Buzz Building at JO Watercraft as Spring Consumer Shows Approach
Old Town, Maine (March 5, 2014)
Winter’s icy grip may have a hold on much
of the country, but things are heating up at the Johnson Outdoors
Watercraft facility in Old Town, Maine. With the 2014 consumer
paddlesports shows on the horizon a palpable buzz is building around the
direction of the brand portfolio, the new Pro Staff and Adventure Team
and the state of the paddling industry as a whole.
Home to some of the most storied names in
paddlesports, including Old Town Canoes & Kayaks, Ocean Kayak,
Necky Kayaks, Carlisle Paddles and Extrasport PFDs, the Johnson Outdoors
Watercraft brands share centuries of experience, a proven track record
of innovation and above all a passion for adventure and exploration. New
products, as always, are at the center of the excitement as the brands’
set course for the year with a host of product introductions.
Ocean Kayak’s newest innovation, the
Prowler Big Game II, is currently landing at retail, while Old Town will
continue to build on the success of its Predator line with a top-secret
model this summer. Necky will add an exciting new carbon fiber and wood
kayak to its popular Eliza series, along with two updated Rip Series
kayaks featuring drop skegs that were developed in response to consumer
demand.
“Our 2014 line up is arguably our
strongest offering to date and we’re getting ready for a big year,”
states Luke LaBree, marketing and communications manager for Johnson
Outdoors Watercraft. “Its been a harsh cold winter but the up side to
the heavy snows that much of the country has seen will be a great spring
run off and ample water to enjoy throughout the season.”
Numerous factors are contributing to the
excitement at Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, not the least of which is the
fact that the leadership team under Bill Kelly, VP – Outdoor Gear and
Watercraft now has a full year of working together under their
collective belt. Industry veterans Tim Magoon, Bill McDonough, David
Hadden, Luke LaBree and Paul Johnson are driving the Manufacturing,
R&D, brand marketing, communication and sales teams respectively,
and in concert, to craft a unified platform on which retail partners can
sell and one that helps the brand’s consumer base fully understand and
appreciate what separates Johnson Outdoors Watercraft from the
competition.
Also central to the buzz is the now fully
complete transformation and consolidation of the Johnson Outdoors
Watercraft headquarters in Maine. Home to Old Town Canoe since 1898, the
facility has undergone an extensive remodel to now house all Watercraft
brands. The campus includes R&D, sales and marketing offices,
customer service teams and warehousing, and features eight state of the
art roto-molding ovens capable of producing up to 200,000 new boats a
year. Combined with the facilities’ unparalleled testing lab and quality
control center, the new state of the art factory is poised to help
propel the brands forward for generations to come.
Consumers can get a first look at the
2014 Johnson Outdoors Watercraft brand offerings at some of the
industry’s hallmark spring events, Canoecopia March 7 – 9, Jersey
Paddler’s Paddlesports show, March 28 – 30 and the Kittery Trading Post
Paddlesports show, March 28 – 30.
Open to the public, each show will
provide a chance to preview new product, speak with brand
representatives, attend a myriad of clinics and presentations and simply
help shake off the winter to get ready for spring.
For more information on the Johnson Outdoor Watercraft brands please visit the following websites:
Necky Kayaks Ocean Kayak Old Town Canoes & Kayaks
Carlisle Paddles Extrasport PFD
For more information on Canoecopia, Jersey Paddler and the Kittery Trading Post New England Paddlesports show please visit:
www.canoecopia.com
www.jerseypaddler.com
www.ktpevents.com
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global
outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with
innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and
markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four
categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Gear.
Johnson Outdoors' familiar brands include, among others: Old Town®
canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™ and Necky® kayaks; Carlisle® paddles;
Extrasport® personal flotation devices; Minn Kota® motors; Cannon®
downriggers; Humminbird® marine electronics; LakeMaster® electronic
charts; SCUBAPRO® and SUBGEAR® dive equipment; Silva® compasses;
Jetboil® outdoor cooking systems; and Eureka!® camping and hiking
equipment.
Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com
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