FAQ
Why did you create an online shop?
The original reason was simple: many guests wanted to buy a Green Climbers Home shirt but couldn't get the size, color, or design they wanted during their stay.
Storage space at the camp is limited, and it is not practical for us to keep large quantities of every size, color, and design in stock. As a result, some options inevitably sell out during the season.
The online shop allows guests to order the products they want without us having to store hundreds of shirts at the camp. It also gives former guests a chance to get a shirt after they have returned home.
As an added benefit, any profit generated through the shop helps support Green Climbers Home and contributes to the camp's future.
Why are the shirts more expensive than at the camp?
The products sold through the online shop are produced individually when an order is placed. This allows us to offer a much wider range of sizes, colors, and designs than we could ever keep in stock at the camp.
Unlike merchandise sold directly at Green Climbers Home, online orders also involve additional costs such as individual production, payment processing, international fulfillment, and taxes.
While this makes the online products more expensive, it allows former guests and supporters around the world to purchase Green Climbers Home merchandise long after they have left Laos.
Why is the shop registered in Germany?
Although Green Climbers Home is located in Laos, running an international online shop from Laos would be surprisingly difficult. International payments, worldwide shipping, customs regulations, and different tax systems would require far more time and resources than our small team can realistically manage.
Registering the shop in Germany allows us to use reliable payment providers, simplify administration, and offer a smoother experience for customers around the world.
In short, the shop is registered in Germany because it is the most practical way to make international sales work while allowing us to focus on running the camp in Laos.
Why aren't the products manufactured and shipped from Laos?
Producing and shipping individual orders from Laos to customers around the world would be expensive, slow, and difficult to manage.
Instead, we work with production partners closer to our customers. This allows orders to be produced and delivered more efficiently while reducing shipping times and avoiding the need to store large amounts of inventory at the camp.
This approach also makes it possible to offer a much wider range of products, sizes, and colors than we could provide from Laos.
Are these the same products sold at Green Climbers Home?
Partly.
Some of the designs available online are also sold at the camp, while others were created specifically for the online shop. The online shop also offers products that we do not stock in Laos, such as hoodies, children's clothing, and a wider range of colors and sizes.
At Green Climbers Home, our merchandise is produced in partnership with Poda Wear, a Bangkok-based climbing apparel company that supports climbing communities and route development throughout Southeast Asia. Because storage space at the camp is limited, we can only keep a relatively small selection of products in stock.
The online shop and the camp shop complement each other: one provides a limited selection available during your stay, while the other makes a wider range of Green Climbers Home merchandise available year-round.
Can I simply donate instead of buying a shirt?
Many guests have asked this, and we are genuinely grateful that people want to support Green Climbers Home.
At the same time, we see ourselves as a business rather than a charity. While previous fundraising campaigns helped the camp recover from difficult situations, the current management would prefer to build a sustainable future through the services and products we offer rather than relying on donations.
That is one of the reasons we created this shop. A shirt is something many people will eventually need anyway, and purchasing one allows you to support the camp while receiving something useful in return.
If you don't need a shirt, please don't feel obligated to buy one. We do not want to encourage unnecessary consumption simply for the sake of raising money.
One of the best ways to support Green Climbers Home is still to visit the camp, recommend us to other climbers, return for another trip, buy a guidebook, or share your experiences with friends.
The fact that so many people have offered to help already means a lot to us, and we are deeply grateful for that support.
Does Green Climbers Home actually receive the money?
Yes.
After production costs, shipping, payment processing fees, taxes, and other operating expenses have been covered, the remaining profit is used to support Green Climbers Home.
The purpose of the shop is to create a sustainable source of income that helps support the camp beyond the climbing season. Rather than relying on repeated fundraising campaigns, we hope the shop can provide long-term support while offering something useful in return.
We are committed to being transparent about the impact the shop has and will share updates on how it supports the camp over time.
How are the funds used?
The profits generated through the shop have two priorities:
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Supporting the staff of Camp 2 during the upcoming closure period.
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Rebuilding the restaurant and community space that were destroyed in the fire.
The fire made it impossible to operate Camp 2 as planned and affected the livelihoods of many people who depend on the camp for seasonal employment.
Our first priority is therefore supporting the staff affected by the closure. Any remaining funds are invested in rebuilding the restaurant and community space so that the camp can provide stable employment again in future seasons.
Every product purchased helps support the people behind Green Climbers Home today while contributing to the camp's future tomorrow.
Why cant't I order from my country?
Green Climbers Home guests come from all over the world, and we would love to make the shop available everywhere.
Unfortunately, selling products internationally involves much more than shipping. Different countries have different tax rules, import regulations, consumer protection requirements, and reporting obligations. Managing these correctly takes a significant amount of time and administrative work.
As a small operation, we decided to start with the regions where we can reliably manage these requirements: the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Rather than offering worldwide sales and risking a poor customer experience, we chose to focus on the markets we can support properly.
We hope to expand availability in the future, but for now this approach allows us to keep the shop manageable while staying compliant with the various regulations involved in international e-commerce.
Still have a question?
Feel free to contact us. We are happy to answer questions about the shop, the rebuilding project, or how the merchandise supports Green Climbers Home.