Now, with help from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce after the floods last November, Catstycam.com has gone live!

“I have wanted to take the shops online for a while but never had the time or the funding to do it. Now I have some great colleagues who have taken some of my workload and given me time to write descriptions for the 6000 plus products we sell. Because of this, and the Flood Recovery Grant from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce I have had the time and funding to build and promote an excellent website that reflects the quality products and service we have always offered through the shops” says Andrew.

“The economic downturn has hit us hard this year so another outlet without the overheads of a third shop is very appealing. What makes this exciting is that how well it performs is down to us. With the shops, we choose the best products we can and train the staff to a very high level, but it is down to the weather and how many people are in the valley that dictates how busy we are. With the website we have the whole country as possible customers and it is down to how well we promote ourselves whether we succeed or not. It is something we can keep trying and changing until we get it right.”

Catstycam has a great record of training and retaining staff. Georgia Roper has been there on the shop floor since the start in 1989, and David Gartside was a runner up in the national “Outdoor Retail Staff of the Year” competition in his second year with the business.

To promote the launch of catstycam.com they have put together a Free Outdoor Competition with a prize fund of over £900 to be won by registering your details online at www.catstycam.com The prize is everything you need to get out on the hill in safety and comfort made up from their favorite clothing and equipment.

Sure it looks great in the mirror in the changing rooms, but will it keep out rain lashing in sideways on top of Helvellyn? Is it really THAT breathable after 4 hours on the trail? Will the pockets actually hold EVERYTHING I need?

Well, we know some people have those nagging doubts, so get rid of them! At everyday of the Ullswater Outdoor Festival this Autumn, we're giving anyone the chance to try out our gear...for free!

Yep. For free.

So you can take that jacket/overtrouser/baselayer out on one of the walks, scrambles or climbs and try it out for yourself. For free. 

Check out the Ullswater Website to see what walks or activities tickle your fancy, and then when you arrive, come along to the Sprayway Stand at the base camp to choose your free trial gear!

Simple....And free...

4/5

2 related products:

UK Price: from £30

Pros: Stylish, lightweight, comfortable and water repellent

Cons: none....is that possible?

Verdict: Must have clothes for an active, outdoor life

"The Sprayway Compass Shorts have all of the features that you’d expect from an outdoor clothing company like Sprayway.  The shorts use TecWeave, a fabric that is exclusive to Sprayway, which is highly durable and lightweight. The Sprayway Compass Shorts weigh just 237g.  The fabric also includes 4% Spandex to give the Sprayway Compass Shorts a slightly stretchy feel. Clearly, this helps the shorts retain their shape but also means that they stretch as you move, making the shorts ideal for active users, as well as being very comfortable.

The Sprayway Compass Shorts are finished with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, which I was obliged to test.  I ran the shorts under the tap for a couple of minutes but the shorts didn’t seem to absorb any water.  The water just formed droplets and rolled off. Even with the tap at full mains pressure, the water only briefly seemed to make the material wet although the same can't be said for my kitchen. Fantastic.

Despite being high tech, the Sprayway Compass Shorts are machine washable, albeit at 30 degrees, can be tumble dried and ironed.  They come in three, suitably manly colours - gunmetal, black and light khaki. OK...Sprayway need to drop the "light" because it's not that manly.

The Sprayway Compass Shorts are extremely well made with a shaped, semi-elasticated waist (on the hips only).  The shorts have a zip fly with button fastening. There are 3 zipped pockets on the front of the shorts and Velcro fastened pocket to the rear.  The thigh pocket is stitched in to the main body of the fabric so there’s no risk of the pocket liner hanging below the hem of the shorts. Finally, there is one internal zipped, security pocket.

But perhaps most importantly, for all style-conscious hikers, the Sprayway Compass Shorts look good so I was told by my wife!"

2 related products:

We particularly like the two double bedrooms. A family of four can use the smaller inner for the kids allowing mum and dad a little privacy in their larger bedroom opposite. The spare double can then be split into the wardrobe and a useful storage area. This versatile set up also allows for larger families and guests - neat!

Touring couples may also want to check out the Hood River 4 as a suitable alternative.

This review by Clive Garrett was featured in Camping Magazine - May Edition.

As the theme of the weekend is “Get Together”, we will be running a fantastic competition with the Club, offering you the chance to win some amazing Sprayway Prizes!

1st Prize - Sprayway Hood River 6 Tent & Calor O-Grill

2nd Prize – Sprayway Camping pack (Sleeping bag, Jacket, Fleece, Trousers & other goodies) & Cadac Safari Chef

3rd Prize – Sprayway Gore-Tex Performance Shell Waterproof Jacket & Party Wok

All you have to do is use this entry form to send us three pictures and tell us the story of your Great British Get Together.

The closing date for entries is the 12^th June 2010. So Get Together, get the camera out and get snapping.

Rob Sykes, Marketing Manager at Sprayway commented: "We're proud to continue our support for the Ullswater Outdoor Festival - it's a very special event with something for all ages and abilities.  It also gives those who are new to outdoor activities the chance to have a go in a safe and fun environment.

As well as providing a series of walks, from specially themed strolls to moorland hikes, there will be a series of other activities on offer, including biking, wall climbing and even a photography competition.

Order your Peak District Walking Festival Guide here for the full events listings and your chance to win some fantastic prizes, including a brand new Sprayway Gorge 4 Tent. 

While you're in town why not pop into Jo Royle Outdoor to see the latest Sprayway Gear including the All Day Rainpant, Hydrolite & Cyclone Jackets

Image: Walking on Chrome Hill, Peak District

3 related products:

Some of the walks available are already listed on the festival webpage at www.ullswater.com, but make sure you keep checking back as more will be added along with further details of the other activities that will be available. 

Remember, the Ullswater Outdoor Festival is Free! So it costs nothing to book your places on any of the walks or activities provided. On top of this we're offering you the chance to get kitted out for the outdoors by winning one of our Hydrolite Jackets. We've made sure you've got no excuse to miss out! Follow this link to enter.

1 related product: