We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Lamberson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe Mountain Sports Flagstaff biggest factor of success is community. My mother and father moved to Flagstaff in 1980 with my brother and I as young kids. This 40 years of business in the same community has brought us a depth of relationship with our supporters and our town that can’t be created any other way than time spent through the years. Mountain Sports is a steadfast supporter of community groups and individuals and our Flagstaff residents have, in turn patronized us all these years. I am proud of the company my parents built, the relationships they cultivated, and the time they have spent helping create the mountain town we call home. I feel fortunate that my husband and I can continue this relationships and raise the next generation (our son Jack) in this awesome home grown community.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Mountain Sports Flagstaff was founded on a love of adventuring in the outdoors. Brothers Mark and Bruce Lamberson started the company in Casper, WY in 1973 and expanded to Flagstaff in 1980. The tradition of a family owned and operated business is still alive and well as my father Mark and I work side by side with our active team to share our enthusiasm for playing outside. Like you, we live and love the casual, local lifestyle. We pride ourselves in offering exceptional, helpful, hometown customer service. We believe the vibe is always warm and welcoming and we are not only an outdoor apparel shop; we are a gathering spot in the heart of downtown. We open our doors as a community space for locals and travelers alike. We use our retail shop to celebrate our friends and neighbors and their involvement in all things fun and Flagstaff.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m biased to the historic downtown area when it comes to shopping and dining. Some favorites include Coffee at Lux North, Lunch at Proper Meats and dinner and cocktails at Shift FLG. Shopping at our sister store of Bright Side Bookshop or browsing the ladies boutiques of Rainbow’s End and Shoes and Such never disappoint. And the Old Town Shops (The Basement, PJ Chillcottage and Sage Brush) really have something for ANY age. We LOVE to go up on the mountain (San Francisco Peaks) for a hike or scenic sky ride at Snowbowl. Maybe camp in the Aspen groves along Freidlein Prairie Road or at the base of Wing Mountain. We also love paddle boarding and swimming in our surrounding lakes (Mary and Ashurst being the closest). Or a great easy in town evening walk up at Buffalo Park with the dogs is always a treat too. The list is endless…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom and Dad deserve a shout out for giving me my entrepreneurial spirit. There was never any doubt that I could do anything I chose in any industry of my liking. They both ran their own companies/careers from a young age, so my brother saw that business tenacity from day one. And to have spend the last 10 years working side by side with my father as my mentor, sounding board, and coach has kept Mountain Sports Flagstaff growing and thriving.

Website: https://mountainsportsflagstaff.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainsportsflagstaff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MountainSportsFlagstaff/

Image Credits
Keiji Iwai for the Mountain Sports building shot. Lisa Lamberson for all others.