SummitPost.org

Hello everyone! First time poster here

I have a strange request for leads, as I have seemingly chased my tail for the past week elsewhere. First, let me start with the backstory...

The North Face produces special event mugs that they provide to their traveling reps to hand out during special occasions. These mugs have never been for sale to the public, and do not have a price tag. My boyfriend had one that he acquired through a rep many years ago (back when he was far more involved in the retail side of the outdoor industry than he is now). Also, I have to add, he is a total minimalist. He only owns two mugs, and this one was by far his favorite (specifically because it was rare). The mug was black with white "The North Face" lettering. Fast forward a few years, and he and I are preparing to move into our new apartment. Well, the mug walked away. Neither of my former roommates say that they've seen it, and it didn't come with us to our new place.

Now we arrive at the present-day predicament...

I wanted, desperately, to acquire a new one for him for the holidays. So, I started with TNF corporate. I was sent in four different directions after I called four different times. Unfortunately, I kept acquiring numbers for their retail production partners, and not the company who produces their internal marketing items.

When that failed, I called my local REI hoping to find the telephone number for their TNF rep. Unfortunately, the rep has been MIA for the past year, and no one has his number.

The next step was contacting my local TNF retail location. I couldn't reach them on the phone, so this option still has yet to be further explored. Though, I doubt they will be able to help me find a non-retail item.

Finally, my search led me here. I figure that someone on this forum will have experience working in the outdoor industry, and will potentially have a lead for me. I don't need the mug to be an exact replacement. He didn't like it so much because of the way it looked, he liked it because of how rare it was. It doesn't even need to be TNF brand, if anyone knows of another big name outdoor company who has special event mugs!

So, what I am looking for is:
A coffee mug that has not ever been available for public purchase. Preferably The North Face, but I am open to other ideas.
or
The phone number of any TNF rep that I can speak to about acquiring one?

If you know exactly what it looked like, you can recreate the design, upload it to a website and have a custom mug shipped to you for under $20. Just search the Web for "custom mug".

Or consider a mug printed with an actual photo of him (or you!) from one of his climbing trips.

Help me, I've been mugged (!)

You know you’ve had too many mugs of coffee when :

You can ski uphill.
You haven’t blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
You get a speeding ticket even when you’re parked.
You can grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
You answer the door before people knock.
You can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using the timer.
You have to watch videos in fast-forward.
You’re the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don’t even work there anymore.

Did you try looking on E-Bay? I remember those mugs were available back in the 1980s. One of TNF's major retailers here in California was a chain of stores called Holubar Mountaineering (also stores in Colorado, IIRC), and they had them for sale, usually stocked behind the counter along with branded (non-climbing-use) carabiners and other trinkets. They were also available at TNF Headquarters and outlet store in San Leandro, CA. Search on E-Bay and I'm sure one will pop up.