Archives: Press Releases

To mark its 50th anniversary, Earth Day Network is organizing the Great Global Cleanup encouraging all citizens to host a cleanup in April 2020. The aim is to pick up at least one billion pieces of trash. The Great Global Cleanup will take place across the USA and the world, supported by Let’s Do It World Network.

The two organizations hope to engage millions of people worldwide with their concerted efforts for a cleaner world. Let’s Do It World Network, has been involved in organizing cleanups since 2008. Earth Day Network (Earthday.org), is the global coordinator of Earth Day, which works with more than 100,000 partners in 190 countries.

This partnership is an opportunity to come together to achieve tangible impacts on waste in our environment. 

The agreement, which was signed at the annual Let’s Do It World Conference in Tallinn, Estonia, sets out the goals of the collaboration, strategy and plans for both organizations.

Heidi Solba, the President of Let’s Do It World Network and Head of its Global Network expressed the urgent need for this collaboration: “We have realized that cleaning the world by ourselves is not enough – we need to work with other like-minded organizations, with the public as well as private sector. The problem of mismanaged waste affects us all and only together can we draw attention to it and find solutions towards a more sustainable world based on the circular economy model.”

“This year’s cleanup is expected to be the largest volunteer event in history and we are pleased to be partnering with Let’s Do It World Network,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “The goal is to remove billions of pieces of trash from our green spaces, urban communities, and waterways. Improved health and positive growth can be achieved once people gain the expectation that their community will be clean. On the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, we’re working to build a world in which every person can live in a clean healthy community.”

National CleanUp Day is a call to action. National CleanUp Day is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to keeping our nation’s urban, rural, and outdoor public spaces free of litter and trash. Learn more at nationalcleanupday.org 

Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), Earth Day Network works with more than 75,000 partners in 190 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org

Let’s Do It World Foundation aims to unite the global community, raise awareness and implement true change to achieve a clean and healthy planet. For World Cleanup Day 2018, Let’s Do it World organized cleanups that mobilized 20 million people in 179 countries to say loud and clear that they wanted to live in a clean world. Learn more at https://www.letsdoitworld.org/

PEARL iZUMi, the world leader in cycling apparel and footwear, has rolled out its Spring 2020 line with more recycled, renewable and organic fabrics than ever. Last year, the brand set a goal to make 90% of its line from sustainable content by the year 2022. With two years to go, PEARL iZUMi is almost halfway to its goal.

“This season’s line represents a huge step in PEARL iZUMi’s commitment to sustainability, as we seek to use our business practices and products to be a force for good,” said Andrew Hammond, brand manager at PEARL iZUMi. “We are so proud of the great work our team has done to incorporate sustainable materials throughout a significant portion of the season’s offerings, while continuing to provide exceptional performance across each piece.”

For Spring 2020, PEARL iZUMi redeveloped over 100 pieces. Jackets and jerseys are made with recycled polyester, shorts feature recycled nylon, casual items are made with organic cotton and hats from renewable Merino wool.

In the brand’s iconic Attack collection, every style features a significant amount of recycled content. For example, the updated women’s Attack Jersey is a classic summer cycling jersey featuring soft, moisture-wicking fabric made with yarns created from recycled plastic water bottles, perfect for big rides and hot weather. The fit has been improved with darting across the front and a new collar for a more flattering feminine look. The Attack Jersey is available in short sleeve ($85), lightweight long sleeve ($95) and sleeveless ($75) styles.

In addition to Attack, three other collections round out an enhanced women’s lineup for the brand this season, including the fun, sporty Sugar collection with expressive colors and prints; the elegant high-performance Symphony collection; and the luxurious top-of-the-line PRO collection for ultimate long-ride performance.

For mountain bikers the all-new Elevate Short ($175) is lightweight, highly ventilated, and loaded with features that improve rider comfort. Bonded seams create a smooth, stitch-free finish that won’t rub or chafe, laser-perforated vents promote airflow, and a Boa-dial at the waistband lets riders fine-tune the fit. PI Dry® water-shedding technology adds a mud- and water-resistant barrier that will last the lifetime of the short. 

