Bizline: Door to Door Ski Rentals

Name: Door To Door Ski Rentals by Christy Sports

Owners: Ben Saari & Joe Hawkins

Manager (D2D Breckinridge): Lance Eich

Phone Numbers: 866-D2D-SKIS or (970) 453-4754

Date business opened: Aug. 1, 2003



Q: What type of business do you operate - what do you sell, or what service do you provide?

Door To Door Ski and Snowboard Rental is significantly different from your traditional brick and mortar ski shop. We deliver all of the services a ski shop offers to your front door without the hassle of waiting in line, filling out forms, and then carrying your skis back to your home, condo or hotel. When your vacation is over you simply call us and we will arrange to pick up the equipment. Our mission is to create the ultimate ski and snowboard rental experience by providing the highest quality of equipment and world class service to our customers.

This is how our mobile ski shop works:

If you want to make reservations in advance simply fill out our online reservation form at www.doortodoorskirentals.com or give us a call at 1-866-D2D-SKIS OR (970) 453-4754 and our technicians will assist you by acquiring your skier ability, height, weight and the location and time you want your equipment delivered. If your arrival time changes, simply call us and reschedule your time. We are open 24 hours 7 days a week.

Our certified technicians will meet the customers at the location and time scheduled and will fit all equipment to their complete satisfaction. If something does not fit, our vans carry a complete size range of equipment so you are guaranteed a proper fit. If you need to rent ski clothing or want to purchase ski accessories we will be happy to help.

If at any time the customer is not satisfied, they can give us a call and we will make arrangements to meet the customer to adjust or replace the equipment.

When you are through with your vacation call and will pick up our equipment.

Q: Why did you decide to open your business in Summit County?

A: Door To Door Ski and Snowboard Rental Delivery Service was started in Steamboat Spring three years ago. Owners Ben Saari and Joe Hawkins started the business out of Ben's 400-square-foot apartment using a small rental garage for their inventory. "Living and working together in such a small place made us understand our strengths and weaknesses," Saari said. His previous seven years of experience working in the ski industry and his marketing background matched with Hawkins' C.P.A. background, and provided the checks and balances necessary to grow their new business. They are both avid skiers and wanted to spend more time on the mountain and less time waiting in line at a rental shop. In its second year, Door To Door doubled their business and their customer base started to grow outside of the country. "We started to get referrals from across the pond," Hawkins said.

Christy Sports has been an icon for over 40 years in Colorado and Utah. They have a proven track record of providing the highest quality of service to their customers. Bob Dapper, director of operations of Christy Sports said, "We had been developing a business plan for the past two years to enter into the ski rental delivery business. We new we would be held to a higher standard of service because of who we are. We wanted to take the ski delivery business to the next level and offer more than just a delivery service."

So why re-invent the wheel? Door To Door approached Christy Sports to see if they would be interested in the ski delivery business. After several meetings discussing strategies, financial objective and business direction it became apparent that both companies had a strong focus on exceeding customer's expectations.

With multiple store fronts in the ski mountain base areas, Christy Sports and Door To Door will bring the store to the customer. Customers will have the option to choose from over seventy models of retail skis to test and the option of applying rental dollars to future purchases. With multiple locations close to the mountain base areas, our customer will have easy access to the latest fashions and accessories. If customers need to store their skis or need assistance, a store is close by or a call will dispatch a certified technician to exchange or repair their rental equipment at a predetermined location minimizing downtime. All of our vans our stocked with skis, snowboards, boots and accessories. Our delivery service is open 24 hours.