Cities, my dad would often lead my brothers and I on camping trips into the wilderness during the summers. This is where I fell in love with the outdoors. This is where learned to pitch a tent, build a fire, hang a food bag and portage a canoe. Many of the important outdoor lessons were taught to me by my dad in the Boundary Waters. My dad referred to the Boundary Waters as his sanctuary. Those words stayed with me and my love for the outdoors grew over the years. After getting a degree in political science, I shifted career aspirations to follow my love of nature and was certified as a wilderness first responder in 2012, moved to Colorado, and continued to immerse myself in the outdoors. I co-managed a running shoe store to help pay the bills. I educated myself on digital marketing through online courses as a side hustle. I worked with a clothing brand assisting them with digital marketing and research. I educated myself on sustainable clothing through more online courses. I discovered the impact the clothing industry has on human and environmental health. My love of the outdoors, my education, work experience and connections eventually evolved into a clothing brand dedicated to connecting people with nature and protecting the outdoors for the future. The clothing industry has a massive impact on the outdoors, which I deeply love thanks to childhood memories with my dad. My goal is to be a leader in making clothing more environmentally friendly, clean and responsible. We offer clothing that blends eco-friendly materials with functional, fashionable designs at affordable prices. We want more people getting outside, connecting with nature and wearing clothing that is easier on the planet, because the clothing industry is massive, and choosing clothing that is environmentally friendly is a small act that can make a big difference on the world around us.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would be lying if I said it was smooth, but the success and ease at which we are growing and connecting with our customers is a pleasant surprise. Probably due to my background as a Wilderness First Responder, I put a ton of emphasis on research and preparation in order to avoid bad things happening. So we did a ton of research before launch to position u as well as possible for success. However, we did not start with a large capital investment to scale quickly. We started with an incredibly generous relatively small initial amount to get our business off the ground, so we have had to be aggressive in growing our brand organically, through word of mouth, events, networking, and not relying heavily on paid ads and promotions and celebrity endorsements. We are swinging way above our weight class. Everyone looks at us like we are the same at the big outdoor brands, but in truth we are a small start-up. But we are competing with them and we are taking floor space in the best outdoor retailers around the country. Our success comes from shoppers recognizes the value of our story and our product, not relying on artificially propping our business up through large capital investments.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My love and passion are the outdoors and that is primarily what I am known for. I am an effective business leader in large part because I have immense passion and belief for what we are offering and trying to accomplish at Abode Outside. I have a lot of experience in the outdoors, so I bring a level of authenticity to our brand that people seem to resonate with. My background is primarily in marketing. Specifically branding, storytelling, writing and design. And that is the lense through which I view our business. I don’t have a background in finance. I’ve never been interested in that (until now). I’ve always been more inclined to create things. Like marketing materials and outdoor clothes. Thats where I spend most of my time. I particularly enjoy creating things that address problems in a new way. I like finding better ways of doing things. Like clothing for example. We are offering a better way to make and buy outdoor clothing. A way that is more reasonably priced, environmentally friendly, and stylish. I am proud of many things our business has accomplished as well as myself. I prefer to be alone in the outdoors so giving interviews and sitting in meetings is not always my preferred milieu. Its way out of my comfort zone, That is part of why I like it. Its new, its exciting, its good for me and its going well and I am proud of that. What I am most of proud of is our team. We have an incredible team of Minnesotans that are exceptionally skilled, generous people who believe in our mission and have been essential to making this vision a reality. I could not do this without this team, including my fiancee who is our photographer. My brother who is our co-founder and VP of operations, and my mother who is a successful business person in her own right. In fact, she deserves her own interview. Shes a badass businesswoman and has provided crucial guidance and mentorship along the way. Thanks mom!

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
This question is too perfect. This memory is burned into my head, especially now that my dad has passed. It is one of my favorites. I was hiking with my dad in the Boundary Waters during a perfect, blue-sky summer day with a slight breeze that made the aspen leaves rustle as you hiked down the trail. We were on a trail between two pristine lakes. We had just past a picturesque waterfall when for some reason my dad stopped in the middle of trail. He took a deep breath of fresh Boundary Waters air, exhaled and softly said, “this is my sanctuary”. That moment opened my eyes to the fact that nature isnt just for play. Its not just for recreation and taking photos for social media. Its important to our existence. Its important to our health and happiness. Its not just plants and animals. There is something deeper and bigger going on out there. From that moment on I slowly fell more and more in love with the outdoors. Because of those words, I became a wilderness first responder. Because of those words and my dads love of the wilderness, I studied sustainable clothing and eventually started a clothing brand dedicated to nature. And as members of 1% for the planet, we give 1% of all sales to organizations that help protect America’s remaining wilderness areas for future generations.

Pricing:

• Average price for our tops range from $60 – $110

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abodeoutside.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abodeoutside/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanballer/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abodeoutside