Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Jehnke.
Hi Paige, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I opened Janky Gear in September 2021. Janky Gear is a consignment outdoor gear shop in Rochester, MN. I have had many outdoor jobs. I have worked as a lift attendant in Colorado, as a kayak guide in Alaska, and a couple different trail crews. I always loved the outdoors but it was time to be home. That is how I got the idea for Janky Gear. I wanted to be part of the community but still be a part of an adventure.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to opening the store has been pretty smooth. I think the pandemic has forced us to go with the flow a little more.
I took my time to get an inventory system, I bought used gear so the store would be stocked when I opened, and I did lots of research. I spent the first part of the pandemic locked down on a ship in Japan. That is where I did all my research and wrote my business plan. The hardest part was giving my notice on the ship. I was all in after I sent that email.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Janky Gear is an outdoor gear consignment shop. We take used gear on consignment, once the gear sells, we share the profit with the original owner. It is the ultimate local shop. Our the used gear comes from locals and is sold to locals. We don’t ship or order items from far away. Janky is a slang term that means grungy, dirty, old. At Janky Gear we believe that “janky” can be a good thing. We promote reuse culture and keeping your gear in the wild.
What matters most to you? Why?
My goal in opening Janky Gear is to help get people outdoors inexpensively and promote reuse culture. I thought these goals mattered most. But I actually have come to find that it is “community” that matters most to me. I spent years chasing fun outdoor jobs, moving every few months. Then I started my career on ships and I was away from home even more. It wasn’t until I came back and dove into a small business that I realized what I have been missing for the last 10 years. Community. I am so lucky to be meeting awesome people who believe in Janky Gear.
Contact Info:
- Email: jankygear@gmail,com
- Website: JankyGearRochester.com
- Instagram: @jankygear
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JankyGear
Image Credits
Emma Torkelson
Lost + Found Photos and Films
