It’s been a big week for Outdoors Plus in Haliburton with new owners, Chandler Zedic and Kristy Kilbourne, officially taking over the reins of the popular hunting, fishing and camping store from Karen and Norm Perrott.
This past Monday (June 2) marked the transition. The Perrotts opened the store in 1997, marking 28 years at the helm before choosing Zedic and Kilbourne as their successors.
That said, Karen, Colt and Craig are continuing to work at the store to help the new owners as they learn the ropes and get to know the community better. Norm is retired but available to help out as needed.
“We just want to make sure that when we walk out the door, they’re 100 per cent comfortable with everything,” Norm said. For example, there is a lot involved with the sale of firearms and ammunition we appreciate them,” Karen added. and working with the Ministry of Natural Resources on licences, as well as getting distributors and suppliers onboard.
That said, Karen added, “everything is falling into place.”
Zedic and Kilbourne weren’t the first to come courting, but they were the right fit, the Perrots said.
Karen said they “are set for running a business.” Norm added “they have the drive, the youth, the computer, and electronics experience. These are the people that are going to make it work and take Outdoors Plus to the next level. It’s a perfect fit.”
It’s still bittersweet with Norm saying he couldn’t close June 1. “I had to leave. It was too much.” Karen said Norm was in tears. Karen said she’d been running the store nearly half of her life and feels privileged to have grandchildren work there today.
“We just want the community to know that we appreciate them,” Karen added,
New kids on the block
The new owners grew up in the GTA, but Zedic’s father got a place on Spruce Lake about 20 years ago, so Haliburton County has long been a second home. When his dad passed, he left the property to them. “This is where we want to be.”
Kilbourne added they’ve been long-time customers of the store. The couple have three sons, aged 17, 14 and 11, so they are getting to an age where they can help out in the family business.
Kilbourne’s first summer job was working with the MNR in Peterborough in fisheries policy, and then fish and wildlife, so she feels she is coming full circle. She is an urban planner by trade. Zedic is in the military.
Kilbourne added, “we saw it as a great opportunity to get involved with the community … and to serve everyone; from knowing nothing about fishing to sophisticated customers.” They’ll also continue to sell locally-made products.
Zedic added, “I think Outdoors Plus is about a lifestyle. It’s a hunting and fishing store but it’s all the things people want to do outside; we want to be able to offer the tools and the things that people need to get outside and enjoy the outdoors and what better place to do that, then up here in Haliburton County.”
It’ll be status quo, but they will be looking to customers for feedback on what they would like to see, such as updated technology or processes. One thing is digital gift cards for Father’s Day this year, as opposed to paper ones. “Looking for things we can tweak, or make more efficient, or make a little bit different, without changing the Outdoors Plus experience.”
