Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Garcin.
Hi Chris, 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.
Chuck and I met in college at the University of Colorado. We are both huge fans of skiing and individually, we moved to Salt Lake City after college for the snow. After we found out we both lived in Salt Lake City, we reconnected and went skiing all the time.
During one of his ski trips, Chuck’s sunglasses broke and he decided to hit the military surplus store to purchase sunglasses. We loved the way they looked. In 2012, Chuck approached me with a spray-painted pair of military surplus sunglasses and I thought, “That’s a product right there.” We knew since the beginning we wanted to focus on the fun-loving culture of skiing and we thought this technical piece of gear was the perfect opportunity to express a nostalgic sense of the culture’s past.
It all began when Chuck painted the first 1,000 pairs of sunglasses and he’d go “brief-casing” where he would go to events with a briefcase filled with Pit Vipers and sell them right from the case. It’s been all organic growth since then. People are attracted to the branding and expressive aesthetic. Pit Viper sunglasses represent having fun on the slopes without taking the sport too seriously but maintaining quality functional eyewear.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As Pit Viper continues to grow with different crowds wearing our sunglasses, it’s been important for us to always stay true to our values.
Partially as a result of unsavory characters purchasing, wearing, and making news in our product, we launched an initiative called Pit Viper Gives a F*** where the company donated the dollar amount of Pit Vipers purchased by those unsavory characters to organizations we stand behind such as charities for war veterans, equality for the LGBTQ+ community, food for the hungry, resources for the underprivileged, and equality for marginalized groups.
It’s hard to see your product co-opted by people that don’t represent your values but I’m proud that it catalyzed our company into creating PVGAF which has given us a chance to focus on our impact on the planet and the people around us.
We’ve been impressed with Pit Viper, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Chris Garcin is the CEO and co-founder of Pit Viper, the bold outdoor sports accessories brand known for its durable and expressive eyewear. Early in his career, Chris worked as a freeride Ski Coach for the Crested Butte Academy where he developed his passion to find the optimal blend of style and performance.
From there, Chris and his cofounder, Chuck Mumford, created a product for sports enthusiasts who demand high-performance eyewear combining the best of military-grade functionality with stylish, 90s-inspired designs. Before Pit Viper, Chris worked as a marketing director and web designer for brands such as Level Nine Sports and Picnic. Chris received his BA in Business Marketing at The University of Colorado Boulder and now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Pit Viper is all about Party Mountain. Since the beginning, we wanted to emulate this idea for people who are interested in outdoor sports without taking themselves too seriously and are proud to push the limits. We all want to have fun in these spaces and embrace the mindset of “party mountain” when you’re out rollerblading, jet skiing, skiing, mountain biking, and more.
Pit Viper has authentic qualities that encourage people to enjoy themselves and approach their sport in a light-hearted way. I think our efforts to avoid focusing on chasing trends, going against the grain, and being ourselves have been the most important factor in Pit Viper’s success.
Pricing:
- There’s something for everyone at Pit Viper. Our Baby Vipes start at $39.69 and our Kid’s XS is $69.69. For the adults, Pit Vipers range from $69.69 to $145.69 – all of which uphold the functionality, personality, and quality Pit Viper aims to please.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pitviper.com
- Instagram: @pit_viper
Image Credits
Pit Viper
