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Bold Betties Outfitters

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2012, Click to Enter The 2014 American Business Awards

Company: Bold Betties Outfitters, Denver, CO, USA
Company Description:Bold Betties Outfitters is an e-commerce site that features outdoor clothing and gear rental for the gutsy gal. Founded in 2014, Bold Betties’ mission is to help women get in touch with the great outdoors, by eliminating the barriers of entry to adventure travel and outdoor recreation and building a community of women to share these experiences.
Nomination Category:Product & Service Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category:Best New Product or Service of the Year - Consumer Services

Nomination Title: Bold Betties Outfitters: Rental Gear for the Gutsy Gal

Describe for the judges the nominated product or service, including its features, functions, benefits, and performance to date (up to 525 words). Include in this section the date since the beginning of July last year on which the product or service was introduced to the marketplace:

When Niki Koubourlis hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a girlfriend in 2013, she discovered firsthand how intimidating outdoor adventures could be for the average woman. Between the high cost and overwhelming selection of gear and apparel from outdoor sporting goods stores and the fact that the adventure travel and outdoor recreation industries are heavily dominated by men, it’s no surprise that many women find it daunting to tap into the world of adventure travel or even try new outdoor activities. Seeing an untapped niche in the market to bring adventuring to a whole new set of women who fell somewhere between princess and Jane Goodall, Niki came up with the idea for Bold Betties Outfitters.

Launched in August 2014, www.boldbettiesoutfitters.com is an e-commerce site that features women’s outdoor gear and apparel for rent or purchase.

A female owned and led company, Bold Betties Outfitters is for the woman who would like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but can’t afford to fork out $3,000+ for the gear and clothing she needs. It’s for the woman who wants to try a new activity like snowshoeing or white water rafting, but doesn’t have the storage space to accommodate the equipment. It’s for the woman who wants the chance to test the latest outdoor gear before she buys it.

On a mission to make outdoor activities and adventure travel more accessible to the average women, Bold Betties eliminates the common barriers of entry to outdoor experiences such as the cost, the intimidation factor and not having the right people to go with.

To reduce the cost of getting outfitted, www.boldbettiesoutfitters.com offers an easy online rental system, where customers can schedule light gear and apparel to be delivered to their doorstep with the click of a button. Customers also have the option to purchase items they like.

www.boldbettiesoutfitters.com removes the intimidation factor of navigating sporting goods and camping stores by offering detailed packing lists, product and activity reviews and other tips to help women plan their next adventure. Customers can browse recommended packing lists, choose attire and gear, and book them for a day, a weekend or an extended trip. After their trip, they simply send the items back in the provided prepaid packaging.

Most important is the Bold Betties Community where women come together to try new things and make like-minded friends. The Bold Betties Community started with a Meetup Group in Denver, CO, which has grown to more than 1,600 women between the ages of 24 and 67 since its inception in April 2014. The members meet regularly for outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, ziplining and more. A second Bold Betties group was launched in Western Colorado in April 2015. The Bold Betties Community is also actively planning to expand the Meetup Groups in cities across the U.S.

Bold Betties is currently constructing a community forum on the website, where women will be able to find outdoor activity partners in their area.

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the team that developed the nominated new product or service (up to 125 words):

A former commercial real estate executive, Niki Koubourlis is on a mission to help women encounter the world of outdoor adventure through her Denver-based startup, Bold Betties Outfitters.

Up until 2012, every life decision Niki made was motivated by a desire for security. In a quest to find purpose and passion, she left behind her secure life - and 80+ hour workweeks - and moved to Colorado where she spent a lot of time exploring, trying new things and making new friends. She launched Bold Betties to empower women create experiences that build their confidence, reinforce their independence and enable them develop positive female friendships.

Niki holds an MBA from The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a B.A. from Washington State University.