Archives: Press Releases

Lafayette, CO (March 1^st, 2023)- Trango, the award-winning manufacturer and international distributor of technical climbing equipment, announced the appointment of Brett Cardamone as Brand Manager. 

 

Cardamone brings 20 years of experience of creative, brand development, and marketing to Trango. Cardamone was Executive Creative Director at Five Ten for 14 years (2004-2018), and helped the brand navigate to, and through, its acquisition by adidas. During his tenure at Five Ten, Cardamone oversaw digital design, creative direction, footwear design, and marketing. Cardamone has established himself as a leader in creating compelling global brand stories. He is a valuable addition to the Trango team. Since his departure from Five Ten, Cardamone has spent the past few years as a brand consultant and footwear designer.

 

With his extensive history in the climbing community and significant background with creating award-winning climbing products, Cardamone is excited to again be working with an independent athlete-and-product driven brand.  “I’m super psyched to be back with a core climbing company,” says Cardamone. “Trango gets that climbers need high-quality hardwear and holds that are purpose built. From beginners to the most experienced core user, Trango connects with an incredibly wide range of athletes. In addition to fostering a wide-reaching brand awareness, our goal is to deliver consistent and creative products that inspire ALL climbers to reach their goals at all ability levels and disciplines.” 

 

“We’re very pleased to welcome Brett to the Trango team,” said Chris Klinke, President of Trango. “Brett brings an immense amount of experience and valuable insight to Trango as we continue to grow as one unified brand of products that embrace every aspect of climbing. His passion for innovation, creativity and authenticity will no doubt aid in bringing Trango to the next level.”

 

 

About Trango
Trango has been designing climbing gear in the Front Range since 1991 for sport, trad, gym, bouldering, and alpine climbers and remains passionate about creating innovative, solution-oriented products that help climbers achieve the next level in the sport. Beyond award-winning climbing equipment, Trango is also the U.S. distributor for Spanish rock-climbing shoe company Tenaya.

CGPR, French/​West/​Vaughan​’s (FWV) Boston-area office specializing in the outdoor, fitness, fashion, lifestyle and travel sectors, today announced it added three clients to its roster: Trerè Innovation, The Woolmark Company and Tread Labs.

Trerè Innovation, based in Asola, Italy, is the global leader for products and services in the high-tech apparel and footwear sectors, backed by state-of-the-art research and development. The company designs and manufactures for iconic brands including Bugatti, Dior, Jeep and Rossignol, among others. This year, Trerè is launching in the U.S. with its own brand, UYN (Unleash Your Nature, pronounced “win”), and has partnered with CGPR to introduce its footwear, baselayers and socks to the U.S. market through media relations, events and influencer engagement.

“As we are officially entering the U.S. market, finding the right partner is critical to our success; we found that match with CGPR,” said Marco Redini, owner and founder of Trerè Innovation. “CGPR’s proven expertise in the consumer lifestyle and component categories and deep knowledge of trends are impressive and we cannot wait to hit the ground running.”

The Woolmark Company is the global authority on Merino wool and owns the Woolmark logo, a quality assurance symbol applied to more than 5 billion products. CGPR is working to elevate the brand’s visibility within the outdoor and sports categories across the U.S., focusing on events and media relations.

“Working with CGPR to tell the Woolmark story in the U.S. was a natural fit in light of their proven expertise in the component category,” said Anna McLeod, global content and communications manager at Woolmark. “CGPR knows how to clearly communicate the benefits of our technology while navigating a crowded news landscape.”

CGPR is handling the debut of the first footwear line for Tread Labs. Building upon the success of its well-respected insoles, the brand is launching warm weather sandals for spring 2023, arriving at retail next month.  

“As we head into our 30^th anniversary, adding Trerè, Tread Labs and Woolmark is humbling,” said CGPR Founder and President Chris Goddard. “We are grateful these iconic brands have placed their trust and confidence in us. Each is strongly positioned to be a leader in their respective categories through innovation and sustainability, and we are honored to be part of their journey.”

