ENDoutdoor Expands U.S. Sales Organization

Outside Gear and Footwear Experts Drive National Distribution.

Salem-News.com Business Report

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - ENDoutdoor, a new sustainability company focused on designing outside gear, started by award-winning footwear designer Andrew Estey and business partner Ben Finklea, today announced key additions to their U.S. operations and sales team. Each new sales person hails from the outdoor wear industry and brings expert knowledge to help build the END brand.

Donald McLellan, former footwear, climbing and camping buyer for San Diego-based retailer Adventure 16, joins ENDoutdoor as director of operations and logistics and will be based at END's Portland, Ore. headquarters. Several key sales agencies have agreed to represent ENDoutdoor to the U.S. retail market. These include:

-- Andy Russell and Dana Caraway, covering Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada

-- Granite Marketing, led by Steve Copeland will cover Colorado, Utah, Wyoming & New Mexico

-- Ames Adventure Outfitters, led by Brian Block, Sunday Park and Vanessa Hohn, covers the mid-west region including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Michigan

-- Kurt Smith, covers the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia

Additional expansion of the U.S. sales team is planned prior to Outdoor Retailer, January 22-26 in Salt Lake City, where ENDoutdoor will introduce its Fall 2008 lineup of sustainable, high performance trail training footwear.

Internationally, ENDoutdoor partnered with In-Sport of Montreal as its Canadian distribution partner. "In-Sport Fashions in Canada has searched the market for two years looking for an innovative technical footwear brand. ENDoutdoor is that brand. They are creating a new category and we are excited to be a part of the brand launch," said Dana Nelson, president of In-Sport Fashions.

"This strategic partnership will make sure we are seen by the world class outdoor retailers of Canada," said Co-Founder and Director of Sales, Ben Finklea. Additional expansion is planned for Australia and New Zealand for Fall 2008 and then into Japan and Europe in Spring 2009.

"From day one, we knew we wanted to create a culture, not just another outdoor gear company," Finklea said. "It is no accident that early retailer feedback has confirmed that we are not only pioneering with new product, but also a new way of thinking. We have selected a dynamic group of sales professionals who understand this philosophy and who themselves feel it is an important part of the brand. This group positions us to make exceptional in roads in season one."

Founded on a design philosophy that abandons the group-think that athletes want more technology, ENDoutdoor will in season one reduce components, materials and manufacturing waste up to 59 percent when compared to other trail running footwear.

About ENDoutdoor

Founded in 2007, ENDoutdoor is an outside gear company building a new culture -- not another corporation -- though an evolutionary design approach. Founded by award-winning shoe designer Andrew Estey and business partner Ben Finklea, ENDoutdoor questions every component of design to minimize the environmental footprint of its products. For more information about ENDoutdoor, visit the Web site at: endoutdoor.com/.

Source: ENDoutdoor