InsideOutdoor | SUMMER 2022 10 Outdoor Market Alliance (OMA), a collective of 25 independent sales and marketing agencies representing more than 175 different brands in the outdoor, resort, run and bike markets in the Rockies region, recently wrapped up its first Summer Market Week with an impressive showing from retail buyers, said the organization. Throughout the week of June 13, more than 250 individual specialty retail buyers met up in OMA’s new showroom space in Lakewood, Colo., where they visited OMA’s rep agencies and brands to preview new product, merchandise assortments and place orders. Conveniently located in Colorado’s front range, the Summer Market Week proved to be a draw for retailers to do business in a cost-effective and efficient way, said show organizers. “This first market week underscored exactly what we’re trying to achieve with this alliance,” said Keith Reis, founding board member of OMA. “It’s offering ultimate convenience and efficiency for doing business. This is the busiest time of year for many outdoor retailers and when buying can be done with so many brands and agencies in one place and with minimal travel, our retail partners win.” The recently formed Outdoor Market Alliance was created “from a need for space,” said OMA, with the founders creating a board and non-profit to ensure that education, inclusivity and succession would be a shared focus. Beyond sharing fresh showroom space, resources, knowledge, best practices and access to B2B platforms such as NuORDER and Elastic Suite, the OMA supports community initiatives through its non-profit association. Each OMA agency commits time and monetary support to the environment, diversity and inclusivity in the outdoor markets. “OMA isn’t just a bunch of reps sharing rent. We knew we wanted to create a new and compelling format and vision for the future of outdoor retail,” said Reis, upon announcing the formation of the event. By the numbers, Summer Market Week reached more than 400 attendees during five days with more than 90 donuts and eight gallons of coffee consumed. Elastic Suite provided numerous tutorials of its platform, and Big City Mountaineers was on-site to engage attendees with its mission to provide outdoor access to urban youth. OMA will hold a Winter Market Week this fall at a date to be announced. Seattle-based Industrial Revolution announced the addition of Virginiabased Taku Agency to represent the brand in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Taku Agency is led by Beaty Jackson, an outdoor industry veteran who has spent more than 20 years working with specialty outdoor shops in a variety of roles, including management, buying, staff training and independent sales. Taku will represent Industrial Revolution brands UCO Gear, Pedco, Morakniv and Esbit in the MidAtlantic, covering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. “As a company that has not had representation in this territory since the start of the pandemic, we are thrilled to tap into Beaty’s strong personal relationships to get our brands in front of Mid-Atlantic retailers,” said Chris Clark, Industrial Revolution’s vice president of sales and marketing. Jackson and the Taku Agency can be reached at 865.300.8439 or sellingoutside@hotmail.com. Oberalp Expands Sales Management Team The Oberalp Group, which owns Salewa, Dynafit, Pomoca, Wild Country and Evolv, has added Phil Hoffman as sales manager and Mike Sohasky as key account sales manager and promoted Steve Goddard to specialty sales manager. Hoffman has been working in the vertical market in the sport and rope access space for the better part of 20 years and has held positions as sales manager for Misty Mountain Threadworks; NSP sales manager for the Vertical Supply Group; owner and operator of specialty outdoor retail store Looking Glass Outfitters; and sales rep for Top Gun sales where he represented Oberalp brands, including Evolv, Wild Country and Salewa. He will serve as a sales manager for two of the Oberalp Group’s premiere brands: Wild Country and Evolv. Sohasky joins Oberalp with more than 15 years of sales management experience that is primarily focused on the cycling industry. He represented Cannondale, GT, Schwinn and Mongoose during a nineyear tenure at Pacific Cycle where he held a variety of sales management positions and was specifically tasked with key account management. In addition to Goddard’s promotion to specialty sales manager, the company announced the promotions of Michael Casarrubia to community marketing manager and Eric Poore to territory manager. Outdoor Market Alliance Wraps Up First Summer Buying Show Industrial Revolution Adds Taku Agency to Rep Force
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