Also in Spring 2020, PEARL iZUMi is introducing its first-ever line of body armor.With a long history of making best-in-class arm and knee-warmers, PEARL iZUMi used its expertise to make protective elbow and knee pads that stay in place without chafing. The Summit ($85 knees, $65 elbows) series offers lightweight, low-bulk protection suited to riders who may take an occasional tumble.The Elevate series ($125 knees, $85 elbows) features thicker padding and additional armor on the sides of the pads. Both lines meet the rigorous standards of the CE1 certification for rider protection and use flexible D3O inserts that absorb impacts more effectively than traditional foam pads.

In PEARL iZUMi’s expanding BikeStyle collection, the Rove Barrier Jacket ($150), made from recycled polyester, is designed to give riders the confidence to head out on morning commutes even when the forecast is questionable. PI Dry technology provides a permanent, water-shedding layer against rain and road spray. A two-way zipper allows for easy ventilation and the hood can be snapped off for a streamlined look. A highly visible drop tail helps to get noticed by drivers on the road, but it can be tucked in place once the bike is put away.

The Spring 2020 Outerwear Collection includes everything from packable emergency shells for “just in case” protection, to purpose-built rain jackets for riders who won’t take a day off during downpours.For example, the new Vortex WxB Hooded Jacket ($300) combines a highly-breathable, fully-taped, three-layer construction with an over-the-helmet hood design and a two-way waterproof zipper to keep riders warm and dry even in heavy rain. Made from recycled materials, the lightweight fabric has enough stretch to move with you on the bike and fit over layers. PI Dry permanent water-shedding technology ensures that this jacket will perform at a high level for its lifetime. Meanwhile, the PRO Barrier Jacket ($165) sheds all but the worst of the rain, while allowing extra breathability and exceptional stretch. With minimal bulk, this jacket fits easily in a jersey pocket when the sun emerges, making it the ideal weatherproof piece to bring on any ride.

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About PEARL iZUMi

PEARL iZUMi was founded on two things: the love of cycling and more importantly, love for future generations. The brand originated more than 60 years ago in Japan, when the founder created a special jersey out of technical fabric for his son, an aspiring bike racer. Since then, the company has been progressing the design and manufacture of performance apparel and footwear for cyclists of all levels. PEARL iZUMi believes that how we live today shapes how future generations ride, and is committed to using their business practices, products and community advocacy to create a positive impact through cycling. PEARL iZUMi’s world headquarters are located in the Colorado Front Range, where it embraces strong influence, both culturally and structurally, from its Japanese heritage.

Isabelle Faus, Nathaniel Coleman, Nikki Smith, Nina Williams, Sean Bailey are newest members of SCARPA climbing roster. 

Ahead of a momentous year in climbing, during which the sport will reach a wider audience than ever as it becomes part of the Olympics, SCARPA is adding five athletes that bring a range of world-class skills and fresh perspectives to the the brand’s climber roster. New ambassadors for SCARPA,  one of the world’s leading manufacturers of footwear for climbers, include Isabelle Faus, Nathaniel Coleman, Nikki Smith, Nina Williams and Sean Bailey. 

Each with a diverse background and a range of different experiences in climbing, this group also has a few things in common: they are all pushing boundaries within the sport as well as themselves. 

“By supporting climbers with diverse goals and backgrounds, SCARPA hopes to inspire and grow the climbing community, while seeing what is truly possible in the sport,”  said Stefanie Kamm, athlete manager for SCARPA North America. “Whether it’s bouldering V14, competing in the Olympics, building a more inclusive and diverse climbing community, developing new climbing areas or first ascents around the world, these athletes have demonstrated a commitment to the sport. We’re proud to welcome Isabelle, Nathaniel, Nikki, Nina and Sean to the family.” 

Isabelle Faus – Launching into climbing at 10 years old, Isabelle lived in Chicago, trained in the gym and began competition climbing. At age 15, she started devoting more time to climbing outside. After moving to Chattanooga to live with a friend, her obsession with climbing outside really took off. By the time she was 20, she had moved to Colorado and was climbing outside exclusively. She has climbed 58 V11s, 39 V12s, 23 V13s, and three V14s, and has also spent a huge amount of time developing boulders and climbing areas in Colorado, Europe, and South Africa.

• Favorite shoe: Instinct VSR
• What Isabelle brings to SCARPA: “We love that Isabelle’s drive to improve comes from her genuine love for the sport,” Kamm said. “She is a fierce female athlete and we are proud to support someone with such hard work and dedication to the sport of climbing.” 

