TEN YEARS AGO, Andrew Drummond had an idea. He wanted to bring backcountry skiing to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and he knew that he would have to start a small business to do it.

He started out with a single supplier, selling equipment out of the back of his truck. In his first year, Andrew sold just eight items. Eventually, he moved into a small kiosk in a ski lodge, where he expanded his customer base.