Values Guide Ikplor
By Rebecca Reimers
Sisters Karissa Akin and Kailey Gieck grew up exploring the wilds of Colorado with their brother and parents. The adventures they had hiking, biking, camping, and sailing not only brought the family closer, it ignited in the sisters a passion for the outdoors and a desire to protect the planet. Years later, as adults with children of their own in tow (three girls with another on the way), Kailey and Karissa have translated their values into a company that reflects this love of nature and spirit of adventure.
“In a fast paced, digitally-connected world, a deep bond with nature is as fundamental to our own physical and emotional health as it is to our children’s,” reflects Karissa. “Outdoor adventure sparks confidence, independence, a sense of awareness, stewardship for our environment and so much more.”
As their families grew, Karissa and Kailey noticed a lack of base layers that kids could wear all day long no matter the circumstances. They wanted a product that was soft, durable, easy to care for, and sustainable. In 2018, they set out to fill the market niche with base layer and mid layers made from 100% merino wool with sizing that extends from newborns to adults.
“Iksplor was launched on what would have been our brother’s 33rd birthday. Tragically, he had passed some years before. “We wanted to do something that honored him. Helping other families get outside like we always did, felt like the perfect way to do that,” explains Kailey.
Later that same year, the two shared their idea with the world at Silicon Couloir Pitch Day. They were rewarded with the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker award. “Pitch Day helped provide the accountability and structure needed to bring our idea to life...and garner local support,” says Kailey.
In addition to a cash prize, they were awarded a place in TEAMS for Iksplor. TEAMS provides a group of expert volunteer mentors who meet on a regular basis with companies accepted into the program. Kailey and Karissa took full advantage of the opportunity, “TEAMS has provided coaching and accountability through every growth stage,” assets Kailey. “Our mentors have truly become a part of our iksplor family.”
From an idea in 2018 and a successful Kickstarter for “adventure essentials” in 2020, Iksplor is on track for 1 million dollars in revenue this year. The sisters credit their mentors for helping them achieve such remarkable growth. “They have seen us from our infancy to our current state and have helped us identify future roadblocks to our growth,” says Karissa.
Prior to Iksplor, both women had established successful businesses as creatives in videography and design. Careers, up until recently, they maintained in addition to running the company. The logistics of shifting to an e-commerce direct-to-consumer product company presented new hurdles that the mentors helped them navigate. “We struggled to get a handle on our financials and growth strategy,” admits Karissa, “Our mentors helped us transition our accounting system so we could better understand our margins.”
TEAMS mentors have also provided the emotional support the sisters needed over the past few years to keep growing the business. “Being an entrepreneur involves taking on big risks. It can be a very lonely and scary place,” Kailey conveys. “When we launched with product in January 2020, our father helped us unpack and inventory our first run. We lost him 3 weeks later. A month after that, pandemic lock downs went into effect. Having a team of unbiased mentors, willing to continue meeting with us virtually throughout an incredibly isolating period was critical to us continuing to put one foot in front of the other.”
Both Karissa and Kailey are now full-time with the company. They employ two additional women (and moms) to assist with content development, PR, and fulfillment. The live/work office houses both the company and one of their employees and her family. They take great pride in being an all-woman company.
Karissa and Kailey are deeply rooted in the Tetons and can’t imagine being anywhere else. “This is the place where we have chosen to raise our families, and we are very passionate about protecting its natural beauty,” responds Kailey when asked about the importance of the region. They will continue to grow a company and community that reflects the values of adventure, family, sustainability, and quality. “Our vision is to inspire the next generation of nature fanatics to become nature advocates.”