Hokksund, Norway - Bergans of Norway announced the best third quarter in the history of the 106-year-old outdoor clothing and equipment brand. Worldwide sales increased 16 percent for the first 10 months of this year. The company credits its successful growth due to 30 percent of its sales taking place outside of Norway.
North American subsidiary, Bergans USA, sees 55 percent sales growth for the 10-month period
With respect to the North American market, Bergans USA announced gross sales grew by 55 percent for the first 10 months of this year. Based in Longmont, CO, the company projects 2014 year-end sales will be up about 170 percent since the wholly owned subsidiary was established in 2011, an average growth of 57 percent per year. The number of retailers carrying Bergans products will have grown by 75 percent during the same period.
Previous to 2011, Bergans of Norway offered its products to retailers through a North American distributor. Bergans USA contributes the brand’s sales and retailer growth to bolstering its product line by expanding its backpack equipment and clothing line, adding its European hunting line to the mix, and broadening its resort and backcountry ski clothing line.
“As one of the premier brands with Scandinavian heritage, it’s great to see the growing acceptance of Bergans of Norway in North America,” said Keith Patterson, Bergans USA’s vice president of sales and marketing. “With our technical features and modern, fashion forward designs, we are glad to see the market responding to the line and are excited to be part of the success of the brand internationally.”
Bergans and its products have a longstanding reputation with history-making expeditions and adventurers such as first conqueror of the South Pole, Roald Amundsen who traveled with Bergans equipment; Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary who used the Bergans carrying frame for transporting oxygen bottles; Cecilie Skog, the first woman in the world to both successfully top the “The Seven Summits”, “The Three Poles”, and to cross Antarctica unassisted and unsupported; and Ryan Waters, the first American to complete an unsupported explorers grand slam (reaching the North Pole, the South Pole and climbing all Seven Summits).
Other modern day Bergans athletes include polar explorer John Huston, jibber and X Games Freeride competitor Anders Backe, and 2013 Freeride World Qualifier Tour winner Lorraine Huber.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association