Making Work Fun and Meaningful

All Comes Down to Team

What’s most striking about a visit to Patagonia’s headquarters is the relaxed atmosphere throughout each department. Certainly, the lack of an employee dress code doesn’t hurt. But there are other reasons. You wouldn’t necessarily assume that every person at an outdoor apparel company actively engages in outdoor activities, but it certainly seems that way. From the catalog director who takes part in ocean kayaking competitions to the e-commerce manager who contributes to a cycling blog, just about everyone at Patagonia has some connection to outdoor sports. That certainly jibes with the attitude of Patagonia’s founder, Chouinard, whose first direct mail piece was a flyer that contained a list of products and the warning “Don’t expect prompt delivery during climbing season.”