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Rep Life OUTSIDE The These are the road warriors who bring us the brands
GO HERE By David Sword
David Sword
By David Sword submitted
Getting started “I was the son of a ski shop manager, and always lived within close proximity of a ski hill,”’ says Barry Galvin, a 26-year veteran for brands including Volkl, Dalbello and POC. “I skied all day, every day. I was THAT kid. I absolutely hated being inside the lodge.” His love of skiing took him to racing, eventually earning a coveted spot on the U.S. Ski Team from ‘84 to ‘90. The hard-working Galvin has learned a thing or two about being successful in the business. “My mentor has only given me a few solid rules. One: Do whatever you can to help solve a retailer’s problem. Two: Don’t lie,” he says. “I probably lost some sales over the years for that one,” he muses. “I want to give my retailers the best possible advantage at being successful for the brands they have invested in.” Knowing the product and believing in it are also key. “The most productive method of selling a brand or product is by delivering the customer
Courtesy Dirty Freehub
Abby Seymour paired her passions with a career in the outdoor industry.
a game-changing experience. The first time I rode a 29-inch mountain bike, for example, I was hooked. I could never go back (to the 26-inch wheel size).” Pursue your passions Abby Seymour feels fortunate to have grown with brands that parallel her passions. “When I first decided that I wanted a career in the outdoor industry, I was skiing, biking, climbing and was dedicated to my yoga practice,” she says. “The brands I partnered with reflected those passions. I was relatable, I could help buyers really zero in on product specific to their customer base,” she says. Seymour and her husband, Thomas, currently represent Prana, Dynafit, RAB and Picky Bars. “With a growing passion for water sports, I started to grow our surf/swim brands and focus on the everyday lifestyle consumer as well,” says Seymour. “In turning my passions into my day job while living in Bend, I feel enormously lucky,” she says. Now a veteran in the business, Seymour is able to help change the direction of the industry. submitted
Barry Galvin skied his way into his career.
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“As a female and a mother to a daughter, I find it important to bring awareness around the gender gap that exists in our industry, other representatives and product availability,” she says. For years, and still present today, I purchase gear and clothing that is specifically designed for the male frame. When I look around, I see just as many women committed to the outdoors as I do men, especially here in Bend. We’re seeing brands take small steps in thoughtful designs, color and fit offering, and products reps like me, who are on the front lines, make it our job to communicate the lack of offerings, so it becomes a focus,” she says. Work hard. Really hard. Many people in the industry get their start as an associate or technical rep. As an employee for a sales group, reps like Nick Whitman often work the longest hours, see the most retailers, and drive the most miles. As a tech rep for products including Niche Snowboards and Eddyline Kayaks, Whitman is on the road year-round. “Last year I basically circumnavigated the U.S.,” he says. Whitman maintains a bright and fun attitude despite the workload. “It’s hard to believe I started as a parttime employee at a skate/snow/climbing shop 15 years ago,” he says. Having worked on the retail end of the industry as well has served Whitman well. The most important lessons he has learned include patience, preparation, follow-up and persistence. It’s not all work, however. “I get plenty of opportunities to snowboard and paddle with friends, family and retailers,” says Whitman. And, as one might suspect, rep life keeps these road warriors in the hottest gear, while setting the trends, 365 days a year.
A furry gravel ride: The Alpaca Loop By David Sword
As the interest in gravel riding continues to grow at a feverish pace, people are mapping out more and more routes. Apps including Strava and Map My Ride allow people to develop and share routes with others, thus increasing the exposure. One such ride, ridden for year by locals, and recently penned by the gravel crazed folks at Dirty Freehub, is called The Alpaca Loop—a gravel bike route that should be on your list. For those familiar with routes such as Twin Bridges or Lower Bridge, you’ll see the Alpaca Loop shares some of those pathways. Starting in Tumalo, or in Bend, the Alpaca rolls through 45 miles of tarmac and gravel of various “smoothness.” Rated by Dirty Freehub as a “moderate” ride, only one roughand-tumble section of moon rocks puts the route into that classification. Like most bike rides in Central Oregon, the climbing is rolling, with a punchy hill or two to keep you honest. You’ll cycle past sweeping views of the Cascades, various public lands and farmlands, and ranches that are home for hundreds of the route’s namesakes: the alpaca. Raised by the Incas over 6,000 years ago for their soft and manageable fur, the alpaca is a distant cousin of the camel. For this ride, bring water, a camera, and be ready to smile and sweat. Best ridden in fall, winter and spring, get on the Alpaca before the moon dust settles in. For complete route description, search on Map My Ride GPS, or Dirty Freehub. Dirty Freehub dirtyfreehub.com
Map My Ride
mapmyride.com
VOLUME 23 ISSUE 20 / MAY 16, 2019 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY
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rom skiing to biking to climbing, Central Oregon attracts outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Many people work hard during the week to get out and about on the weekends—but a small cadre of committed enthusiasts make their lives and careers out of the industries that support the lifestyle. Being a product rep for a ski, surf, bike or climbing brand might look fun and glamorous—but being successful takes an enormous amount of work and insight. From extended road trips covering three to five states, to sales meetings and countless hours on the computer and phone, being an outdoor industry sales rep is a challenging, yet rewarding career path. We chatted with some locally based reps about why they do what they do.