Archives: Press Releases

April 2, 2024 – The Conservation Alliance (TCA) is planning to hire a new Executive Director (ED)  that will work closely with the staff and Board of Directors  as the organization’s strategic and operational leader charged with  ensuring sound strategic positioning and the execution of The Conservation Alliance’s mission.

“The appointment of a new Executive Director  comes at an  important and exciting time for The Conservation Alliance.” said Annie Nyborg, Head of Environmental and Social Impact at Peak Designs and Chair of the TCA Board of Directors, “TCA recognizes that the conservation landscape is shifting, including the need for more effective policy solutions to address ever-changing environmental and conservation priorities and challenges.”

The next Executive Director will lead the effort to push TCA into a new era of impact. Key to delivering on the organization’s needs will be the collaboration of the Board and staff on the path forward through a significant and robust strategic planning effort that is focused on growth. Through this process, the Executive Director will have the ability, in partnership with the Board, to shape the future of the organization, and position it for greater success.

The new ED will serve as the key strategic and operational leader overseeing the administration, programs, strategic planning, and financial management of TCA. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors (BOD), and key responsibilities will include Board management and engagement, strategic and annual planning, fundraising and financial management, staff management, and external relations and public affairs.

To learn more  about The Conservation Alliance,  visit www.conservationalliance.com. To learn more and  apply for the role, please visit this link.

About The Conservation Alliance

The Conservation Alliance is a coalition of over 270 like-minded member companies who pool resources to fund and advocate for the protection of North America’s cherished wild places and outdoor spaces. Through the collective power of their membership – companies from a range of industries from outdoor industry to brewers, bankers, sportsmen, and renewable energy – take bold steps to conserve wild public lands and waters. Since 1989, they’ve awarded over $31,900,000 in grants and helped protect over 82 million acres and 4,570 river miles, remove or halt 38 dams, purchase 22 climbing areas & designate five marine reserves.

conservationalliance.com

 

 

San Clemente, Calif. – April 2, 2024 – Nomadix, a social purpose corporation and makers of The Only Towel You Need®, made from post-consumer recycled plastics, announced today the results of its 2023 Social Purpose Corporation Report. Notable 2023 accomplishments include: diverting over 18,200,000 plastic bottles from landfills (the most in the company’s history), lowering the company’s carbon footprint by 80% since 2021, and supporting more than 15 organizations by investing in its cause partnership with 1% for the Planet.

“Understanding the full spectrum of our business’ impact is crucial, everything from sourcing materials to selecting packaging and transportation methods for delivering our products to customers,” said Mia Helminiak, Director of Community Engagement at Nomadix. “By tracking and quantifying our emissions, we are able to clearly see the areas that need improvement. For example, our analysis revealed that packaging materials surprisingly made up the biggest portion of our emissions. Armed with this knowledge, we swiftly implemented changes, overhauling our packaging within a matter of months and lowering our emissions by a significant amount.”

In addition, the report details progress specific to Nomadix’s 2023 Climate Commitment including:

• Partnering with The Change Climate Project (formerly Climate Neutral) to measure and certify the company’s carbon footprint
• Switching its master cartons to FSC-certified recycled materials
• Updating its forecasting methods to avoid last-minute air shipments from its factory
• Changing its e-commerce standard shipping option from 2-day air to ground shipping

Recognizing the importance of building community to advance sustainability, Nomadix invested in more than 15 partner organizations in 2023. Some of those organizations include:

• 1% for the Planet: On a mission to certify $1,000,000,000 in lifetime giving to environmental organizations by 2027—and they’re more than halfway there.
• Brave Trails: Provided $123K in financial assistance to its LGBTQIA+ campers which directly resulted in 900+ hours of therapy provided to its community of teens and their families.
• The Ecology Center: 100,000 pounds of food donated to local families facing food insecurity.
• The Conservation Alliance: $2.1M awarded to 49 organizations to protect 11.7M acres & 40 river miles, 1 dam removed, oil & gas leases canceled in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• The Billfish Foundation: Worked worldwide to advance the conservation of billfish and other species.

Nomadix’s wide range of product offerings are made from post-consumer and recycled materials to further reduce its impact on the planet, including the new Robe, Tiny Towel, and Fanny Pack. To see the brand’s entire product line or for more information about its Social Purpose Corporation Report, visit nomadix.co.

