One Year!!!

We opened our Aktiv shop on September 1, 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 second wave. It was a quiet day... very quiet. In fact, it was one of only two days where we haven't sold anything since we opened the shop. With it came lesson one of owning and operating a brick and mortar store- humility.

Like most things, when you open a store you have a feeling of how things will go and the final outcome is different, not better or worse...but definitely different. We have loved chatting, sharing our story, spreading the Scandinavian clothing ethos and brands and, of course, the wonders of wool. For those interested, our best selling item is the Half-Zip Comfy Sweater for men by Bjorn Dæhlie. We brought in as many as were available and sold them all out by January. It is an incredible sweater (available for women too), built for cross-country skiing but perfect for just about any activity. We hope to have our Fall/Winter supply of the Half Zip in by October first. If you want to reserve one please email us at aktiv@aktivstyle.com.

Our two most popular brands were Ivanhoe of Sweden and Amundsen Sports of Norway. Ivanhoe delivers amazing quality in classic Scandic looks. Amundsen pushes the boundaries of of outdoor wear with fantastic results! We love introducing these two companies along with our other 26 (!!!) brands to shoppers looking for something a little different.

Other highlights included a mention in the Washington Post in a story about Friluftsliv, the Norwegian concept of living in the natural world.  We have had great luck with hiring and could not run the shop without our three amazing employees. We've also enjoyed our fabulous neighbors at Stanley Marketplace.  

We look forward to year two as the world continues to re-open. The items we have on the way for the Fall are stunning and we can't wait to share them with you.  If you find yourself at Stanley Marketplace please say hi, if you are not near us, we can always be found at www.aktivstyle.com. Thank you for your continued support!

Exert.Explore.Exhale.