SALT LAKE CITY, UT (BRAIN)—Amongst all the companies selling skis and heavy duty socks at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, there were also those familiar names that you see at Interbike each year, hoping to get a leg up on the competition.
Thule was one such company. The company was pushing its new Load N Go Elite collection. A highlight from the collection is the Load Off ($69.95)—a collapsible portable seat designed with an under seat storage unit.
“It’s a nice comfortable seat so it’s great for when you’re cycling,” said Karl Wiedemann, public relations and communications manager for Thule.
Another company pushing innovative product was Hydrapak. This growing company, as evidenced by its move to a larger facility in Oakland, CA, was highlighting its Reversible II bladder.
"We made a major investment in updating our reservoir technology going from the Velcro opening that people might be used to, to a molded sliding piece," said Matt Lyon, president and chief executive officer of Hydrapak. "It's reliable, and increases user confidence. It's a standard on all 2008 bags that we're introducing right now to the market. It's been a fantastic success for us. We've been working full out at the factory level ever since the product was launched in July."
For another pack maker, Deuter USA, Winter OR was a chance for dealers to meet new president Bill Hartrampf, who took over for Pat Loomis.
"In Europe we're definitely the No. 1 pack brand," said Hartrampf, Deuter USA's new president. "We're also very strong in Asia, and several other countries around the world. Where we are here in the States, we'd like see that brand presence and strength grow to the next level. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves, and that's what I want to see happen here." Before taking over as president, Hartrampf was Deuter’s international export manager.
—Jason Norman
