Teton Outfitters, Inc. - Rigby

Like many young companies, Teton Outfitters LLC in Rigby was suffering from growing pains. Sales of the company’s high tech outerwear clothing designed for the snowmobile market increased from less than $22,000 in 1998 to $1.2 million in 2000 — a figure expected to double for 2001. During that same period the company’s workforce jumped from five employees to 38.

But thanks to help from the Idaho Small Business Development Center and TechHelp, the Region VI Small Business of the Year was able to tackle its cash flow problems and raise the funds needed to deal with its rapid growth.

With the help of the ISBDC, owner Justin Summers created a new business plan for Teton Outfitters and identified several sources of funding, including Frostline, Idaho Economic Development Council, Bechtel and Zions Bank. TechHelp was called in to assist in improving the efficiency of the manufacturing process and to develop a personnel training program.

With a leaner manufacturing process in place, the company can concentrate on expanding their facilities to allow all production to be done in-house, thus bringing an additional 65 jobs to the Rigby area, jobs that are currently supporting plants outside of Idaho. Justin is also well on his way to achieving his goal of becoming the leading technical innovator of snowmobile gear in the world.