Pardon the corporate horn-blowing, so to speak, but it’s not every month that you get two major media awards. This month, Gregory won a 2009 ‘Best of Adventure’ Award from National Geographic Adventure as well as a 2008 “Gear of the Year’ Award from Men’s Journal. We’re particularly psyched because, here at Gregory, it’s always been about suspension (we know, we know, you’re heard us say it before), and these two awards were bestowed in large part because of the two suspension systems (which are Gregory’s two newest) on the packs that won the awards. In the case of Adventure, they gave the award to the Miwok, which is a new day pack that uses Gregory’s Bio-Sync Suspension, which is an ‘active’ design in that it help the pack mimic its wearer’s movements. Both suspension and the eight new packs that use it are new for 2009, and all are designed for higher aerobic activites ranging from day hiking to trail running and mountain biking. There are also some running-specific models.

And with regard to Men’s Journal, they were fans of the Z30, which uses Gregory’s Jet Stream DTS Suspension, another ‘active’ suspension. In this case, the suspension responds to what’s in the pack; it becomes more rigid and offers more support as more weight is loaded into the pack, all while allowing air flow across the back for ventilation.

Nice work, everyone. Now go get a glass of champagne.

 

Bozeman, MT (12/11/08) - Earlier this year, Jay Allen purchased Northern Lights Trading Co. from industry veteran Mike Garcia.  Garcia, who owned the shop since 1979, decided to sell the business he built up in Bozeman so he could retire and enjoy the sports he loves.  

Jay has rebelled against corporate America by purchasing the Northern Lights and moving his family from Chicago to Bozeman.  Allen has a robust background in the business world, and a passion for the outdoors.  Jay received his Bachelors of Science from University of Kansas; where he was on the football team, and went on to earn an MBA from University of Rochester.  Prior to purchasing the retail shop, Allen worked as a Financial Analyst for Xerox, as well as Baxter International and served in Director Roles for Dade Behring Inc. based in Chicago, IL.  

Jay brings a bold new vision for the future of the shop and he is not wasting any time massing the troops to stampede the competition, much like he did on the grid-iron in Kansas. However, his prowess in business shouldn’t hide the fact that he has a big heart and is a welcome addition to the Bozeman community.  

Since Jay has taken the reins, he has put a personal touch into the operations of the shop, reformatted their e-commerce site and has put further support to local events. Northern Lights Trading Co. is one of the top sponsors of the Bozeman Ice Festival; which is co-sponsored with other Bozeman partners Barrel Mountaineering, Montana Alpine Guides and First Ascent Press.  With a dedication to local community, Jay has continued membership with Grassroots Outdoor Alliance which supports local retailers across the country.

To learn more about Jay Allen and Northern Lights Trading Co. visit them in Bozeman, or online. 

About Northern Lights Trading Co.

Since 1979, Northern Lights has been helping folks to reach their goals in their outdoors endeavors.  At Northern Lights & The Barn you’ll find committed & knowledgeable outdoor enthusiasts who actually participate in everything we sell. You can rest assured that the gear advice you’ll receive has been hard earned by our staff. http://www.northernlightstrading.com

Industry leader, Vasque footwear, expanded its international influence by sponsoring what is considered the biggest, longest, toughest and yet most popular endurance race in Japan - the Hasegawa Tsuneo Cup Mountain Endurance Race. This race is a 71.5-kilometer mountain trail course with over 15,000 feet of altitude gain on varied and extreme terrain. A & F Corp, the Vasque distributor in Japan, also sponsored the event.

Running in general has been on the rise in Japan, as the number of events and runners has grown exponentially over the last few years. Tapping into to this valuable opportunity, Vasque has focused its marketing efforts on sponsorship and promotions of trail events directly linked with retailers. This strategy to further drive international exposure is proving to be a success.

“Trail and mountain running is growing in Japan from an already healthy base,” notes George Brown, Vasque’s Pacific Rim & Latin American sales & marketing manager. “We have found that event marketing and sponsorship in this area supports our brand positioning in an impactful way. Japanese runners like the Blur or shoes made on the Blur last, like the Mercury. I estimate that about 15% of runners in this race were in Vasque trail running shoes, which is very good.”

To compliment the brand further at this race, Vasque runner, Chiharu Watanabe, placed 1st in the 40 year old age bracket with a time of 8:19: 26. In addition, two U.S. Vasque team members made the globe-crossing trip to participate in the race. Senior product manager, Brian Hall and sales representative, Dan Dehlin caught the attention of Japanese press prior to the event not necessarily for their athletic ability, but for their strategy. Unheard of to the Japanese racers, Hall and Dehlin tackled this endurance challenge by consuming peanut butter sandwiches for sustained energy.

The Hasegawa Cup sponsorship is part of Vasque’s ongoing market strategy in Pacific Rim countries. In addition to this race, Vasque was title sponsor with W.L. Gore & Associates in the following races in 2008: the China Trail Tour in Kunming, China, the China Trail Tour in Hangzhou, and the China Trail Tour in Shenzhen.

The Hasegawa Cup is held in Okutama, Tokyo. More information is available at www.hasetsune.com.

Vasque is also on the brink of launching the third year of its domestic event marketing initiative – the Vasque North American Trail Tour. The race series continues to expand brand exposure on a national level. For more information about Vasque products and event sponsorships, please visit www.vasque.com.

Mountain Hardwear, Montrail and friends are sponsoring two upcoming fundraisers to help cover the uninsured costs of Rowan Jimenez’s recent lung transplant, a valued employee at Mountain Hardwear and Montrail since 2001. In addition to being a rock star and musician, Rowan plays an integral role in the Warranty Department handling all international warranty claims, orders and situations.



Rowan was diagnosed in 2003 with Scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that began to manifest in his lungs in the Spring of 2007. In 2008, it became clear that a lung transplant would be inevitable. Rowan underwent the $800K procedure in September. After a very successful operation, he is now recovering nicely.

For more of his personal story, please visit his blog at: www.rowanjimenez.com.