Tannis Cable, owner of the business “The Outdoor Adventure Company”, is off to a very successful start. Cable received assistance through the Self-Employment program offered through Community Futures Westman. She is a perfect example of a person with an idea and a dream who made it happen.

The Outdoor Adventure Company opened in Brandon in May 2000, and offers quality clothing, footwear and accessories designed for outdoor use at moderate prices. It is comfortable, lightweight, easy-care clothing for adventure, travel, backcountry and casual wear.

With expertise and years of retail experience, Cable found a market in Brandon that was under developed — the ever growing and increasingly popular “Active Lifestyle” market.

With this growing market comes high demand for quality products, but of course, high demand often translates into high prices. Although there are other retailers in this market in Brandon, Cable noticed that none of them offered affordable prices. This is where The Outdoor Adventure Company comes in.

The store’s target market is the active lifestyle person who wears this clothing for both the activities they perform and for fashion. Because Cable lives an active lifestyle and has worked in the industry herself, she knows how pricey the clothing and accessories can get. Realizing that not everyone who lives this lifestyle can always afford it, she came up with the concept of offering quality products at an affordable price.

In addition to the Self-Employment program, Cable also received financial assistance for her business venture through a partnership between Community Futures Westman and the Louis Riel Capital Corporation.