THE QUARTERLY XPLORER: Q3 2022

To some, this may be the last quarter of the year, but for Xplorer Maps it’s the first quarter of the new year as it pertains to our retail customers. So…..October represents the beginning of the holiday online sales season and the busiest 12 weeks of the year for our Shopify e-commerce site.

Special Announcement - ATTENTION Sanibel-Captiva Fundraiser:

Like so many others from coast to coast, we are so saddened by the news of the massive disruption, destruction, and devastation caused by Hurricane Ian this past week on so many residents and businesses that call the islands home.

While we are literally thousands of miles away, tucked into our little corner in the mountains of Western Montana, we feel compelled to act the best we know how and would like to contribute in some small... but genuinely meaningful way... to the ongoing relief efforts now underway on Sanibel-Captiva.

Retroactive to October 1st, and continuing through the entire month of October, Xplorer Maps will donate 50% from all online sales of any of our Sanibel-Captiva related products to the Fish Foundation (https://www.fishofsancap.org/), an on-island organization of "neighbors helping neighbors."

Find all our Sanibel-Captiva products for purchase here:

https://xplorermaps.com/collections/sanibel-captiva-islands

Q3 HIGHLIGHTS

Philanthropy

As a member of 1% For the Planet, Xplorer Maps annually supports non-profit public lands and conservation organizations worldwide. During Q3, we donated more than $13,000.00 to 8 different non-profits with a combination of in-kind and cash contributions. Among the recipients were three different Public Lands Alliance groups (North Cascades Institute, Shenandoah National Parks Association, and Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association) and Missoula-based organizations Ecology Project International and the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.

New Partnerships: 

• Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority - look for more info about this exciting and unique partnership in the coming weeks. It’s a “first of its kind” custom map for Xplorer Maps and one that many of you will find very interesting, enlightening, historic, and hopefully super cool to add to your XM collections. From Chicago to Seattle, this Greater Northwest Passenger Rail map is a full custom collaborative partnership.

• Ecology Project International: While just in its preliminary phase, this exciting new collaboration with a Missoula-based non-profit organization is shaping up to be one of our most interesting and rewarding partnership projects to date. Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn more about XM rendering a new hand-drawn “story” map of Costa Rica to be released May 1st, 2024!

Here's what EPI had to say about our new partnership:

“Ecology Project International (a nonprofit focused on conservation and youth education initiatives) and Xplorer Maps first collaborated together during First Friday in May 2022 in downtown Missoula where a portion of Xplorer Maps sales went to benefit EPI's Montana-based Yellowstone work. In 2023, Xplorer Maps will be traveling to EPI's Pacuare Reserve located in the heart of the rainforest on the Caribbean coast in Costa Rica to see EPI's conservation work hands-on! Through their journey, XM will gather the images and inspiration they need to create XM's first Costa Rica hand-drawn map to be made available in 2024!”

New Maps 

Quarter 3 saw the official release of two new custom hand-drawn maps:  Pennsylvania & Chesapeake Bay. Maps, mini-maps, magnets, and notecards are available now with the full product line rolling out in the Spring of 2023.

 ...and HOPES for Q4

NEW MAPS ARE BEING DRAWN

HELP US CREATE OUR NEW MAP OF UTAH!! FREE FRAMED PRINT GIVEAWAY  

When Xplorer Maps begins the journey of creating a new custom hand-drawn map, it all starts with a few “conceptual sketches'' experimenting with different scale, scope, and content ideas. At this early stage is when we typically like to involve you, our customers, and followers, in the creative process; seeking advice from the people that know and appreciate that special place best for content suggestions. To make things fun, we offer you the opportunity to win a Free Framed Print of the featured map; simply answer a few questions and you’ll be entered into the contest. 

The original artwork officially begins November 1, 2022, so please submit your ideas for a chance to win a FREE FRAMED PRINT of the map when it’s completed in early 2023.

Below is an image of the conceptual drawing for the state of Utah. This is a rough sketch to give you an idea of what it could look like! Follow this link to fill out our survey in order to be entered for a FREE framed print!

https://bit.ly/UtahMapGiveaway

Repeat Announcement:

The winners of our most recent Free Framed Print Giveaway were:

Pennsylvania: Jim S. (Helena, MT)

Chesapeake Bay: Teresa E. (Bel Air, MD)

Q4 of 2022 kicks off with a bang! We’ve built out and improved the functionality and shopping experience on our e-commerce site; building a stronger foundation to gear up for the next 11 weeks of online sales. With many fun promotions and sales coming up for the holidays, be sure to keep a lookout on our social media platforms and sign up for our emails to receive amazing deals for all your gift-giving for friends and family on any occasion!

NEW MAPS COMING OUT

We’ve got an exciting last few months in the works with a couple more “New Releases”: 

• Pennsylvania state map (available now)
• The historic seaside resort town of Cape May (available early November)
• The Outer Banks of North Carolina (available early to mid-December).

***Please note, this is NOT the final version of Cape May***

• This October 18th we will be celebrating Alaska Day, which commemorates when Alaska was officially bought from Russia in 1867. Keep an eye out for Alaska content on all our social media platforms throughout the month of October, and a special sale! October 11-18th: 10% off on all Alaska products (includes our full product line for the Alaska, Denali, and Inside Passage maps.)

• Keep a look out for promotions throughout the end of the year, with sales happening for Cyber Week, Black Friday, Holiday Stocking Stuffer ideas, and many more. 
• We now have shopping available on Facebook, Instagram, and Google Pay to make it easier for you to get what you need!