p4,6 outdoor NEWS:SGBGolf_NEW_template 24/03/2009 09:15 Page 6
SGB Outdoor
Positive changes for Lowe Alpine
Lowe Alpine UK’s MD David Udberg says that last year the subsidiary saw its most profitable results for 10
years driven by a combination of solid growth and effective cost control. The company has recently gained
ISO9001 accreditation plus a regional environmental accolade through the Cumbria Business Environment
Network (CBEN) award. Udberg says that improvement will not rest there, with further ISO management
standards likely to be pursued going forward.
Udberg also confirms that Lowe Alpine’s FW09 clothing
collection has received a very positive reception from
retailers. “The benefit this season was that the clothing
team in Italy involved the UK in design direction, which
seems to have been very well received,” says Udberg. So
much so that Udberg has revealed that he is to be given
responsibility for directing international clothing
development, effectively giving him control over all Lowe
Alpine products.
With Udberg taking up greater international responsibilities, the UK operation has been boosted with
Dave Suddes becoming Sales & Marketing Director. Suddes is a passionate outdoor enthusiast with a strong
industry background in both retail and branded sales, and has been with Lowe Alpine since 1997.
ispo appoints new UK team member
Craghoppers
As part of the communications programme that global trade show ispo has been focussing on in the
announces year-end
UK, the continued development of its customer service for exhibitors has been highlighted as a vital
focal point. While ispo has a superb and highly efficient Munich-based team and online exhibitor area record
that reflects the success and ongoing growth of the global sports trade show, for UK customers having
a fully dedicated and home-based exhibitor support service is essential. Consequently a UK based
Craghoppers have announced another record
customer service specialist has joined the team as Exhibitor Service Manager, working alongside
year, achieving over 30 per cent increase in
Communications Manager Lauren Fox who runs the UK and Ireland Information Centre.
turnover. All divisions within the company have
An avid skier and ski instructor, Valentin Ramser studied Sports and Event Management in Austria,
performed extremely well with wholesale opening
before joining Frankfurt outdoor retailer, Sine, on the shop floor and working his way up to a
75 new key accounts. In addition to this, they
Customer Service role. Most recently Ramser has been a project trainee on ispo winter, helping look
also saw a huge growth of 60 per cent in export,
after exhibitors on the newcomer areas at the show and assisting with the outdoor and ski awards.
with Germany doing particularly well.
Ramser will be the contact point for all exhibitor information before and during show attendance.
Retail Concessions had an amazing year, almost
doubling its business and opening 17 new stores
in 2008. The team is now poised to double the
Memory-Map launches Digital Map Shop
number of concessions this year.
Direct Sales launched their most successful
Top outdoor recreation digital map provider Memory-Map has launched its groundbreaking Digital spring campaign achieving a growth of 35% on
Map Shop [DMS], which enables users to easily select and download bespoke areas of mapping for last year and also managed to launch four
their PC, laptop or Pocket PC. websites on a new IBM platform, which proved a
Digital Map Shop is the new way to buy Memory-Map’s award winning software which gives the massive success.
customer complete control over the mapping they buy. Using Top-Up vouchers customers can now Additionally, the new Bear Grylls range
create an account which will give them the freedom to select the exact map areas they want, as and achieved £1.7 million turnover in its first year and
when they require them. DMS will be launched with a number of product lines covering different is continuing to attract a great deal of interest.
scales, areas (sqkm) and countries. Once a customer has purchased their Top-Up vouchers and created
their Memory-Map DMS account the Memory-Map range is only a couple of mouse-clicks away.
Commenting on the launch, Memory-Map’s managing director, Ray Badminton, said: “The beauty
of this product is its simplicity. Customers choose the country and the type type of map they need
Fiskars
(outdoor, marine, aviation) then they select the area they want and just download when they need it.
Memory-Map users on the move can download it from the web via WiFi or 3G direct to a handheld
announces moves
Pocket PC or Smartphone, which means our users can always have the latest maps when they’re
actually out and about. Mapping on-demand – its brilliant.”
Murray Macintyre has been promoted to
Country Manager for Silva Ltd in the UK.
Murray joined Silva Ltd in 2001 bringing with
Bridgedale makes it five in a row
him over 20 years experience in sales and
distribution within the leisure market.
Bridgedale, the technical sock brand, has won Gold in the walk Reader Awards for the fifth
In another major move, Keith Paxton has
consecutive year, named Best Walking Sock.
been appointed Vice President Sales Fiskars
Giles Polito, Bridgedale Sales & Marketing Director said: “We are delighted to have received this
Outdoor Recreation America, responsible for
prestigious award for the fifth consecutive year. The Best Walking Sock Award reflects the continued
the Gerber and Brunton brands. From mid-
hard work and commitment by everyone at Bridgedale throughout the year and we are grateful to
March, Keith will be based at the head office
walk readers for their continued support and votes.”
in Portland, USA.
For more information on Bridgedale products, contact Bridgedale on info@bridgedale.com
6 SGBOUTDOOR MARCH 2009
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