A love for the mountains, gear, and equipment, have been the driving forces behind the Rab and Lowe Alpine brands (owned by Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd.) since their beginnings. Making gear that performs and lasts has been Rab’s unofficial motto since their founder Rab Carrington hand sewed his first sleeping bag back in 1981. But no item is indestructible. Over the years the company therefore has refined and developed its repair and wash services, in a bid to offer customers confidence in their products but also as a way of lowering each item’s carbon footprint, giving gear a second chance and keeping valuable resources out of landfill.
Based on the success of their UK Service Centre, Equip, owner of Rab and Lowe Alpine has decided now is the time to roll out expert wash and repair services worldwide, starting with their recently opened Leusden Service Centre in The Netherlands, with more centres in the US, Canada and Norway to follow suit. The goal? The company aim to replicate the large volume of washes and repairs carried out in the UK. This saves thousands of items from landfill every year and keeps gear working at peak condition for longer. That’s great for the planet, for the outdoors, and for your wallet.
More than 7,000 items washed and repaired
In the last year, Rab’s UK Service Centre has repaired and washed over 7000 items sent in by customers and over 600 warranty claims, a clear proof that Rab and Lowe Alpine customers are looking for ways to care for their kit properly and extend its useable lifetime. Accepting a quality repair over a new warranty replacement is further evidence of the shift in attitude.
Matt Clarke, Head of Customer Experience at Equip, explains: “Servicing and regular maintenance of technical outdoor products is more important than ever in today’s world. As a brand, we want to keep product performing for as long as possible. Our Rab Service Centres have been designed to offer a consistent global customer experience. Replicating our physical UK offering to other territories and moving it online, should make it easy for Rab customers to self-serve and look after their kit. And if for any reason they cannot find what they are looking for and need some help or advice along the way, the experienced Rab Service Centre teams are on hand to help and support them.”
Servicing and regular maintenance of technical outdoor products is more important than ever in today’s world…
Matt Clarke
Gore-Tex gear wash service
Whether you’ve shredded your shell, burnt a hole in your down, need a zip replacement, or a spare tent pole, the service centre team will be able to help. For the most stubborn stains and the mud magnets, Rab’s wash service offers expert washing and drying that will rejuvenate your gear and replenish its performance. Washing is available for waterproof shells, insulated gear and sleeping bags as well as a specialised Gore-Tex gear wash service.
The Service Centres are an integral part of Equip’s overall CSR strategy. As a Climate Neutral Company committed to reaching Net Zero Emissions by 2030, the Service Centre’s contribution is extremely valuable. Not only for achieving the company goals, but for helping you achieve yours with a lower environmental impact.
Want to learn more about Equip’s CSR strategy? Then head over HERE and start your journey to learning more about an environmentally conscious approach to outdoor product development.
