SSL Announces Inaugural Supplier Of The Year Recipients

Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL), the leading marketing, purchasing, and merchandising group in the specialty ski, snowboard, outdoor lifestyle, and casual furniture industries, recently announced the recipients of its inaugural ‘Supplier of the Year’ awards

Outdoor Gear Inc. earned Supplier of the Year for softgoods, and the Tecnica Group, which includes Blizzard, Nordica and Tecnica brands, received the award for hardgoods. The awards were presented during the opening meeting of SSL’s Winter Sports specialty buying group show that immediately preceded Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show last month in Denver, Colorado.

During the award ceremony, SSL Committee Chair Kelli Pilla of the Ski Haus in Salem, New Hampshire, and Cathy Walker, softgoods merchandise manager for SSL, both presented the softgoods award to Adam Garry, president of Outdoor Gear.

Garry commented, “It is an honor to be recognized by SSL and their premier specialty retailers. We are committed to supporting their success in the industry and sincerely value our relationships with the SSL retailers.”

Sam Cook, president of Blizzard and Tecnica, accepted the hardgoods award on behalf of the Tecnica Group from SSL Chair Parker Rice of Equipe Sports of Rawsonville, Vermont, Vice-chair Michael Strachan of Cole Sports of Park City, Utah, and SSL’s Hardgoods Merchandise Manager, Tyler Lockard.

“We are honored and thrilled to have received SSL’s first ever Supplier of the Year award. We are committed to be the most trusted and reliable partner to the specialty ski retail community and this recognition by the SSL membership is a wonderful affirmation that we are on the right track,” said Cook.

The Supplier of the Year awards program was developed to recognize partner companies and their best-in-class efforts in developing products, marketing strategies, and customer services programs to help specialty retailers to continue to be successful in an increasingly complicated and competitive marketplace.

“Consumer shopping practices have changed and continue to change, and suppliers are pursuing omni-channel competitive approaches to reach their consumers,” said Dave Nacke, president of SSL. “Now more than ever, is the right time to recognize suppliers who go out of their way to support specialty retail. The ones who talk, listen, identify ways to help, and actually execute on their ideas. Specialty retail remains the best option to have the optimum consumer experience.”

Outdoor Gear was recognized for its focus on value in providing outdoor clothing products for families, especially those with young children, making it easier for them to get outdoors and becoming lifelong participants in outdoor and winter activities.

The Tecnica Group was singled out for exceptional customer service using digital tools such as FaceTime for warranty claim resolution, and providing brick-and-mortar specialty retailers with tools such as Promoboxx and Locally.com to successfully market themselves to online shoppers.

SSL is owned and directed by specialty sports retailers, and currently represents 59 retailers with more than 155 outlets in 26 states.

Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL) is a collection of the best specialty snowsports retailers in the U.S. Since 1971, SSL has been the leading marketing, merchandising and purchasing organization in the specialty ski, snowboard, outdoor, and casual furniture industries. SSL currently has 59 retail managements with over 155 outlets in 26 states. 

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