ABOUT NOMADIX

California-based Nomadix launched in 2015 with The Only Towel You Need® – a multi-purpose towel that performs for any activity, including travel, yoga, boating, and at the beach. Nomadix understands that the environmental footprint of the products people buy will have an impact on the planet that lasts longer than we will. A commitment to discovering durable, multi-purpose, responsibly manufactured solutions that will leave the planet better than we found it is part of its ethos – Own less. Do more. Nomadix is a member of 1% for the Planet and is Climate Neutral Certified. Today, Nomadix is carried in major retailers in the United States and is distributed in 31 countries around the world. Visit www.nomadix.co for more information.

 

 

 

CARRBORO, N.C. (April 1, 2024) — Fleet Feet is proud to launch ‘Candles That Éndúre,’ an exclusive line of scented candles designed to help runners recall their most important and smelly memories. These designer candles have been half-heartedly hand-crafted by overtrained runners, who mix sweat, pain and elation to produce signature aromas that bring us back to our favorite running moments.

“Runners are a unique bunch,” says Ashley Arnold, director of brand marketing at Fleet Feet. “Smells can evoke powerful memories, bringing us back to a particular event or place. These candles allow you to have your most cherished running scents on demand without unearthing week-old salt-stained shorts from the bottom of the hamper. With the Candles That Éndúre line, everyone in your household can enjoy these running-inspired fragrances with you, whether they want to or not. It’s truly a win-win.”

The spring line of candles includes a variety of aromas designed to inspire, and terrify, runners of all abilities. The ‘Race Day Jitters’ candle offers exciting notes of freshly roasted coffee, morning dew, and the subtle scent of a steamy port-o-john. Light up ‘Race-Day Jitters’ for the perfect anticipatory mixture of anxiety, self-loathing and delusions of grandeur.

Runners can kick back and relax with the ‘Finish Line’ candle, featuring soothing scents of bananas, euphoria and space blankets. Rounding out the line is the ‘Turkey Trot,’ offering a savory blend of sweet potato, cranberry, rosemary and gravy to help runners relive their favorite holiday race with the in-laws.

In addition to this collection, Fleet Feet is also launching a special collaboration candle with Boston Marathon champion Desiree Linden. ‘Scent of A Champion’ has bold and dynamic notes of espresso, bourbon barrel and Boylston Street. It’s designed to inspire runners to be their best selves, bringing them back to a place where they felt strong, powerful and exhausted. Fleet Feet advises users to avoid burning this candle around children, as it can induce a strong desire to consume high-end whiskey.

These limited and seasonal offerings will be complemented by year-round staples such as ‘I Think I Can Wear These Shorts Again,’ ‘Spilled Post-Run Beer,’ ‘One Too Many Race Gels,’ and ‘No Shower Lunch Run.’ The research team is currently developing other offerings that cater to the eccentric tastes of runners, including sweat-soaked gummy bears, shorts designed to chafe, and a pill that replicates the sensation of the quadricep implosion that occurs at mile 20 of a marathon.

For more than 47 years, Fleet Feet owners, operating partners, and employees have created welcoming environments that allow runners, walkers, and fitness enthusiasts of all abilities to conquer their goals at every level, on every surface, at every distance with personalized solutions, knowledge, and empowerment. Fleet Feet’s nationwide network of community-based retail stores are a place of inspiration, showing people how Running Changes Everything®.

View the launch video, which goes live on Instagram April 1, here. Browse the collection on Fleet Feet’s website here.

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About Fleet Feet

Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet is the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated run specialty stores. With 270 locations in 40 states and a national headquarters in Carrboro, N.C., Fleet Feet is committed to providing runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts with outfitting expertise, robust training programs, community support and rewards. Fleet Feet believes that RUNNING CHANGES EVERYTHING® and has been recognized in Fast Company’s Brands That Matter List, and Inc.’s Best in Business List and PRWeek’s Purpose Awards. Stay inspired, motivated and connected at Fleet Feet.

 

 

 

Austin, TX (March 28, 2024) – ROKA, the renowned performance design brand that creates and manufactures eyewear and technical apparel for lifestyle and competitive athletes, unleashes the latest edition of their coveted wetsuit for triathletes with the Maverick X.3. Designed to emphasize speed, comfort, and control, the Maverick X.3 is built to enhance your performance with effortless efficiency.

The updated Maverick X.3 wetsuit carries over many of the patented design features of the previous Maverick line that have made it one of the most popular wetsuits in the world. New, improved materials, such as a premium Yamamoto neoprene and liner, provide increased comfort and buoyancy across the chest, neckline, and core. A revised RSX™ center-panel construction increases flexibility to open the chest for better breathing, less constriction, and snappier side-to-side rotation. An improved neckline eliminates internal seams for a more comfortable experience that reduces chafing while creating a better seal. Lastly, the new forearm catch material, an ultralight stretch-woven, enhances tactile feedback to increase your feel for the water.

