She Explores

Sheri Tingey has been making gear in the outdoor industry for the past 50 years, and she's done a lot of it with her own two hands. Learn about what drives her to solve problems, how she learned the important lesson of slowing down, and what happened after she re-started her career in her 50's by founding Alpacka Raft.

Sheri started out making custom ski apparel in Jackson Hole in the late 1960's and she founded Alpacka Raft in 2000. The latter revolutionized packrafting as a sport in and of itself. (Color us impressed!) In between the two ventures, Sheri spent 17 years with a then-mysterious illness, chronic fatigue. She raised her kids in Alaska then, but she stayed active in the outdoor community, making custom clothing for dog mushers with her limited energy. She was in her early 50's once she found treatment and started Alpacka Raft.

Sheri has fun solving problems and being an entrepreneur - which may just be the secret to her success.

Women featured in this episode: Sheri Tingey, the founder of Alpacka Raft, a company that makes Packrafts in Colorado. Sheri has been innovating since the late 1960's when she started a ski apparel company, Design by Sheri, because she couldn't find the ski clothes she needed.

Hosted by Gale Straub

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What the outdoor industry was like in the late 1960's and 70's
• The catalyst for Sheri's first company, Design by Sheri
• When Sheri knew it was time to move on from her first venture
• How chronic fatigue affects your body and creative ability
• The value of slowing down, and how Sheri incorporates that lesson in her life (and work) today
• What it's like to gain confidence again after treatment for a chronic illness
• What packrafting is
• The unique challenges and rewards of a product-based company
• The importance of re-evaluating your business after it's been around for a certain period of time
• Why sometimes it's better to stay small as a company
• Sheri's advice for other entrepreneurs as she looks back at her career

Sponsors & Codes:

• Benchmark Maps: use code SHEEXPLORES for 20% off your order
• Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
• Stamps.com: use code EXPLORES after clicking on the mic for a free 4 week trial, postage, and a digital scale!
• World Nomads: Check out their podcast at Worldnomads.com/podcasts

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Alpacka Raft
• Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking
• She Explores Facebook Group

Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Steve Combs via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)

Music is also by Memory Palace