Summer 2019 – Inside Outdoor Magazine

14 Inside Outdoor | SUMMER 2019 R E P N E W S & N O T E S www.insideoutdoor.com www.insideoutdoor.com R E P N E W S & N O T E S www.insideoutdoor.com Chaos Headwear has added two organizations to its U.S. national sales team. The company welcomed the Rose Agency to represent the Rock- ies and the Lake Effect Group for the upper Midwest. Koji Peck of the Rose Agency will oversee Colorado and New Mexico for Chaos, along with Mike Simbowski. Garret Rose will cover Utah and Wyoming along with Peck and Chris Binger. The Rose Agency has been in business since 1987 and represent other active brands including Smith Optics, Bogs Footwear, Goal Zero, Chums, Captuer Headwear and Kinco Gloves. The Rose team plans for more distribution in resort and event programs and will also keep up with the stores served by friend Patrick Hoyt (Packy), who passed suddenly this year. Chaos Headwear’s partner- ship with Lake Effect Sports represents a new division for the company in the northern mid states, with Lake Effect focusing on new retail accounts in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Industry veterans of 25 years, Lake Effect Sports has an extensive snow background, including 10 years of experi- ence at Nike. They have represented Under Armour for 10 years and currently repre- sent Line Ski and Scott USA in addition to Chaos and CTR Headwear. Team members include Geoff Bonebrake and Tim Simonson, who have been a team for 22 years. NEMO Equipment has hired Freestone Sales Group to grow sales and service existing accounts in the Rockies. Free- stone is led by Stephen Nance, formerly of The Raven Work- shop, which represented NEMO, and Corbin Biehler from Moun- tain Trading. Tres Binkley rounds out the team representing Utah and Wyoming. “NEMO is thrilled to be working with Freestone,” said Mike Welch, vice president of sales for NEMO. “When Stephen first pitched the idea of transitioning the agency, and partnering with Corbin, we were all in. Stephen and Corbin have the elusive mix of energy and enthusiasm for our core mission, blended with a keen eye for merchandising and a thorough understanding of retail math. They will serve as great partners and champi- ons for our specialty retailers in the Rockies.” “Our focus is to bring each retail relationship high-quality service and consistent sup- port through on-site training, creative events, effective com- munication and meaningful partnerships,” said Nance. “Our strength as a sales agency is our ability to adapt and inno- vate our services in the ever- changing retail scene.” In addition to NEMO, Free- stone works with Oboz Footwear, Splitter Designs and Socksmith. Contact them at  sales@freeston- esalesgroup.com. Chaos Adds Two Agencies NEMO Selects Freestone to Rep Rockies Outtech to Handle SOG Specialty Channel SOG Knives and Tools has partnered with Outtech Inc., to represent SOG in the specialty sales channel, both independent and chain specialty retailers, in all the lower 48 U.S. states. By partnering with Outtech, SOG will be able to swiftly deploy consistent sales, promotional and product initiatives, said the company. SOG will now have expanded local, regional and national trade show pres- ence, better-timed seasonal product previews and a streamlined order-entry system. Established in 1989, Outtech is 100 percent employee owned. It maintains a portfolio of brand leaders across hunt, camp, fish, shooting sports and outdoor lifestyle categories. “SOG has a strong reputation as a leader in the knife category, and we’re honored to be able to play a role in the dynamic growth plans with such an iconic and innovative brand,” said John Seliga, Outtech’s chief operation officer. “SOG is an outstanding fit for both Outtech and our retail partners.” Oboz Adds Freestone in the Rockies Freestone Sales Group now will be repre- senting Oboz Footwear in Colorado, New Mex- ico, Utah and Wyoming. Freestone is headed by Stephen Nance and Corbin Biehler, who started the agency following successful careers with other sales agencies, The Raven Work- shop and Mountain Trading, respectively. “Stephen has done great work for us over the years, and we look forward to further growth in the territory now that he has taken it over with Corbin,” said Christian Mason, Oboz Vice president of sales. Last year Nance bought out the outdoor division of The Raven Workshop from prin- ciple Eric Miller and created Freestone Sales Group with Biehler. Supporting Nance and Biehler in Utah and Wyoming will be Tres Binkley, who was most recently the Patago- nia sales rep for Texas and Oklahoma. Along with Oboz, Freestone also represents NEMO Equipment, SockSmith and Splitter Designs.