“We shook things up eleven years ago with our game-changing Maverick wetsuit.  Over the last few years, we’ve worked with our pro athletes and internal design team to squeeze out even more performance and comfort than ever before” said Rob Canales, CEO and Co-Founder of ROKA. “The X.3 is a wetsuit for people who obsess over the details in a triathlon wetsuit and who are looking to maximize their chances of setting a PR on the swim while entering T1 as fresh as possible.”

For the updated design, ROKA combined customer feedback while working closely with their athletes and ambassadors, including reigning IRONMAN World Champion and Swim Course Record Holder, Lucy Charles-Barclay.  With a commitment to ensuring swimmers of all abilities feel comfortable in the water, the full Maverick series is tailored to accommodate a variety of skill levels and is offered in a market-leading number of sizes, 12 for women and 10 for men.

Available for pre-order online now at www.roka.com/products/mens-maverick-x3-wetsuit. The new Maverick X3 will be available at all IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races for the 2024 season starting at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and 70.3 Texas on April 6 and 7, respectively. For more information about ROKA or the Maverick X3, please visit www.ROKA.com.

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About ROKA

ROKA is on a mission to unlock human potential. Founded in 2013 in Austin, Texas, ROKA’s award-winning performance eyewear, wetsuits, and other performance gear have led athletes to dozens of world titles, including three Olympic gold medals, more than 30 World Championship titles, multiple Tour de France stage and overall team wins, and hundreds of other podium finishes. ROKA works with the world’s leading scientists, athletes and organizations to push the boundaries of performance design, bringing those innovations to all who move. ROKA products are available worldwide at roka.com and through select retailers. Follow ROKA on Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

 

 

STAMFORD –  (March 28, 2024) – LOWA Boots, the global footwear brand known for over 100 years of hand-crafted European heritage, today announced that its pro athlete, Sunny Stroeer, completed the Iditarod Trail Invitational on skis, the first female to accomplish this feat in the race’s 24 year history. Stroeer started in Anchorage, skiing 950 miles over 29 days, 22 hours, 06 minutes to finish Tuesday, March 26th in Nome, enduring brutal temperatures as low as -45 degrees.

“LOWA has worked with Sunny for over five years; each year her accomplishments are harder than the last,” said Peter Sachs, general manager of LOWA. “The Iditarod Trail Invitational is a test of personal endurance and mental fortitude, harsh elements, and unknown conditions. She completed the race with grace and grit, timely, as it is Women’s History Month. We are honored to share in this celebration with Sunny and extend our congratulations.”

Stroeer’s footwear of choice was the Renegade Evo Ice GTX, designed to keep feet warm, comfortable, dry and protected in the harshest winter conditions. The boot has a taller shaft for added protection against snow drifts. It features a high loft fleece Gore Tex Partelana lining and the Vibram Arctic Grip Trac^® Outsole, engineered for low temperature use and grip on cold, icy or snowy surfaces. In Sunny’s case, the Renegade Evo Ice GTX was an unconventional choice since most cross-country skiers ski in cross-country boots with specific bindings. Sunny opted for warm boots that she attached to her skis with a universal binding set up that uses straps.

“I may have gotten frostbite on my thumb, as the temperatures hit -45F this past month; but the LOWA Renegade Evo Ice kept my feet warm and happy,” said Stroeer. “I am stoked to be working with such an incredible brand as an athlete for over five years now; their support has been wonderful.”

Previously, Sunny completed the shorter Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 Mile Race on skis in 2021 and 2022, and on fat bike in 2023. For more information on Sunny, please visit www.sunnystroeer.com.

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About LOWA Boots

With over 100 years of hand-crafted European heritage, LOWA Boots is a globally respected footwear brand located in Jetzendorf, in Upper Bavaria. Since 1923, LOWA has created premium outdoor boots and shoes featuring beautiful silhouettes, best-in-class quality, and proprietary technology. Its designers adeptly navigate the outdoor performance, lifestyle, and fashion categories, always nurturing brand integrity. LOWA is one of the only footwear brands to receive ISO 9001 status for the highest quality construction and process standards. LOWA certified tactical boots are also made to comply with the European Union’s PPE standards.

For more information, visit www.lowaboots.com.

