Snow+Rock

Snow+Rock traces back to 1982, when Mike Browne and Sharon Campbell, then sales assistants at a Kensington High Street ski shop called Alpine Sports, opened their own store in direct competition across the street. The gamble worked: as Alpine Sports eventually closed, Snow+Rock's mix of imported ski and outdoor brands and hands-on service made it a dominant specialist in the category. In 1985 it introduced the UK's first Boot Fit Clinic, a fitting service that became a signature of the business as it expanded. By 1991 the chain had grown to nine stores nationwide, and it has continued to grow since, with outlets concentrated in London (six stores) and across the rest of England, plus a single superstore at Dundrum near Dublin - notably, none in Scotland. The retailer today covers skiing, climbing, hiking and general outdoor equipment.