Summit Sales NW 2017 Top 10 Highlights
2017 was a busy and fun year. It was our first full year of increased marketing efforts, continued expert sales service and the opportunity to bring some amazing products to market from our vendors. As we start to hone in our plans for 2018 leading up to the trade shows, its also important to take a look back and see what we have done. Here's a quick list of our top 10 favorite moments of the year.
1. We added new brands to the portfolio!
The brands we choose to work with are largely based off the people, followed by a close second of the product. Grip6 and Perfect Storm are perfect examples of getting to work with the best people with the complementary product to back it up. The last addition for 2017 includes a new climbing and lifestyle apparel brand Chillaz. A shout out goes out to the The Landmark Project as a late 2016 addition (be on the lookout for some awesome prints for 2018). A huge thanks also goes out to the rest of our vendors that we are lucky enough to work with.
2. Gear Awards
There are too many to mention all of them but a couple highlights from the year.
2017 Gear of the Year award with the new Aether 70 AG and Ariel 65 AG packs
3. Team Outings
Work hard, play hard right? The reason we work in the outdoors industry is to work with like minded people and for opportunities to play outside. Here's a little image recap of some of our team meetings. You can also see the full Tooth and Index Climbing day posts.
4. Spring Osprey Event Series
One of our goals for 2017 was to help drive new customers to our retail partners. So we put together a "How to Pack your Backpack" event series. You can see the full recap here.
5. Bend Beer Chase
The goofiness and enthusiasm of these runners was pretty impressive. Plus what's not to like about finishing your exercise with a cold IPA? Full Recap here. Oh, and we also partied with Bigfoot this summer..
6. Fall G3 and SCARPA Event Series
After the success of our spring series we wanted to replicate a similar educational experience for people. We had the opportunity to partner with 10 retailers to conduct a "Gear Essentials for Backcountry Skiing" clinic. We had great participation and were able to help raise some money for some local non profits. See the full recap here.
7. Red Rock Rendezvous
One of our favorite events to work is the Red Rock Rendezvous put on by the folks at Mountain Gear. It usually indicates the start of the climbing season and the stoke is high. We were on hand to support Osprey, Cascade Designs and SCARPA (and managed to squeeze day of climbing in on Dark Shadows too). Here is an image recap of the event. You can see all images here.
8. International Travel
This year involved a few international trips. Justin and Kris had the chance to make their way to Vietnam for the Spring 2018 sales meeting with Osprey. We have always heard how impressive the facility is there but to see it in its entirety provides a whole new appreciation for the product you see on retail floor. Similarly, Rob had the chance to check out the SCARPA factory in Italy. You can see his image recap here
9. Athlete Visits
We were lucky enough to have a few SCARPA athletes make their way through our territory. Joe Grant joined Seven Hills for a run up at Snoqualmie (recap here). We also had Sean McColl come and party with us for the SBP Anniversary Party (recap here). To chat with these athletes is always pretty inspirational and we wish them the best of luck heading into the 2018 season!
10. New Tradeshow Packing & Setup Records
This might seem like the most trivial of everything listed here but its really a culmination of some of the things that make Summit Sales a special agency. From the team collaboration prior to the show to hone in our sales presentations to our willingness and ability to work together as a team to pack up the truck and getting things setup. It's no easy feat to get a full box truck packed up in 30 minutes with all the great new product that we get to talk about. #dialed
No doubt 2017 was a big year but we already have some plans on the docket to make 2018 even better. See everyone in the New Year!