 

 

 

SEATTLE (March 27, 2024) — Astral, the industry-leading designer of high-performance wilderness equipment and apparel, announces the addition of a new sales agency, Bluewater Trading, to handle growing sales efforts in the Midwest, one of Astral’s largest geographic territories.

Headquartered in Minneapolis and led by president Chris Bindert, Bluewater Trading has more than two decades of experience working in the Midwest region with highly reputable brands in the outdoor space, including: Bending Branches / Aquabound, Gregory Mountain Products, SCARPA, High Sierra, and Nikwax. Bluewater Trading has also worked with notable watersports brands, which will be beneficial for Astral’s growing personal flotation device (PFD) and footwear business in the Midwest. Bluewater Trading covers the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“We’ve spent a great deal of time getting to know the team at Bluewater Trading and were so impressed with how directly they reflected the core values that we hold at Astral,” said Bryan Owen, sales manager for Astral. “We are very deliberate in pursuing sales reps with personal interest and passion for the paddlesports and outdoor industries. Bluewater’s team–Chris, Rob and Tyler–have dedicated their lives to being a part of our industry, and going above and beyond to engage with the paddlesports community on personal and professional levels.”

The team at Bluewater Trading comprises industry professionals with an ever-present passion for the outdoors. Chris Bindert will be responsible for most of the key account business in addition to running the agency. Bindert took his first Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) canoe trip as a teenager and is an avid paddler, fisherman and boater. Rob Bossen has over a decade of experience in the outdoor agency with a focus on specialty retailers. Bossen serves on the board of the newly founded Paddlesports Trade Coalition and is a lifelong paddler who is extremely passionate about the watersports industry. Tyler Henk is Bluewater’s road representative responsible for servicing dealers and retailers.

“Astral is one of the most respected brands in the outdoor space, with a strong focus on serving their customers with high quality products and excellent service. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with them in the Midwest,” said Chris Bindert, president of Bluewater Trading.

For more information about Astral, its products and initiatives, please visit Astraldesigns.com.

About Astral

Established in 2002, Astral designs high performance wilderness equipment created in the least toxic, lowest-impact ways. Built on decades of experience and experimentation, Astral has assembled athletes, artists, and craftspeople to build the cleanest, most beautiful, and highest performing gear. Astral has significantly reduced toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for their paradigm changing footwear designs, and developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock. Visit www.astraldesigns.com for more information.

 

 

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (March 27, 2024) — Lift Foils, industry-forging creators and developers of eFoils and foiling equipments, has retained Verde Brand Communications to lead its public relations and brand communications efforts to amplify its compelling brand story, highlight its inimitable products, and promote the growth of eFoiling and surf foiling.

As watersports continue to grow in popularity, Lift Foils, the originator and patent-holder of the vast majority of components used in eFoiling today, believes that eFoiling and surf foiling are primed to surge into the main fold of water sports. An eFoil is a motorized foil board operated by remote that allows the user to fly over water in flat water conditions or eliminate the human-power element of other water-based board sports, such as surf foiling. The brand boasts the highest performing and most premium models available on the market and have plans to unveil products this year that will forever change the foiling experience for users. Lift is also seeking to take a greater role in the culture of foiling and investing resources to enable projects that will revolutionize the sport.

“The eFoil started with us, and we’re continuing our mission to innovate and enhance the experience for our riders, and enable them and our athletes alike to push the boundaries of the sport,” said Bill Fisher, CBMO of Lift Foils. “We envision 2024 being the “breakout year” for eFoiling, and when considering a communications agency, Verde’s decades long work in the outdoor and active lifestyle markets stood out to us as ideal for broadening awareness of this exciting sport.”

Founded in 2010 in Puerto Rico as a family company by Nick and Michael Leason, Lift Foils started out making standard foil boards. Nick Leason, an engineer by trade, began tinkering with the concept of a motorized foil board to let users fly on the water. By 2015, the eFoil was born and launched to the public. Since the launch, the eFoil has gone through a number of versions and refinements and has taken on a life of its own in the watersports industry with some of the world’s most renowned surfers and foilers riding for Lift.

“It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to work with a brand that invented a sport,” said Julie Evans, Verde CEO. “What Nick Leason and his team at Lift have done to take foiling to another level has been amazing to watch unfold, and their innovative approach aligns with our mission to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible.”

For more information about Lift Foils, its products, and initiatives, visit https://liftfoils.com/.

