The North Face recently named Greg Siegler as its “2014 Rep of the Year.” Siegler was selected from a sales team comprised of more than 100 people in seven exclusive agencies across the U.S. Amongst his accomplishments, Siegler was cited for managing the highest two-year growth rate in the U.S., achieving one of the highest re-order rates in the country and for growing 2014 key initiatives by middle-triple digits.
Atlantic Sports Group has been named as Eagle Creeks “2014 Rep Agency of the Year.” Owned by Harold Mullins and Steve Reeder, Atlantic Sports Group team includes Ryan Dee, Jeanne Stopyro, Robin Bahre and Sharon Gaffey (ret.). Atlantic has been representing Eagle Creek since 1983, and this is the second time it has received the honor. The group directs sales in New England and Upstate New York. Atlantic also represents complementary outdoor brands, Yakima, Fischer Nordic, K2 Skate, PowerBar, Hyrdapak, Whispbar, Tubbs Snowshoes and Shock Doctor. Atlantic was selected for its double-digit revenue growth, account and channel expansion, business acumen, planning/forecasting, communications and dealer relations, says the company. Always inspired by travel, the Eagle Creek Rep of the Year award includes a trip for two to a dream destination, and 2014 is no exception: Peru.
Performance merino wool specialists Point6 appointed RM Sales and Avidd Sports to cover sales in the five-state Rocky Mountain region, a leading market for the brand. Led by Rob McGregor and his team of four seasoned, independent reps specializing in the winter sports and outdoor markets, RM Sales will support dealers and represent Point6 in Colorado and New Mexico. RM Sales stable of brands includes Salomon Alpine Equipment, GoPro, Arcade Belt Company, Incase and now Point6 Merino. Concurrently, Point6 enlists Avidd Sports to serve dealers in Utah, Wyoming and Montana. Headed up by Dave Jordan, Avidd Sports brings more than 20 years of combined independent sales representation and experience with leading outdoor brands, including Salomon Ski & Apparel.
Hillsound Equipment, a producer of winter and fishing traction equipment and gaiters, added Dick Sagara of Sagara Outdoor Products to its sales team. Sagara will be representing the brand’s products in the fishing segment in Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Based in Boring, Ore., Sagara has been in the fly fishing industry for 14 years and represents additional outdoor brands including Angler Sport Group, AQUAZ, Drift Creek Outdoors Apparel, Rainy’s Flies, Springbrook/TFO, Jim Teeny, Inc., West Water Products, Wolf Moon Nets U.S.A. and Woolpower Apparel. He also is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor.
Tim Augustinowicz and Louis Vardabash have been hired by Minus33 as outside sales representatives, effective immediately. Augustinowicz will be responsible for sales and service for all of the New England territory. In addition to Minus33, he also represents Berghaus clothing. Vardabash will be responsible for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition to Minus33, he also carries Stanley-PMI, Champion Safes and P & B Amish Leather Belts.
Outdoor Research has retained Kinetic Reps to manage the brand’s growing sales in the Mid-Atlantic territory. Based in West Chester, Pa., and founded in 2010, Kinetic Reps covers the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, as well as Washington, D.C. Its team includes principal Dave Donahue and sales reps Kyle Norris and Mike Ebner. The firm can be contacted at info@kineticreps.com or (484) 885-0322.
Craghoppers announced the hiring of High Country Trading as representatives in the Pacific Northwest territory. Located in Portland, Ore., High Country Trading, led by Jeff Red, also supports and represents Eagle Creek and X-1 Audio.
Mountain Lake Marketing is now representing Ibex Outdoor Clothing in the Southeastern U.S., covering the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. Headquartered in Whitefish, Mont. and led by principal Bill Love, Mountain Lake Marketing is an independent sales rep team of industry veterans with a combined 90-plus years of industry experience. Mountain Lake Marketing has primary sales offices in Philadelphia and a satellite office in Chapel Hill, N.C. In the southeastern states, it also represents Mammut, Princeton Tec, Power Practical, Tubbs Snowshoes, SteriPEN and Manzella. The agency can be reached at (215) 718-6664.
Swiss company Mammut recently welcomed two new reps to three key territories for the brand. Hampton Kew and the team at Evolution Outdoor Sales will be responsible for sales and service of the New England states, while Cody Prudoehl and Otolith Consortuim will be representing Mammut for the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest regions. Kew and Evolution Outdoor Sales will cover Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island and can be reached at (207) 294-1787 or hampton@evooutdoor.com. Prudoehl and Otolith Consortium will cover Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, as well as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, and can be reached at (507) 398-5141 or cody.p.mw@gmail.com.
Westcomb is expanding its reach into the Province of Quebec. The Canadian designer and manufacturer has tapped experienced sales representative Suzie Duchesneau to further grow the brand’s presence with Quebec area retailers. Duchesneau’s agency also manages accounts in Quebec for Keen Footwear, Tasc Performance Apparel, Vibram FiveFingers and Kavu Clothing & Gear.
Also moving in the Great White North, Mountainsmith announced the addition of Canadian outdoor industry veterans Tom Jones, Jason Jennens and Peter Skala to its independent sales rep team. Currently residing in Kelowna B.C. and servicing retailers in Alberta or Saskatchewan, Jason Jennens Sales also represents Outdoor Research, Vibram Fivefingers, Kavu, Tasc Performance Apparel, Saxx Underwear, Eno Hammocks, Kahtoola, Injinji, Terramar and selk’bag. He can be reached at (778) 808-4244 or jjsales@shaw.ca. Based in Vancouver, B.C., Jones started Tom Jones Sales Agencies in 1994 and currently reps Vibram Fivefingers, Buff, Westcomb, Kavu, Injinji, Eno, Bridgedale and Polar Feet. He previously represented Mountainsmith from 2007 to 2009 and will handle retailers in British Columbia and The Yukon. He can be reached at (604) 469-0910 or tmjones@telus.net. Meanwhile, Peter Skala, of J.P. Skala Enterprises, is a 22-year veteran of the outdoor industry and will represent Mountainsmith in Ontario. He currently represents Wigwam Mills, Ex Officio, Outdoor Research, SteriPen, Kavu, Native Eyewear, Hotcore and True Utility, and can be reached at (705) 361-3949 or pskala@bell.net.
The Eastern Outdoor Reps Association (EORA) has awarded $4,500 in grants to six youth-based nonprofit organizations through its Outdoor Opportunity Grant Program. The grant program aims to support local communities in the eastern regions that EORA serves. Grantees are chosen based on attributes such as number of youth served, lasting impact, and overall organization strength, says EORA.
Recipients for 2014 include:
- Urban Promise Ministries in Pennsauken, N.J., whose mission is to prepare kids for academic achievement, life management, growth and leadership;
- Adirondack Treks in Johnsburg, N.Y., which helps children foster a love of the outdoors with experiential outdoor education;
- Spina Bifida Assoc. of Greater New England in Milford, Mass. The grant will benefit the Get Active Initiative, which encourages and supports participants through a variety of physical activities;
- Fit Girls of Wilton Maine, which promotes healthy, active lifestyles for girls, with regular exercise for the body, mind and heart.
- Glendale Outdoor Leadership School of Glendale, S.C., which promotes quality of life and personal growth through outdoor recreation, leadership and environmental education; and
- Street Smart Youth Project of Atlanta, Ga, a nonprofit that engages and empowers minority youth through community-based programs, while emphasizing prevention.
