Business news : Switzerland, Outdoor Research combines with Fritschi

Reichenbach: The American specialist in outdoor clothing (Seattle) with a European office in Winterthur just handed the Swiss ski binding provider from Reichenbach distribution in Switzerland.

The cooperation is as follows: consulting, sales support and customer service for outdoor clothing, gloves, headgear, boots, packing systems and emergency and Biwacksäcke run over the Fritschi AG Swiss Bindings. Logistics and marketing are controlled by the European Office of Outdoor Research itself. From the previous distributor Flagrant Sports Trading (Glattbrugg), the U.S. provider has disconnected.

The support of the Swiss retail trade takes over the Fritschi field service team to Thierry Clerc (45 East), Marc Bongard (36 West) and Oliver Feuz (39, key accounts).

About Outdoor Research

In 1980, Ron Gregg, a physicist and dedicated mountaineer, found himself on Alaska's Denali in a perilous situation. His climbing partner had suffered extreme frostbite due in part to poorly designed gaiters. Snow had been pushed between gaiter and boot, worsening an already nasty situation. After his friend was airlifted to safety and the expedition over, Ron reacted by searching for a solution to keep this situation from happening in the future. The result was a functional, insulated gaiter, the X-Gaiter™, which held snug and was versatile enough to fit a variety of boots. From this original inspiration and its resultant innovation, Outdoor Research was born the following year.

"The result was a functional, insulated gaiter, the X-Gaiter™..."

On March 17, 2003 the unthinkable rocked OR. While skiing the backcountry of British Columbia, Canada, Ron and a friend were caught and killed in an avalanche.After several months of assessment, Ron's heirs made the difficult decision to sell Outdoor Research and it is here that the next phase of OR's history begins.

In 2005, OR became the North American distributor for Exped, an innovative Swiss company with many "new classics" in its line. DownMats™, the Wallcreeper sleeping bag, and exoskeleton tents each represent innovative and functional improvements in their respective categories and compliment the OR product line.

The renaissance continues and function remains at the core of the brand. OR products remain Designed By Adventure®.
 
About Fritschi

Safety and reliability are the top priority in the mountains. We contribute our know-how and experience to provide these factors. Quality and innovation are our personal goals. The products comply with DIN ISO norms and are checked and certified by the Technical Standards Board (TÜV), which also certifies our manufacturing processes.

Fritschi AG Swiss Bindings is located in Reichenbach im Kandertal, Switzerland. A dedicated staff of 45 develops and produces high quality bindings for those taking ski tours and freeriders. The high-tech products are sold under the brand Diamir – Fritschi Swiss via our own distribution and service network.