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Cotopaxi Partners with Sport Factory Pacific in Australasian Region Cotopaxi recently announced an expansion of its global distribution strategy into the Australasian region. Sport Factory Pacific Limited, based out of Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia, will be Cotopaxi’s appointed Australasian distributor focused on building brand awareness and its “Do Good” message across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. With a proven competency in breakthrough brands, Sport Factory’s founders have been involved in building Keen, Hydro Flask, Teva, OOFOS, UGG and Under Armour, at both a local and regional level, said the companies. “The Australasian region is identified as the next natural step for our global distribution strategy, with like-minded consumers and innovative opportunities in iconic adventure cities,” said Cotopaxi’s director of wholesale, Heath Christensen. “Sport Factory Pacific is a perfect partner for Cotopaxi to introduce our impact and thoughtfully designed brand to the Australasian market.” Sport Factory Pacific will launch Cotopaxi’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection to the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island markets, being the first Cotopaxi region in reverse seasonality to the U.S. For more information on Cotopaxi in Australia and New Zealand, visit pre-launch sites www.cotopaxi.com. au and www.cotopaxi.co.nz. Sport Factory Pacific’s director of sales and operations, Johnathan Lopes Da Silva, can be reached at johnathan@sportfactorypacific.com. AKU Outdoor Adds Parallel 45 to Rep Midwest, Great Lakes Italian footwear brand AKU announced that Parallel 45 Sales Group has been retained as its new sales team partner. Supporting the Midwest and Great Lakes territories, Parallel 45 president Doug Scott will be leading the agency’s efforts for AKU. Scott has spent nearly two decades in the outdoor industry, initially as a guide, then managing retail, followed by sales for Patagonia. He spent the last 10 years working with both specialty and major manufacturers before founding Parallel 45. “We did indeed find many ‘parallels’ with Parallel 45 and the AKU brand and are happy to bring them on as partners.” said Canice Harte, vice president, sales and marketing for AKU Outdoor. “We see his territories in the Midwest as key elements in our auspicious growth plans for AKU in the U.S.” Sea to Summit Adds to the NA Sales Team Sea to Summit announced the addition of three key members to its North American sales team: Bill Chandler, Jaime Buyagawan and Maggie Doran. Outdoor industry veteran Chandler joins the team as director of sales and will lead Sea to Summit’s North American wholesale business. He brings 25 years of deep and relevant industry experience to the company, said Josh Simpson, North American general manager for Seat to Summit. Buyagawan joined the team as Western senior sales manager, bringing 20 years of outdoor industry experience as a rep, sales manager and merchant to the growing brand. Buyagawan will work closely with Chandler to serve Sea to Summit’s strategic partners, including REI, along with the company’s independent accounts in western territories. Doran, meanwhile, joins the team in the Boulder, Colo., head office as central regional sales manager to manage sales primarily in the Southwest, South Central and Rockies territories. Doran also will focus on the brand’s digital partnerships with online retailers such as Backcountry.com and Moosejaw. Mountain Hardwear Adds Upper Midwest Sales Agency Mountain Hardwear has enlisted Adams Outdoor Sales to represents the Upper Midwest region. Adams Outdoor Sales will oversee sales and service efforts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. Based out of Grand Rapids, Mich., Jake Adams and Lauren Adams established Adams Outdoor Sales in 2018. “We’ve been a part of the outdoor industry for many moons and love that we can play a small role in inspiring people to get outside and explore,” said Lauren Adams. “We are looking forward to working with the Mountain Hardwear team and dealer base on doing exactly that in the Midwest.” For more information on Adams Outdoor Sales or any of Mountain Hardwear’s sales agencies, contact Sablle Scheppmann at SScheppmann@mountainhardwear.com. InsideOutdoor | WINTER 2022 12

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