Today we’d like to introduce you to Nils Anderson.
Nils, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In college, I became really interested in Environmental Education. I taught as a Naturalist for 6 years, bouncing around Minnesota, Homer, AK, Yosemite National Park, and back to MN. Naturalist positions are often seasonal or part-time, so I was often juggling a few things at once. In addition to various Naturalist positions, I worked as a canoe/kayak guide, organic farmer, and REI salesperson. Near where I lived in Minneapolis was a Mexican restaurant with a killer happy hour. That restaurant happened to share a building with Repair Lair, an outdoor gear consignment & repair shop. After a few visits, I fell in love with the vibe of that shop and the folks who frequent it. One day I went in and asked for a job (perhaps exaggerating my prior sewing experience..) Fast forward a few years, and I had processed who knows how many thousand consignment items and repaired hundreds of treasured items of gear & clothing. I didn’t really expect that experience to lead to much; little did I know!
In 2021, my now wife and I decided to move back to Duluth, on the north shore of Lake Superior. In fall of 2019, a couple friends had started an outdoor gear & clothing consignment shop in Duluth called Great Lakes Gear Exchange. After a year and a half of navigating the pandemic (among other hurdles), they decided they’d like to move on to greener pastures and were looking for someone to buy the business. They knew I was about to move back to town and happened to have a background in outdoor gear consignment, so they asked if I was interested in buying the business. It seemed like life was telling me “go for it!”. I suggested they hire me on to work for them while I got all of my ducks in order (funding, business plan, etc). I bought the business in the fall of 2021 and changed the name to Duluth Gear Exchange (it’s easier for folks to find us with “Duluth” in the name). I added a zipper repair service, using the small loft at the back of the shop as my sewing repair area.
5 1/2 years in and we now have over 4,000 consignors, have found new homes for over 85,000 items, and I’ve completed 1,000 repairs. The shop has become a community hub for outdoor enthusiasts, and a warm space for adventure stories to be shared & schemed.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d be lying if I said it was a smooth road.. I’ve dealt with way too many water leaks in the building. Someone once threw a rock through the front window and stole a $2,000 fat bike. A building on our block went up in flames and I was terrified of smoke damage- but we dodged that bullet. Staffing a small business can often prove.. difficult. Yet, all-in-all, I am so thankful that the business is where it is and that I am where I am. I can’t imagine what else I’d rather be doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A big part of my work life is doing zipper repairs on gear and clothing in the back of the shop. I’m told that not many people fix zippers; so I guess I’ve found my niche! So far in 2025, I’ve completed 45 full replacements of zippers in jackets. I also offer stitched patches on holes in small tents, and shock cord replacement in tent poles.
What does success mean to you?
In my opinion, success is an inner satisfaction gained through reaching personal goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.duluthgearexchange.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duluthgearexchange/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duluthgearexchange/