About Lift Foils

Lift Foils is the creator of the original electric hydrofoil (eFoil), owner of many of the patents used in today’s eFoil components, and the preeminent leader in the eFoiling space. Founded in 2010 in Puerto Rico by engineer and avid surfer Nick Leason, the Lift e-foil allows riders of all levels to experience flight over almost any body of water at speeds over 30mph, with no waves or towing required. Lift Foils’ eFoils and classic foils can be found at more than 350 affiliates and retail partners in 80 countries across the globe. For more information or to find a retailer near you, go to www.liftfoils.com.

About Verde Brand Communications

Verde Brand Communications exists to bring industry leading marketing services to our clients and passion-driven inspiration to outdoor and active-lifestyle consumers. Verde is an integrated brand communications firm offering public relations, brand strategy and positioning, as well as marketing services in owned and paid media. Verde’s consumer-first, results-driven approach catalyzes growth and success for specialty brands and retailers in the outdoor, cycling, snowsports, endurance, travel, overland and RV, craft beer and spirits, and active lifestyle markets. Verde’s success is tied to the passion our team has for the communities, markets and media that we serve. For more information, visit www.verdepr.com.

SCRANTON, PA. [March 26, 2024] Noble Biomaterials, a global leader in antimicrobial and anti-odor solutions for soft surface applications, announced upgrades to its Ionic+® product portfolio and will be supported by a new “Planet Positive” communications campaign.

Noble’s latest advancements with Ionic+® Botanical and Ionic+® Pro presents a new era in bacterial and odor control fabrics. Both delivery methods remove odor causing bacteria from the fabric and significantly reduce the need for fabrics to be washed. Treated fabrics require less care which leads to water and energy savings and extends the lifespan of a fabric. The new “Planet Positive” campaign aims to inform both industry and end-users about the upside to antimicrobial solutions and how they can save resources and reduce waste.

Ionic+® Botanical

The core citric-based formula received EPA registration in March of 2023, and Ionic+® Botanical is now available at retail through Noble’s partnership with Salomon. This plant-based, renewable citric technology inhibits the growth of microbes that cause odor on fabric and remains one of the very few plant-based EPA registered antimicrobial fabric solutions available. Noble is working towards OEKO-TEX® and bluesign® certification for Ionic+® Botanical.

Ionic+® Pro

Ionic+® Pro is a new advanced performance version of Noble’s Ionic+ mineral silver yarn. Ionic+® permanent silver yarn uses an extruded yarn process that permanently encases silver ions in the fabric. The upgrade in performance can register a 99 percent reduction of bacteria in over 200 washes.

“We’ve created a portfolio of products with purpose,” said Allon Cohne, Ionic+® Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer at Noble Biomaterials. “We focus on the use of the product during its lifecycle. Noble’s Ionic+ offers a unique choice of technology with permanent silver yarns and our new citric topical solution for finished fabrics.”

The Planet Positive campaign reflects the broad range of industries and categories where Ionic+ antimicrobial / anti-odor technology is found including healthcare, fitness, outdoor, home and bedding.

Noble’s first presentation of both the new products and Planet Positive campaign together will be at Performance Days Shanghai, April 2-3 booth P06. Then, Noble will be displaying at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon April 17-18 booth #213, and presenting at Techtextil in Frankfurt April 23-26 booth 11.1 C7.

“We’re excited to bring a new set of products to market with a campaign reflecting how developing safe, durable fabrics can impact the planet and its resources in a positive way.” said Cohne. “Our intent is to lean into this initiative for product development and end-use communication.”

Ionic+® Botanical is now available at retail in Salomon’s new running apparel line and Noble’s supply chain is expanding with additional global distribution partners e.dye®, Coolcore and Hornwood.

Noble has a history of groundbreaking innovation, covering the first EPA-registered silver-based textiles, advances in the use of silver metallized yarns and fibers in wound care, to the first silver antimicrobial textile on the International Space Station.

About Noble Biomaterials, Inc.

Noble Biomaterials, Inc. is a global leader in antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft surface applications. The company produces advanced material technologies designed for mission-critical applications in the performance apparel, healthcare, industrial, and emerging wearable technology markets. Its flagship brands, IONIC+®, X-STATIC®, and CIRCUITEX®, are used by hundreds of world-class licensees to provide odor elimination, infection prevention/management, biometric monitoring, and conductive protection benefits. Noble Biomaterials is a registered FDA medical device facility, an essential sole-source technology supplier to the US military, and a US EPA–registered antimicrobial manufacturer. Noble products are EPA, FIFRA, BPR, and CE conforming.  Its headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Scranton, PA, and the company has offices in Europe, Asia, and South America.

For more information on Noble Biomaterials and to view their full range of fabric applications, please visit www.noblebiomaterials.com.