In addition, CGPR has named Charlotte Daher de Garcia a vice president. Returning to CGPR after working with the agency previously for seven years, she has more than 15 years of PR experience with brands such as Kelty, Lifestraw, Mountain Khakis, Nite Ize, Outdoor Retailer, PolarFleece and PrimaLoft. Prior to joining CGPR, Daher de Garcia worked in the technology industry in Boston with clients including CloudLock and Foodler. She will play a senior leadership role in overall agency management, new business and staff development.

“Charlotte has been an integral part of our CGPR family and brings tremendous energy and passion to our agency,” added Goddard. “We know she will do great things and look forward to welcoming her back to our team.” 

Owned by French/West/Vaughan, one of the nation’s leading independently held public relations and integrated marketing agencies, CGPR is a marketing communications firm with business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) expertise, leveraging a wide scope of services on behalf of clients that are established leaders in their industries. Focused on the active consumer lifestyle community, CGPR is a passionate team of communication professionals that creates customized strategies to achieve the company’s goals. Services include strategic counsel, media relations, event planning and execution, reputation management, internal communications, social media, influencer engagement/ambassador networks, community relations, thought leadership, media training, product launches, tradeshow support, mergers and acquisitions, crisis management, and public affairs.

About French/West/Vaughan

French/​West/​Vaughan (FWV) is one of the nation’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agencies. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and founded in April 1997, FWV has received 25 National Agency of the Year honors over the past quarter century, along with more than 1,500 PR, advertising and digital marketing awards on behalf of its global roster of blue-chip clients, which include Wrangler, ABB, Proximo, Melitta, Volvo Trucks North America, Teen Cancer America, Mitsubishi Electric, N.A. and the N.C. Department of Transportation, among others. FWV is the parent company of fashion and lifestyle PR firm AMP3 (New York City); mobility and transportation-focused agency The Millerschin Group (Greater Detroit); pet and animal health practice FWV Fetching; outdoor, ski, fashion, technology and consumer brand marketing agency CGPR (Greater Boston) and feature film development imprint Prix Productions. FWV is a partner in IPREX, a $380 million network of communication agencies with 1,600 staff and 110 offices worldwide. For more information, visit fwv-us.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Vimeo or Instagram.

Portland, OR  – Snow Peak, a Japanese camping brand with over 60 years of history, is pleased to announce a partnership with FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic creative studio, exploring the theme of Naosobi, or “playing with nature” as it develops new products intended to deepen our society’s connection to nature. 

Noasobi literally translates to “playing in the field,” but it illustrates a broader picture of the joy experienced in nature. Noasobi is the peaceful feeling of waking up with the sunshine on your face. It’s sharing a beer with friends as you swap stories. It’s a child’s excitement at seeing their first shooting star.  

FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic is a studio in Panasonic’s Design Center specializing in cutting-edge development, rethinking what it means to live well in the future. The studio explores  new types of businesses, taking a creative approach based on human values and social issues. 

Inspired by a fireside discussion, FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic and Snow Peak USA began a collaborative partnership in 2022.  Over the past year, the teams have hosted numerous listening and innovation sessions at Snow Peak HQ in Japan, in Portland and soon in New York City. The brands believe that deepening our connection to nature inspires  the world’s environmental issues, and seek creative ways to solve them.  The end goal of the partnership is to bring new technologies to consumers as a way to remind us that we are a part of nature. 

“I first connected with the Panasonic team around a bonfire in 2021, when wildfires in North America were causing significant damage. Our discussion about the future began when we shared our sense of crisis and loss, which ran deeper than just a piece of news from a camper’s perspective,” said Snow Peak Chief Brand Officer Yui Uchida. “We believe our future lives will be richer if we all take the viewpoint of playing in and learning from nature, and hope this will offer people a new perspective on environmental issues.”