Nathaniel Coleman – The first North American male climber to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics later this year, Nathaniel was born and raised in Murray, Utah, about 15 minutes south of downtown Salt Lake City. He grew up playing everything from football to soccer. At age 9, he found climbing through an indoor gym and quickly joined the competition team. By the time he was 11, climbing was his sole athletic focus. Competition and outdoor climbing have taken him to many international climbing destinations and today international competition is his motivation. 

• Favorite shoe: Instinct VSR
• What Nathaniel brings to SCARPA: “Nathaniel thrives in the climbing competition scene, and his powerful strength and endurance in climbing has earned him much success,” Kamm said. “His ambition and personal values align perfectly with ours.” 

Nikki Smith – Nikki is a photographer, artist, writer, guidebook author, and climber based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She started climbing in the early 90s, and has authored five climbing guidebooks with more on the way. She’s also written numerous feature articles for climbing magazines. Nikki has put up more than 150 first ascents throughout the west and traveled the world to climb. Now, much of her work is focused on trying to build a more inclusive, diverse, and safe community within climbing and the outdoors. She is an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and a Board Member for the Access Fund.

• Favorite shoe: Phantom Tech
• What Nikki brings to SCARPA: “Nikki’s contribution is not limited to one sport, category or field,” Kamm said. “She already contributes so much to this community through her athletic endeavors and advocacy for inclusion. We’re honored to have her represent SCARPA and excited to see how she continues to change the world.” 

Nina Williams – After starting climbing at 12 years old, Nina focused on competition into her early 20s before moving West and into outdoor climbing. She honed her outdoor resume by traveling to world-class climbing areas in the U.S., Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil. After accomplishing bouldering grades upwards of V13, she shifted her attention towards 

the mental style of the sport. She has bouldered 30- to 50-foot formations such as Evilution Direct (V11), Ambrosia (V11) and Too Big to Flail (V10) in Bishop, CA. She has also expanded into traditional climbing after her first visit to Yosemite, testing herself on The Final Frontier (5.13b) on Fifi Buttress and Father Time (5.13b) on Middle Cathedral. 

• Favorite shoe: Instinct SR
• What Nina brings to SCARPA: “Nina not only has incredible physical strength, her mental toughness to tackle some of the world’s tallest boulder problems is second to none,” Kamm said. “Nina’s skills beyond climbing, such as her story telling ability and devotion to coaching, bring so much to SCARPA.” 

Sean Bailey – For most of Sean’s life, climbing has been his outlet to learn about himself, experience the world, and give back to others. He has put everything he’s had into his passion for climbing and he’s excited to see where it will continue to take him. For the past several years, Sean’s split his time between sport-climbing projects and the World Cup Circuit. It’s Yin and Yang – when he’s outdoors, he gets to hang with like-minded people and track his progress on stone. When he competes, he gets to test his execution in a high-pressure environment.

• Favorite shoe: Drago
• What Sean brings to SCARPA: Sean is an incredibly  strong and successful competitive climbing athlete with a passion for climbing hard outside,” Kamm said. “ His dedication to pursuing his passion is inspiring and his voice is honest and refreshing … all qualities we love to support.” 

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America 

Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com. 

SPOT LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., (NYSE American: GSAT) and a leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today announced its newest upgrade. SPOT Mapping is now available for all SPOT devices, offering an easy dashboard to track and share outdoor adventures, while providing an added peace of mind when the unexpected happens.

SPOT Mapping includes mobile responsive and sharable maps, multi-year data storage, and various map displays, including satellite, road and terrain options. Users can view maps in live mode for real-time tracking, or history mode to review previous trips and set places to reference on the next journey.

“We have consistently listened to our customers feedback and worked diligently to offer a new enhanced mapping experience,” said Dave Kagan, CEO of Globalstar. “SPOT is proud to have initiated nearly 7,000 rescues worldwide and our hope is that our mapping platform brings a new level of visuals and functionality to keep outdoor adventures safer and more informative than ever.”

SPOT Mapping is now available to existing customers using the SPOT X, the SPOT Gen 3, the SPOT Trace, and SPOT legacy products, all included in Basic level standard for all active service plans. Users also have the option to upgrade their mapping tier to premium or enterprise level subscriptions starting at $25.00 USD per year. These levels include unlimited contacts, increased position history, unlimited users, advanced custom icons and more.

Powered by the Globalstar Satellite Network, SPOT offers a family of satellite communication devices, providing affordable messaging and tracking for outdoor enthusiasts and businesses. Through a direct connection to the GEOS International Emergency Coordination Center, SPOT has triggered nearly 7,000 rescues around the world over the last decade. 

