Imagine working outdoors during a harsh rainstorm and your jacket snags on a tree, ripping the arm. You’re stuck finishing your shift, wet and cold, knowing your jacket will have to be replaced yet again.
Frustrated with buying new rain gear and chainsaw safety pants every season, the Payer family saw an opportunity to create high-quality outdoor workwear that lasts the test of time. Rain Gear Pro is an Indigenous-owned operation that manufactures 100% waterproof workwear in Canada. Offering a variety of products, from hurricane-rated rain jackets to chainsaw safety pants, the company keeps outdoor workers dry and safe in any conditions.
Operating as a small family business, the company has built a solid reputation for quality that lasts. As demand increased for their top-of-the-line workwear, Brian Payer and Keilan Clark responded by incorporating Rain Gear Pro in 2021 and expanding to online retail.
Now, with the support of Export Navigator, the company has secured six US distribution sites, sold into European markets, received grants to support expansion efforts, and built essential connections. Before Export Navigator, Rain Gear Pro’s sales were 90% Canadian, and now they’re seeing 90% of sales from the US.
Sewing the seams
Since expanding into the online retail space, Rain Gear Pro has been gaining attention from foreign buyers, mostly from the US, who are keen on high-quality gear made in North America.
The team saw this traction as an opportunity to step into the US market but needed support expanding outside of Canada. Export Navigator was there to walk them through the next steps.
“We’re a small team of two with limited resources and everything about exporting was new to us,” shares Keilan. “We had an idea of where we wanted to go, we just didn’t know where to start or what steps to take to get there.”
Paired with Export Advisor Shannan Roberts, Rain Gear Pro set a goal of securing US distributors and establishing a greater in-store retail presence.
Shannan connected them with the federal Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) to establish their roadmap. After first participating in the TAP program, the team had the pieces in place to make their next move.
“Building our plan and strategic goals through the TAP program established a roadmap for Rain Gear Pro’s growth,” adds Keilan. “With that guidance in place, we have an understanding of what steps to take next to achieve our export goals. The biggest change in my mind is that we now know where we’re going.”
Following their new game plan, Rain Gear Pro has since secured six US distributors across the country and sold into European markets.
Changing tides
Faced with changing economies and border uncertainty, Export Navigator had the resources and connections to help Rain Gear Pro weather the storm.
Shannan connected the company with Border Brokers to support customs clearance and land crossing, a lasting connection that will support the company’s future expansion efforts down south.
Grants and bursaries provided through Export Navigator have furthered its growth efforts, supporting brand development and sector research. With a new understanding of opportunities in foreign markets, Rain Gear Pro is gearing up to work with utility companies, first in Washington and then expanding across the states.
For Brian and Keilan, the support from Export Navigator has made a world of difference in growing their company from a family business to an international success. They would recommend without hesitation that other companies take advantage of Export Navigator’s expertise.
“Working with Shannan, we’ve been met with enthusiasm, knowledge and connections that have taken Rain Gear Pro to the next level,” says Brian. “We are eager to work with Export Navigator on future expansion efforts and know they’ll be there to support us.”
