REI names Thule its 2011 Action Sports Vendor of the Year
REI honored Thule at the Outdoor Retailer trade show, recognizing product quality, retailer support, customer service, sustainability and partnership.
Thule, the best-known brand in Thule Group’s equipment-transport business, received REI’s 2011 Action Sports Vendor of the Year award and was named among its top three vendors overall. Thule had supplied the US sports and outdoor retail market for more than 30 years.
“REI’s recognition shows that we are thinking and acting in the right way when it comes to sports and outdoor retailers in the US, the world’s largest market for this industry,” said Magnus Welander, president and CEO of Thule Group. “It confirms that our work to become more active and visible in outdoor recreation and action sports is paying off. We are also pursuing that work in Europe through new product launches and retail concepts.”
The awards were presented at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City, as reported in the January 2012 announcement.
Selection was based on five criteria:
- Product quality, innovation and durability.
- Sales and marketing support for retailers.
- High-quality customer support across all channels.
- Active participation in sustainability issues and collaborations.
- Exceptional commitment to building partnerships.
Other Action Sports nominees were The North Face for clothing and bags, Rossignol for alpine equipment, CamelBak for bags and hydration equipment, and Raleigh for racing and training bicycles.