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About SPOT LLC
SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational and business use. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar Satellite Network to transmit and receive text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact with family, friends and co-workers, completely independent of cellular coverage and has helped initiate nearly 7,000 rescues worldwide. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com.

Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

Rubbish Empowers Communities and Parks to Pick Up Litter on National Cleanup Day
Partnership Enables Municipalities and Parks to Create Better Solutions for Litter-Free Neighborhoods 

February 18, San Francisco, CA  Rubbish, founders of the Rubbish Platform, which includes the Rubbish mobile app. and Rubbish Beam (patent pending), announced today they would be a Presenting Partner at National Cleanup Day on September 19, 2020. Through this partnership, individuals will now be able to tackle litter collection while providing local municipalities and businesses with valuable data, building stronger, healthier communities with less trash, more beautiful streets, and happier residents.

The Rubbish platform is a turnkey community engagement experience that encourages individuals to help create litter-free neighborhoods via the Rubbish mobile app. Rubbish mobile utilizes machine learning (ML) technology to generate litter maps, analyze neighborhood litter trends, optimize cleaning, and implement solutions to the ever-growing litter problem down to the street address. Along with the Rubbish Beam, a high tech litter picker-upper with GPS and Bluetooth enabled capabilities, which can pick up 5,000 pieces of litter per charge, Rubbish creates an environment of inspiration and builds a circular economy in the neighborhood.

“We are so excited to partner with National Cleanup Day,” says Emin Israfil, CEO and co-founder of Rubbish. “The Rubbish platform empowers neighborhoods to tackle litter at the local level by utilizing data science. Our iOS app and eye-catching, patent-pending, Rubbish Beam photographs, and categorizes litter by litter type and location, allowing us to build maps of litter trends to implement solutions and create litter-free communities.” 

“Last year we saw that there is real power in community action, especially around the issue of litter,” said co-founder of National Cleanup Day Steve Jewett. “The Rubbish Platform with Rubbish Beam focuses on mobilizing people of all ages to take matters in their own hands and pick up at least one piece of litter. The Rubbish Beam allows a user to see their impact and what one piece of litter means on a larger level in their community. This partnership is a wonderful addition to our growing global movement,” adds Jewett.

”It may not be your trash, but it’s where you live or work, and we need to work together,” adds Elena Guberman,” COO and co-founder of Rubbish.  “Data using the Rubbish app and Rubbish Beam helped us understand what litter was being left at one location. With just one perfectly placed receptacle, litter was reduced by 46%. Rubbish is something everybody in the community can get behind.”  Suzanne Markel-Fox, President of the Board, Discover Polk Community Benefit District in San Francisco, agrees. “We can make smarter decisions to intervene, based on data,“ she adds.  

Through this collaboration with National Cleanup Day, Rubbish aims to inspire residents and businesses to achieve tangible goals through volunteerism to create an impact on litter in their local neighborhoods, parks, trails, and open spaces around the country. Community cleanups will take place across all 50 states on from urban areas, beaches, forests, waterways, and other public spaces. In 2019, 25 million volunteers came out to act in their own communities with 100 million volunteers globally expected in 2020. 

To track, map and clean litter together go to rubbish.love or visit the App Store. To register for National CleanUp Day, visit nationalcleanupday.org

About Rubbish:

Rubbish is transforming the way communities engage with litter. Through the Rubbish Platform, individuals help create litter-free neighborhoods via the Rubbish mobile app. Rubbish mobile utilizes machine learning (ML) technology to generate litter maps, analyze neighborhood litter trends, optimize cleaning, and implement solutions to the ever-growing litter problem down to the street address. Along with the Rubbish Beam, (Patent Application 16/545,840), a Bluetooth enabled high tech litter picker-upper with GPS, which can pick up 5,000 pieces of litter per charge, Cities and Business Improvement Districts throughout the US, schools, and universities, conference and event producers as well as business and technology partners are currently using Rubbish technology to look at litter differently. To learn more visit, www.rubbish.love.

