Which retail outlet that sells Coghlan's camping gear bills itself as Canada's largest supplier of outdoor equipment?
Mountain Equipment Co-op Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is a Canadian consumers' cooperative that sells outdoor recreation gear and clothing exclusively to its members. MEC is notable for its commitment to environmental protection and other causes. As a co-op, MEC sells only to customers who hold a lifetime membership, which is technically a share and can be purchased by anyone for $5. MEC bills itself as Canada's largest supplier of outdoor equipment. Since its founding in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1971, MEC has expanded across Canada and now operates stores in 22 cities. Once catering to mountaineers and climbers, MEC now targets a broader clientele. This is evidenced by changes in its marketing imagery, which historically focused on high level climbing and alpinist imagery. MEC has over 4.3 million members in Canada and internationally.
Rona, Inc. Rona, Inc. is a Canadian retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Founded in 1939, the company operates a mixture of company-owned and franchised retailers under multiple banners, including Rona, its big box formats Rona Home & Garden (Rona L’Entrepôt in Quebec) and Réno-Dépôt, as well as smaller brands such as Rona Cashway, Marcil Centre de Rénovation, and Dick's Lumber. On February 3, 2016, U.S. retailer Lowe's announced that it would acquire Rona for $3.2 billion pending government approval. Lowe's plans to maintain the Rona name in mid-sized stores post-merger.