“As a design group that thinks about future lifestyles, we feel the need to think not only about life in the home, but also to expand the sphere of our lives. The opportunity to think about this with Snow Peak, an expert in the field, was important inspiration,” said Tomoaki Ino, Lead Designer at Panasonic FUTURE LIFE FACTORY “Additionally, when considering major social issues such as environmental problems, I feel it’s essential to move beyond a limited vision conceptualized by one department of one company, and instead take a synergistic approach through collaboration with companies from different industries.”

FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic and Snow Peak are inviting the public to test experience tools through a workshop taking place March 17-19th at Snow Peak Brooklyn. Individuals will have the opportunity to take part in immersive experiences melding the digital and natural worlds. Additional event details below: 

Snow Peak USA × FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic “Noasobi × Kurashi Exhibition 

Friday, March 17th  – Sunday, March 19th, 2023, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm  

Snow Peak Brooklyn, 76 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

RSVP via the event website: https://www.snowpeak.com/blogs/explore/future-life-factory 

About Snow Peak         

Founded in Japan in 1958, Snow Peak is a camping brand serving customers in the USA for more than 20 years, with a mission to unite people and alleviate the stresses of modern life through time gathering outside. Its Japanese-designed, lifetime-guaranteed camping equipment serves as a catalyst for restorative experiences in nature. Focused on bringing people together, Snow Peak operates immersive retail locations in Portland and New York City, as well as a Portland restaurant, Takibi, a PNW izakaya that brings to life the brand’s belief that time spent sharing food and drink by the fire is the best way to connect with one another. snowpeak.com

About FUTURE LIFE FACTORY by Panasonic

FUTURE LIFE FACTORY is Panasonic’s design studio that seeks to answer the question, “What does a fulfilling future look like?” Through creative and out-of-the-box thinking, it continues to present the world with ideas that envision a richer future for all.

 

Vimazi, a Pacific Northwest-based running shoe startup, has announced the release of their first models of pace-tuned running shoes, which are now available online. They’ll be available at select retailers in the next few weeks. Vimazi’s innovative pace-tuned shoes are engineered to deliver peak performance tailored to a specific pace zone. 

 

Pioneering a new era in running footwear, Vimazi leverages its patent-pending technology, developed from the complex physics of the running gait,  to provide optimal cushioning on impact and maximum propulsion efficiency during push-off for each runner’s pace.

 

“We’re breaking with the old-school thinking that a mega-thick ‘bouncy’ shoe helps you run faster,” says Vimazi CEO Scott Tucker. “The idea that you can put energy into a shoe and it will make you faster by returning more energy violates the law of energy conservation. At Vimazi, we’ve tuned the densities of the heel versus the forefoot in each of our models, so they compress optimally to forces of the impact and propulsion phases of the stride – which vary according to the pace you run. Doing this delivers more shock absorption at impact and minimizes energy loss at push-off. Over the long run, our shoes reduce cumulative strain on the body and maximize efficiency.”

 

This week marks the beginning of shipping the Z40 (6:15-7:45 min/mi), Z50 (7:15-8:45 min/mi), Z60 (8:30-10:30 mini/mi) and Z70 (10:00-12:30 mini/mi) models. The Z20 and Z30 are slated to arrive in early spring. With additional trail and walking shoes coming later in 2023. 

 

“We’re stoked to share our pace-tuned running shoes with the world,” says Vimazi Chief Marketing Officer, John Zilly. “Vimazi has shoes that will give every runner the best performance and efficacy no matter if they are a casual weekly runner or an elite pro and we can’t wait for everyone to try them out.”

 

Vimazi is also excited to announce a number of special retailers that will carry the new collection. Shu’s Idaho Running Company in Boise, Idaho, North Coast Runners Supply in Astoria, Ore., Seven Hills Running in Seattle, Wash., NW Tri & Bike in Kent, Wash. and Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum, Idaho. The Vimazi team expects additional retailers within the next few months. 

 

To learn more about Vimazi, follow along on social media and sign up for their email newsletter at https://vimazi.com/.  