About National Cleanup Day:

National CleanUp Day is dedicated to keeping our nation’s urban, rural, and outdoor public spaces free of litter and trash. We are a national network of stewards of the outdoors. National CleanUp Day is the one day we all unite to end trash and litter. National CleanUp Day is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, please visit www.nationalcleanupday.org

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sazsc5d9imxpae4/Rubbish%20Clean%20Outdoors.jpg?dl=0

 

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Feetures Shakes Up No Show Category with New Targeted Compression Socks
First of its kind targeted compression, anatomically designed No Show socks will change category

Charlotte, NC – February 18, 2020 – Feetures, a leading performing sock brand, is excited to introduce the first of its kind: Everyday No Show. Combining their proprietary Targeted Compression and Anatomical design Feetures created the first No Show with a custom-like fit that truly doesn’t slip.

In 2017, Feetures introduced their Everyday collection, which has since grown to 33 styles for men and 41 for women. The new No Show sock is made from performance fibers that are moisture-wicking to keep feet dry throughout the day and provide more coverage than traditional no-show socks, meaning more comfort for the wearer. Available in 15 SKUS, the socks will come in solid neutrals as well as a Stripe, Dynamic Diamond and Colorblock patterns, and will retail at $14.99/pair.

“This product is a game-changer for the category. We have been designing performance socks for running for almost two decades and now we are using that same technology in Everyday No Show socks. You can feel the difference as soon as you put it on,” states Joe Gaither, Feetures VP of Marketing. “No slippage and maximum comfort — because the components of your outfit that you can’t see are just as important as the ones you can.”

To learn more about Feetures, please visit their site at feetures.com. For media inquiries, please reach out to Angie Robinson at angie@darbycommunications.com.

About Feetures

Feetures, a leading performance sock brand, has been family owned and operated in North Carolina since 2002. Their goal is to create products that help people achieve their personal best. Feetures are engineered for performance with Targeted Compression and Anatomical Design to create a custom-like fit. As a testament to the quality of Feetures, each pair is sold with a lifetime guarantee. Go. Do. Live. In Feetures. Feetures.com / @feetures

Black Diamond Equipment® ,  a global innovator in climbing, skiing, mountain sports equipment and apparel, collected several industry and media awards at the recent ISPO Munich and Outdoor Retailer winter trade shows.

At ISPO Munich 2020, Europe’s largest trade show for the active lifestyle market, Black Diamond was recognized with an ISPO Gold Award for backcountry touring apparel in the snow sports category. In earning the ISPO Gold Award, Black Diamond’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell was recognized as the best overall product in the category.

The Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell, engineered to provide protection from the storm while a breathable softshell fabric is body-mapped in key placements for thermal regulation, features a proprietary BD.dry™ waterproof/breathable solution, Green Theme Technologies’ Empel™ PFC-Free finish, 4-way stretch for mobility and an innovative, center front dual zipper with built-in mesh panel for venting while climbing.

Additionally, at the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, Men’s Journal magazine named Black Diamond’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell as one of the 10 coolest products its editors have seen all year. 

The full lineup of Black Diamond ISPO Munich and Outdoor OR Snow Show awards for 2020 is included below:

• ISPO Gold Award – Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
• ISPO Winner – Cirque 22 Ski Vest
• SKI magazine Show Stopper 2020 – Fritschi Xenic 10 Bindings
• GearJunkie.com Best in Show 2020– Distance Spike Traction
• Men’s Journal Best Adventure Gear for 2020 – Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
• GearPatrol.com Best in Snow Editor’s Choice – StoneHauler Duffels

“To be surrounded by our peers in Munich and Denver and be recognized for the most exceptional products in the ski and snow categories is something that the entire BD brand takes extreme pride in,” said John Walbrecht, president of Black Diamond Equipment. “This recognition also conveys our engineer and design team’s ability to understand the needs of climbers, skiers and mountain athletes by bringing the most relevant, thoughtfully-designed and high-performance gear to the market.”

Black Diamond’s fall snow collection will arrive at specialty retail in summer 2020.

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About Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

Black Diamond Equipment is a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. By consistently building innovative, standard-setting products and actively preserving the mountain/canyon environment, Black Diamond Equipment has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit BlackDiamondEquipment.com

Osprey, a leader in creating top-quality, high-performance, innovative carry solutions, is pleased to announce the results of their 2019 Pro Deal Donation program benefiting Southwest Colorado Cycling Association, Mancos Trails Group and Rico Trails Alliance. Last year’s program, the most successful to date, resulted in close to $30,000 in donations to the brand’s non-profit partners. For 2020, the Osprey Pro Deal Donation Program will focus on outdoor kids and families benefiting Navajo Yes, Families in Nature and Nature Bridge.

