Trails.com closing Seattle office, founder says decision 'bittersweet' |
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Trails.com closing Seattle office, founder says decision 'bittersweet'
It is the end of the trail for Trails.com -- at least in Seattle. The 15-person office will close early next year as most of the work transfers to Santa Monica, Calif. where Trails.com's parent company, Demand Media, is based.
Doug Colbeck, who founded Trails.com in his basement nine years ago, said the move had been planned for some time following the purchase by Demand Media in 2006. It accelerated in recent months because the company was facing a new lease in Seattle in February. The decision is not tied to the current problems in the economy, with Colbeck saying that Trails.com is profitable and growing.
The online map and trail guide, which allows hikers, mountain bikers and others to search through 45,000 trails in North America, attracted more than 3 million visitors per month during the peak summer season.
Some of the workers will be offered jobs in other Demand Media offices, including the eNom office in Bellevue where Colbeck plans to work on various projects. Those who are not offered jobs in other locations will be given severance payments, Colbeck said.
Trails.com was a bit of a hidden success story in Seattle. Founded in 1999 and bootstrapped by Colbeck, the company raised only $300,000 during its history before selling out to Demand Media.
Colbeck remembers cackles when he pitched the business plan to venture capitalists.
"Back in the day, people laughed at us because our business model was to sell content," he said. Colbeck powered on despite the criticism, building what he says is the largest outdoor media site in the country. Trails.com offers trail information for free, as well as a subscription service to get more detailed information.
Because of that success, Colbeck said it is "bittersweet" to close the Seattle operation. He said he will miss working with the team members but is proud of having "handed off the site to Demand Media."
In addition to Trails.com, Colbeck's firm operates GolfLink -- an online site where golfers can research courses and input scores from past rounds. The firm, known as Hillclimb Media, also runs Travels.com.
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