 

About Vimazi

A running shoe startup founded by industry veterans and lifelong marathoners, Vimazi makes shoes tuned for the pace of the runner. The shoes are engineered to provide better cushioning and more efficiency. It’s the logical evolution and personalization of running shoe design. Vimazi pace-tuned running shoes are now available online and select retailers. For additional information, please visit vimazi.com or email faster@vimazi.com.

Outdoor Eats, the ultimate camp cooking resource founded by classically trained Chef Corso proudly announces its partnership with Darby Communications, an Asheville-based PR and marketing agency specializing in outdoors, active lifestyle, fishing, and food and beverage markets. Effective immediately, Darby Communications will serve as Outdoor Eats’ agency of record, working closely with Chef Corso to share the mission of elevated meals outdoors by promoting a collection of trail-ready cookbooks, online recipes, an upcoming TV series, and sourcing opportunities for brand partnerships and events.

“When I originally connected with Darby Communications regarding a brand partnership with one of their existing clients, I became curious about how public relations could help to expand awareness of Outdoor Eats,” said Chef Corso, Founder of Outdoor Eats. “2023 is shaping up to be an important year for Outdoor Eats, and I’m thrilled to have Darby Communications as an extension of my marketing team.” 

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Chef Corso is a classically trained chef with over 20 years of restaurant and food development experience. While backpacking in North Cascades National Park, Chef Corso was inspired to shake up the status quo of pre-packaged and processed camp food. With both his extensive culinary and food science experience, Chef Corso started developing and testing recipes with the hiker and camper in mind– easy to shop for, easy to pack, mindful of pack weight and volume, easy to make, and unbelievably delicious. All recipes are created by Chef Corso and trail-tested by a member of the Outdoor Eats community to ensure they’re easy, quick, tasty, and nourishing. Adventurers can choose between over 275 recipes, customized meal plans, or trail-ready cookbooks to create meals that will get you excited about your camp meals. All recipes are 10 ingredients or less,  ready in 30 minutes or less, require no dehydrating, and work with dietary restrictions.

Darby Communications will work to expand the Outdoor Eats community by promoting Chef Corso’s trail-ready cookbooks, his growing YouTube channel, an upcoming TV series produced by Heliconia TV, and by seeking opportunities for interviews, brand partnerships, and events. 

“Here at Darby, we appreciate good food just as much as a good day outdoors, and there’s no reason the two shouldn’t go together,” says Darby Communications Media Relations Director, Suzanne Hermann. “We love Chef Corso’s mission to make elevated outdoor meals that are approachable and healthy alternatives to traditional dehydrated camp meals. We’re thrilled to help Chef Corso grow the Outdoor Eats community and empower adventurers to improve their backcountry cooking skills.”

For more information on Outdoor Eats or to connect with Chef Corso, contact Katie Richter at katie@darbycommunications.com.

About Outdoor Eats

Founded by classically trained Chef Corso, Outdoor Eats is a backcountry culinary resource for the outdoor adventurer. With over 20 years of restaurant and food research experience, Chef Corso has developed and tested over 200 trail-ready recipes for backpackers and campers looking to ditch pre-packaged, processed, and dehydrated meals. From pocket-sized cookbooks, customizable meal plans, community workshops, a successful YouTube channel, and an upcoming TV series, Outdoor Eats gives outdoors people the tools necessary to create easy to pack, easy to make, and above all, tasty recipes in the backcountry. Trading fine dining rooms for mountain vistas, Chef Corso is changing what it means to be a chef. Learn more at www.outdooreats.com, follow on Instagram @outdooreats365, or subscribe on YouTube. 

About Darby Communications

Darby Communications is a boutique PR & digital marketing agency serving the outdoor, active lifestyle, fishing, and craft food and beverage industries through impactful media placement, digital advertising, email marketing, social media management, and content writing. Headquartered in Asheville, NC with a coast-to-coast portfolio, Darby Communications takes a team approach to everything it does for clients and has worked with many respected companies. Learn more at www.darbycommunications.com or follow on social @darbycomm.