For nearly two decades, Osprey’s Pro Deal Program has generated a 1% per transaction donation to select and diverse non-profit organizations. With each pro deal purchase, customers are able to select the non-profit of their choice from Osprey’s annual partner list.

 “At Osprey, we take stewardship seriously,” said Sam Mix, Conduit of Corporate Outreach. “We believe we have a duty to take care of the people, places and things we touch and we are steadfast in our resolve to leave our world better than we found it. We hope Osprey’s support of non-profits serves to educate and inspire our customers to get involved with advocacy, volunteerism and financial support.”

About Osprey

Founded in 1974 and based in Cortez, Colorado, in the foothills of the San Juan Mountains, Osprey designs the highest performing and longest lasting carry solutions on the market including technical packs for outdoor, travel and everyday adventures. 

In addition to creating top-quality packs, the Osprey team is focused on becoming the most progressive, transparent and sustainable hardgoods brand in the world. From raw materials and chemistry benchmarks to progressive factory code of conduct agreements and programs that extend a product’s end of life, Osprey is taking a truly holistic approach and looking at every aspect of their business to ensure they leave as little trace possible. Osprey’s dedication to create innovative, high performance, sustainable gear reflects the brand’s love of adventure, devotion to the outdoors and steadfast resolve to leave the world better than they found it.

To learn more about Osprey and its products backed by their industry leading All Mighty Guarantee, visit osprey.com. Osprey products can be found online at osprey.com and in specialty retailers in over 60 countries worldwide. Follow all brand updates on Instagram (@ospreypacks), Facebook (@ospreypacks) and Twitter (@ospreypacks).

Regional president Hartrampf to transition into direct sales development role; Degenhardt brings broad range of marketing, sales and operations experience

LONGMONT, Colo. (Feb. 12, 2020) — Deuter USA announces the promotion of Jonathan Degenhardt to Managing Director, Deuter USA, effective July 1, 2020. Degenhardt, who previously served as the U.S.-based senior marketing manager for Deuter and sister brand ORTOVOX, will transition into the leadership role currently held by Bill Hartrampf, who will stay with the company and build a new direct sales business unit for industrial and promotional products.

“Jonathan is the ideal leader to move our business forward in the United States. His experience as a marketing leader, sales operations team member and retailer has given Jonathan a uniquely rounded view on our industry and enables him to act as an empathetic partner to our internal teams as well as our wholesale partners and other vendors,” says Deuter CEO Martin Riebel. “Providing our employees opportunities to learn and grow in their careers is a key part of our company culture and we believe in investing in our internal talents and not in external solutions first.”

Prior to joining Deuter USA in May 2019, Degenhardt served as marketing director at La Sportiva USA for seven years. He previously filled a variety of sales operations, brand marketing and independent sales roles at brands including Movement Skis, Scarpa North America, and Trango. Degenhardt began his outdoor industry career on the sales floor, working with retailers including Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder Mountaineer and The Mountain Shop of Fort Collins.

Degenhardt holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish for the Professions, which emphasizes international business, localization and intercultural communication, from the University of Colorado. He lives in Louisville, Colorado, with his wife, Carrie, and their two-year-old daughter.

“Deuter and ORTOVOX are great brands that possess two of the most important assets in our category: best-in-class product and legitimate, market-shaping sustainability platforms,” says Degenhardt. “I have tremendous respect for and confidence in the U.S.-based teams at Deuter and ORTOVOX. With leadership from Deuter Sales Manager Scott Park and ORTOVOX Brand Manager Tom Mason, and backed by a global organization that is committed to long-term, sustainable growth in the U.S., a great deal of opportunity lies before us. I look forward to continuing to build on the momentum Deuter is experiencing in our core categories of hiking and family, and expanding our fanbase into new categories. Similarly, ORTOVOX is undergoing consistent, sharp growth year-over-year in Mountainwear and we will continue to create a framework that supports this category as well as the brand’s avalanche rescue products.”

Degenhardt will assume his new role on July 1, following a five-month transition period. Hartrampf, who was appointed president of Deuter USA in 2008, following 13 years as the company’s Germany-based global export manager, will take on a new role in the Longmont, Colorado, office, leading development of sales channels in the industrial and promotional products categories.

