Sun and Snow
Sun and Snow is a privately held, Michigan-based specialty sporting goods retailer selling ski, snowboard, and swim equipment alongside expert boot fitting, precision tuning, rentals, and community club programs, serving Midwest consumers and local swim and ski clubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersPlymouth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sun and Snow does
Sun and Snow is a privately held, specialty sporting goods retailer founded in 1971 and headquartered at 388 S. Main Street in Plymouth, Michigan, with 11 to 50 employees and a second retail location under construction in Ann Arbor (300 Jackson Plaza, reopening targeted for Labor Day weekend). The company sells ski, snowboard, and aquatic equipment and apparel through both a brick-and-mortar store and a Lightspeed-powered e-commerce platform, stocking authorized inventory from brands including Nordica, Tecnica, Atomic, Salomon, Rossignol, Lange, Armada, Speedo, and TYR, with Speedo, Fischer, Dalbello, and K2 available by special order.
Its core differentiator is an expertise-driven service model layered on top of the retail operation. Five named specialists — including four certified Master Bootfitters (Ethan Rottell, Jeff Rayburn, Randy Hoffman, and Doug Weiland) and a Snowboard Specialist (Braiden Adamczyk) — deliver professional custom boot fitting at a $150 fit fee with new boot purchases, alongside precision ski/snowboard tuning that includes DPS Phantom Glide permanent base treatment and HD-Vac custom insoles retailing at $220. The firm is the only Michigan shop recognized by America's Best Bootfitters and has been featured in SKI Magazine since 2006.
Revenue is generated through a mix of hardware sales (skis, boots, bindings, apparel, swim gear), professional services (boot fitting and tuning), equipment rentals, and community-driven channels including ski swaps and swim team uniform programs serving approximately ten named swim clubs and one community ski/snowboard club. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer in the Midwest, anchored by in-store services as the customer acquisition driver, with a sales-led overlay where expert boot fitting justifies premium equipment pricing and creates durable repeat-visit economics across ski seasons.
Sun and Snow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sun and Snow
- Legal name
- Sun & Snow
- Website
- https://sunandsnow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sun and Snow is a privately held, Michigan-based specialty sporting goods retailer selling ski, snowboard, and swim equipment alongside expert boot fitting, precision tuning, rentals, and community club programs, serving Midwest consumers and local swim and ski clubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sun and Snow industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Sporting Goods Retail
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ski & Snowboard Service & Repair Shops (Tuning, Mounting, Boot Fitting) (CRAMAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ski & Snowboard Equipment Retail (Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles) (CRAMAJAA), Ski & Snowboard Apparel Retail (Outerwear, Base Layers, Gloves, Socks) (CRAMAJAB), Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors) (CRAMAJAC)
Keywords
Where Sun and Snow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plymouth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sun and Snow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Retail sale of ski, snowboard, and swim equipment and apparel through physical store and e-commerce platform. Includes skis, boots, bindings, apparel, accessories.
- Boot Fitting Services: Professional custom boot fitting services with certified Master Bootfitters. $150 fit fee with new boot purchase; evaluation of existing boots at no charge when possible.
- Ski/Board Tuning Services: Precision ski and snowboard tuning services including DPS Phantom Glide permanent base treatment
- Equipment Rentals: Ski and snowboard rental program including Junior Ski Program
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | One time | Professional boot fit with new boot purchase |
| Freemium | One time | Bring-your-own boots evaluation |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Custom insoles |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Boot modifications |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Performance add-ons |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sun and Snow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sun and Snow is a Michigan-based specialty retailer selling ski, snowboard, and swim equipment plus men's, women's, and youth apparel. The business provides professional boot fitting performed by certified Master Bootfitters and precision ski/snowboard tuning, including the DPS Phantom Glide permanent base treatment, complemented by junior programs, rentals, and seasonal ski-swap community events.
Product overview
Sun & Snow is a specialty retail e-commerce platform offering an integrated portfolio of outdoor recreation products and services. The core offerings center on swimwear/aquatic equipment and snow sports equipment (skiing and snowboarding), supplemented by casual clothing for men, women, and youth, plus accessories. Key service offerings include custom boot fitting (with certified Master Bootfitters), professional ski/snowboard tuning, equipment rentals, and community events. The company operates primarily as an authorized dealer for major brands including Nordica, Tecnica, Atomic, Salomon, Rossignol, Lange, Armada, Speedo, TYR, and others, combining product retail with specialized fitting services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ski Equipment and Apparel Retail sale of new and seasonal ski equipment (skis, boots, poles, bindings) and ski apparel for men, women, and youth. Target customers are recreational and serious skiers in Michigan seeking premium brand gear and expert fitting.
- Snowboard Equipment and Apparel Retail sale of snowboards, bindings, boots, and snowboard apparel for men, women, and youth. Customers are recreational and dedicated snowboarders in Michigan seeking specialty-brand gear with specialist guidance.
- Swimwear and Swim Gear Retail sale of competitive and recreational swimwear, training gear, accessories, and team suits. Customers are individual swimmers, swim clubs, swim teams, and school programs in Michigan, with team-gear supply for swim clubs.
- Casual Apparel (Men's, Women's, Youth) Retail sale of casual men's, women's, and youth apparel for local Michigan customers seeking specialty-store assortment beyond big-box retailers.
