Ski Press World Inc. - IndexSki Press World Inc. - SIA Day 1 - Indexwho new
From start-ups to storied brands, Who New gives you the lowdown on which
companies are brand new to the SIA fl oor, and which ones are making a welcome
return. Check out the highlight reel right here every day to see what kind of
cool gear might help give your shop an edge next season.
What’s the best way to fi nd Backcountry Access (BCA) at
this year’s show? Use one of their beacons, of course. The
company’s avalanche-like momentum owes itself to several
new products designed for safe and easy backcountry
travel. Leading the list: the new Tracker2 (6.4 oz., $335),
a user-friendly beacon offering instantaneous real-time display,
triple antenna pinpointing, simplifi ed search/transmit
switching and a new multiple-burial indicator.
The prime reason for its presence at the show, however,
is the new Rottefella NTN binding ($349.95), the biggest
development to hit telemarking since granola. The NTN
stands for New Telemark Norm, with Rottefella teaming
up with bootmakers Scarpa, Crispi and, most recently, Garmont,
to create an integral boot/binding system. While the
boots are compatible with alpine touring set-ups, the bindings
offer a free-pivot touring mode and clamp onto the
boot’s sole rather than the heel, offering better edge control
and lateral stability. They also come with four cartridges for
different weights.
“The reason we’re going isn’t so much for snow safety but the
way the sport and distribution is changing,” said BCA founder
and president Bruce McGowan. “The NTN is blurring
the lines between lift access and
backcountry — telemarking
is now a lift-access business.
Most people getting
into the sport are coming
from the alpine side and
we need to target that
market.”
— EUGENE BUCHANAN
Peet Shoe Dryer Inc. is getting its dry feet in the door of the ski industry with its fi rst appearance
at SIA. Founded in 1968 in St. Maries, Idaho, by Gene Peet (who now runs it with his
son, Blair), the company has sold more than 2.5 million Peet
Dryers worldwide for their ability to eliminate wetness,
perspiration and odor.
This year the company is introducing the Go! Peet
portable dryer, Advantage Dryer and patented
Dryport helmet.
“We’ve made a significant change to our
marketing approach and feel we can extend
our reach into the snowsports industry,” said
vice-president of sales Andy Kennelly. “In
the past our marketing has been targeted to
the hunt, fish and farm markets, but our
products are also perfect for skiing.”
Peet uses ionization and UV light in
its dryers to help kill bacteria, and is
hoping this technology will give it a,
er, leg up, on the competition in the
snowsports industry. — EB
20 SNOWPRESS DAY 1 skipressworld.com/snowpress
Accelerate
Your Sales
with Celerant
Dealers tired of outdated retail software can ring
in the New Year, and ring up additional sales, with
New York, N.Y.’s Celerant Command Retail, a realtime
integrated retail system managing everything
from POS and inventory to warehouse, distribution
and e-commerce.
“As a retail software company, we pride ourselves in
providing a real-time system that enables sporting
good retailers to better manage their operations,”
said Celerant marketing manager Michele Majka.
“What draws us to SIA is that we provide an advanced
retail system to simplify and integrate operations,
and we have multiple clients in this industry already.
We’re hoping to expand our presence in the snowsports
industry.”
One advantage the company touts is the fl exibility of
its Java platform allowing Celerant users to conduct
cost-effective analysis based on their specifi c needs.
“Our approach is individually retailer focused rather
than mass produced,” said Majka. “The result is a better
system that meets the needs of each retailer.” — EB
Hats Off to
Mad Bomber
A former high-fl ying gelande jumper, Mad Bomber
founder Brent Reynolds also knows about the high-
fl ying wor world of ski retail.
“My fa family ran a ski shop for 40 years,” said
Rey Reynolds, who founded Mad Bomber in 1984
and an has seen his company’s rabbit fur
Bomber B
and Trooper hats head his company’s
sales for nearly 25 years.
While he’s attended SIA before, this year
marks ma his first foray back in more than
five years ye as he maps out a strategy to
grow ro his company’s com
product line. “As well
as lining g up retailers, retai we’re hoping to see
what w other companies c
are doing,” said
Reynolds. Re ds. “We “We’re relaunching
Mad Bomber
with wit ith
a more extensive xte sive e outerwear line, li and
the
fi rst step is going back ack to the sshow
wto to
o see
wha what’s t’s going oing on in iin in the
market et as fa far as s t
trends, ends,
style styles ylle
es an and color colors.”— l — EB
B
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