“These brands mean a great deal to me. I have been a member of the Deuter family since early in my career and I am very excited by the prospect of building new distribution categories for the brand in the U.S.,” says Hartrampf. “The enthusiasm and fresh ideas Jonathan has brought since his arrival have been felt throughout the company and his breadth of experience in our industry positions him well to lead across the organization. Deuter USA is in great hands as we embark on this transition.”

Please direct media inquiries to Emily Banks at emily.banks@rygr.us.

ABOUT ORTOVOX: ORTOVOX is a four-season mountain brand headquartered in Germany known as an expert in avalanche safety equipment and wool apparel designed specifically for ski touring, freeriding, mountaineering, alpine climbing and alpine touring. Since its founding in 1980, ORTOVOX has stood for a sophisticated approach to protection and comfort in the mountains, characterized by the responsible treatment of people and nature. As pioneers in avalanche safety, ORTOVOX has played a key role in the development of emergency equipment and targeted training measures for mountain sports, with protection as the brand’s most important value. This protective ethos extends to include safe and fair working conditions for its employees, setting the highest standards of animal welfare on the brand’s Tasmanian merino farms and ensuring environmentally friendly manufacturing of its products. www.ORTOVOX.com

ABOUT DEUTER: From backpacking to bike commuting, alpinism and travel, to child-carrying and family adventures, Deuter creates better and more comfortable packs for everyone and everywhere. With over 121 years of pack building experience, Deuter has played a vital role in shaping mountaineering history since its 1898 founding in Germany. Its values of sustainability, passion, family, pioneering and meisterlich—German for excellence at one’s craft—have driven Deuter to be a leading global backpack brand. From developing the first framed pack in 1930, to being the pack of choice for the first ascent of the north face of the Eiger by Anderl Heckmair in 1938, to inventing the original bike-specific backpack as well as the very first ventilated mesh back system in its Aircomfort packs, Deuter innovations have shaped the pack industry since the beginning. https://www.deuterusa.com/

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Hydro Flask, the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks and soft good innovations and a Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) company, is expanding its growing global presence with the addition of two distributors in the Latin American market.

Hydro Flask launched in Uruguay in July 2019 and will expand into Mexico in early 2020 through new strategic partnerships with Gubrand and Alta Vertical, respectively. Key channels include outdoor, active lifestyle, sporting goods, coffee/tea and online.

“We’re excited to join forces with Alta Vertical and Gubrand in order to support local retailers in these two markets. Strong relationships, and an unrelenting focus on our target consumers will help us achieve long-term success in the region,” said Mike Wallenfels, SVP Global Sales, Housewares Division at Helen of Troy. “Mexico and Uruguay are two steps forward in our mission to save the world from lukewarm and we’re proud to be opening the door for more people in the Latin American region to bring Hydro Flask along on their everyday adventures.”

“Hydro Flask is a great fit for Mexico’s active consumers and our outdoor lifestyle,” said Alejandro Rivera, founder of Alta Vertical. The sentiment is echoed by Jonatan Rabinovich, from Gubrand in Uruguay. Both are excited about the opportunity to work with Hydro Flask to bring the brand to the many customers who have been eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Dedicated to uniquely refreshing experiences, innovative design and an unparalleled user experience, Hydro Flask continues to receive accolades for its insulated products. Hydro Flask has been the recipient of several Red Dot, GOOD DESIGN™ and iF Design Awards. The company has grown to become the number one overall American water bottle brand in Sporting Goods and Outdoor, according to third party data. 

About Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask® is the leader in high-performance insulated products that help people enjoy the things they love to do in the places they love to be. From the number one-selling water bottle to soft good innovations like our Unbound Series™ Soft Coolers and Journey Series™ Hydration Packs, Hydro Flask’s delightfully simple designs and go-anywhere durability always deliver the perfect temperature when you need it. Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask inspires active outdoor lives with two simple words: Let’s Go! Its charitable arm, Parks For All, supports the development, maintenance, restoration and accessibility of public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. To learn more about Hydro Flask, Parks for All, and to see our full lineup of award-winning products, visit www.hydroflask.com.

About Helen of Troy Limited

Helen of Troy Limited is a leading global consumer products company offering creative solutions for its customers through a strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely trusted brands, including OXO, Hydro Flask, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools and Drybar. All trademarks herein belong to Helen of Troy Limited (or its affiliates) and/or are used under license from their respective licensors.  For more information about Helen of Troy, please visit www.helenoftroy.com.

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