- Custom Boot Fitting Service Professional, fee-based custom ski boot fitting delivered by certified Master Bootfitters, including consultation, shell fitting, custom HD-Vac insole molding, and a full-year fit guarantee. Intended for skiers seeking optimal fit, comfort, and performance, including those with difficult-to-fit feet.
- Ski and Snowboard Tuning Service Precision tuning service for skis and snowboards covering waxing, edge sharpening, base repair, and the DPS Phantom Glide permanent base treatment for enhanced glide and base durability. Customers are skiers and snowboarders in Michigan seeking performance tuning from certified specialists.
- Equipment Rentals and Junior Ski Program Rental of ski and/or snowboard equipment, plus a junior ski program to introduce young skiers to the sport. Targets families, beginners, and junior racers in the Michigan market who need short-term gear or progression into junior skiing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Custom insoles last about 2× longer than quick-molding options used by other stores
Companies that use Sun and Snow
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sun and Snow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sun and Snow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NordicacoreSki boot brand carried in stock inventory for boot fitting services. Part of the extensive boot inventory available for fitting.
- TecnicacoreSki boot brand carried in stock inventory for boot fitting services.
- AtomiccoreSki brand carried in stock inventory.
- SalomoncoreSki boot brand carried in stock inventory for boot fitting services.
- RossignolcoreSki brand carried in stock inventory.
- LangecoreSki boot brand carried in stock inventory for boot fitting services.
- ArmadacoreSki brand carried in stock inventory. Listed as in-stock brand.
- SpeedocoreMajor swimwear brand stocked, including competition suits, training gear, and team apparel.
- FischerminorSpecial order ski brand available upon request from fitter.
- DalbellominorSpecial order ski boot brand available upon request from fitter.
- K2minorSpecial order ski brand available upon request from fitter.
- TYRcoreCompetitive swimwear and goggles brand stocked.
- Plymouth-Canton Ski & Snowboard ClubcoreCommunity ski and snowboard club program partnership - 2025-26 season program hosted through Sun & Snow
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sun and Snow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Christy Sports: Multi-store ski and snowboard specialty retailer across the Western U.S. with in-store boot fitting and tuning services. Highly comparable to Sun & Snow as a service-led specialty chain, though at significantly larger scale and on the West Coast.
- evo: Specialty ski, snowboard, and outdoor retailer combining brick-and-mortar flagship stores (Seattle, Portland, Denver, Whistler) with a large e-commerce platform. Closest direct competitor to Sun & Snow's ski/snowboard focus and service-plus-retail model.
- Sturtevant's: Family-owned Pacific Northwest ski and snowboard specialty retailer with multiple store locations and deep boot fitting expertise. Comparable to Sun & Snow as a service-driven, multi-store specialty operator, though operating in a different region.
- Peter Glenn Ski & Sports: Specialty ski, snowboard, and outdoor retailer with stores across the Eastern U.S. Direct competitor to Sun & Snow on the ski/snowboard assortment and service side, with similar positioning around boot fitting and tuning.
Broad incumbents
- REI Co-op: Largest U.S. outdoor sporting goods co-op with ski/snowboard equipment, apparel, rentals, and basic boot fitting across many stores. Overlaps with Sun & Snow across ski, snowboard, and apparel categories but does not specialize in Master Bootfitter-grade fitting.
- Backcountry: Large online-first specialty outdoor retailer carrying ski, snowboard, and apparel from premium brands. Competitor on commodity equipment and apparel SKUs but lacks Sun & Snow's in-person fitting and tuning service layer.
- Moosejaw: Multi-channel outdoor specialty retailer offering ski/snowboard gear, apparel, and accessories. Comparable assortment overlap with Sun & Snow but operates at greater scale with less emphasis on certified boot fitting services.
Regional players
- Boulder Ski Deals: Colorado-based ski and snowboard specialty shop with tuning and boot fitting services. Comparable service model to Sun & Snow but geographically separate and focused on the Front Range market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sun and Snow social profiles
Digital presenceSun and Snow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sun and Snow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Sun and Snow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sun and Snow M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sun and Snow
What does Sun and Snow do?
Sun and Snow is a Michigan-based specialty retailer selling ski, snowboard, and swim equipment plus men's, women's, and youth apparel. The business provides professional boot fitting performed by certified Master Bootfitters and precision ski/snowboard tuning, including the DPS Phantom Glide permanent base treatment, complemented by junior programs, rentals, and seasonal ski-swap community events.
Is Sun and Snow a public or private company?
Sun and Snow is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sun and Snow founded?
Sun and Snow was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sun and Snow based?
Sun and Snow is headquartered in Plymouth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sun and Snow make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are boot Fitting Services, ski/Board Tuning Services and equipment Rentals.
Who are Sun and Snow's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Christy Sports, evo, Sturtevant's and Peter Glenn Ski & Sports. Broad incumbents are REI Co-op, Backcountry and Moosejaw. Boulder Ski Deals is listed as a regional player.
Does Sun and Snow have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sun and Snow.
What industry is Sun and Snow in?
Sun and Snow's product category is Specialty Sporting Goods Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAJAF, Ski & Snowboard Service & Repair Shops (Tuning, Mounting, Boot Fitting), with a secondary code of CRAMAJAA, Ski & Snowboard Equipment Retail (Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles). Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 3949.