SGB Outdoor News


KORS Expedition Award winners return


Two Ambleside-based retail staff members are celebrating a successful expedition to Patagonia after winning the Kendal Outdoor Retail Show’s KORS Retail Expedition Award. Ian Almond and Mike Wilson,


who work at Lakes Climber in Ambleside, travelled to Patagonia in early Spring. Set to make attempts on Cerro Fitzroy and surrounding peaks, bad conditions kept them in camp until a weather window allowed an ascent of the Whillans Route on Ag Poincenot (3036m). With the weather staying settled, a fast turnaround allowed ascents of the Brenner Ridge on Ag Guillaumet (2579m) and an unsuccessful attempt on the Argentinean route on Ag Mermoz (2732m). The KORS Retail Expedition Award is an annual award supporting


outstanding expeditions involving outdoor retail staff. Winners get a cash sum of £1,000 plus equipment to the value of £500 from KORS exhibitors including brands such as Beal, Petzl, DMM, Rab, Terra Nova, MSR, Black Diamond and La Sportiva. Information about the KORS Retail Expedition Award including expedition


criteria and entry forms are available on the KORS website www.kors.org.uk. The next KORS show is in Kendal on 10-12 August.


Karrimor’s new deal with Allcord


brasher strengthens product team


Following significant growth over recent years, brasher is strengthening its product team with the recruitment of a new Far East Brand Manager and Product Assistant, which will enhance and develop the brand’s overall product process. Niyamathullah Khan has been appointed as Far East Brand Manager,


based in the Far East, to oversee the smooth transition from initial design concepts and samples, to ensuring finished product is delivered to the UK to meet the high expectations of both retailers and consumers. Khan has more than 17 years of footwear experience and previously worked for parent company Pentland Asia. Being based in the Far East will ensure a ‘hands on’ approach to the overall production process. New Product Assistant, Chris Gordon, who will be based at brasher


HQ in Sunderland, will support the four-strong product team, which also includes Category Manager, Philippe Galland and Footwear Designer, Glen Calloway.


Powertraveller wins design award


Karrimor has appointed Allcord Ltd to distribute its product in the UK market. The appointment is seen as a key strategic move by Karrimor which is actively pursuing increased market share and is targeting the specialist outdoor market. Garry Bardsley, who has worked for Karrimor over the last eight years, will


take over the reins from general manager Neil Kennedy and head up the brand. To further support the brand and the appointment of Allcord, Garry is looking to make two further appointments and is actively recruiting at the moment. Says Garry, “We are actively recruiting for two new positions to support


the Karrimor business and are looking to appoint both a marketing manager and a camping and accessories product manager. These are exciting positions which will involve international travel and growth with the business.” Cementing Karrimor’s new drive is the launch of a brand new consumer


focused website at www.karrimor.com . Highly interactive, the website features exclusive blogs with sponsored athletes, competitions and useful information.


All change for Gregory


Powertraveller, the Hampshire-based manufacturer of portable chargers, has been awarded the prestigious red dot award: design 2010 for the powermonkey- eXplorer, its portable charger for mobiles, PDAs and other 5V digital devices. The red dot design award ranks amongst the largest and most renowned design competitions in the world - this year over 4,200 products from 57 countries entered. Previous winners include Apple, Nokia, adidas and Mercedes-Benz.


Thanks to its solar-charging option, the powermonkey-eXplorer is a huge


favourite with business and leisure travellers the world over as well as British troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq . It gives users sufficient power to recharge a mobile phone up to three times (iPhone 1½ times) and will also recharge just about any small electronic device including iPods and PS games consoles.


Eider takes steps into the outdoor market


French brand Eider will be taking its first steps into the UK outdoor market this summer. Better known as a ski brand in the UK, Wildside Trading will extol the virtues of Eider’s extensive range of outdoor clothing to retailers nationwide. In France Eider is a popular outdoor brand with a 60/40 split to skiwear.


Plans are to garner a similar split in the UK over time. With quality appeal, Eider clothing draws on high-end technology from leading ingredient brands such as Polartec, Gore-Tex and PrimaLoft. The push into the outdoor market is a further step forward for the brand


Distributed here in the UK by Bramwell International, the US specialist backpack brand, Gregory Mountain Products is to merge with Black Diamond Equipment to create the Clarus Corporation, a new, multi- branded, publicly-traded platform in the outdoor industry. Although the merger sees both Black Diamond and Gregory become part of the Clarus Corporation, each brand will remain separately distributed.


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who appointed Wildside Trading [headed up by ex-Bradshaw Taylor employee Matt Jordan] to permanently represent the label in the UK. With investment into advertising and PR the brand has already had a positive first season with growth on Winter 2009 sell-in figures, media exposure and TV product placement [Eider is currently being worn by the GMTV weather girls].


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