REI

REI was founded in 1938 by mountaineering enthusiasts who wanted to have access to the best equipment on the market. To this day, REI is not a publicly traded company, but a consumer cooperative. In 2005, their annual sales topped $1 billion with more than 8,000 employees and locations in 27 states. The company has been among Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” every year since 1998.

REI specializes in the supplying the nature-lover’s lifestyle, a bold-living mentality focused through fitness and outdoor living. To promote this concept, REI committed to “green building” technology when planning its opening of a retail location in Round Rock, Texas. The facility serves not only as an expansive retail center, but also contains community rooms dedicated to meeting space and educational seminars.