Blurr names ROI Recreation Outfitters as distributor

Blurr, a Canadian manufacturer of climbing and athletic-adventure apparel that first introduced itself to the U.S. market in August 2002, has named ROI Recreation Outfitters as the company’s exclusive distributor in the United States and, eventually, Europe.

As part of the partnership agreement, the successful Canadian footwear line, E3 Footgear, will be launched into the United States this summer as Blurr Footwear. Jayson Faulkner, ROI’s vice president of marketing, told SNEWS that the footwear will draw heavily from the younger and more progressive design influences of the Blurr apparel.

By teaming up with ROI, the two companies have created a reunion of sorts. Cheryl Knopp, vice president of design until 2000 for Arc’Teryx and the one who helped launch the company into outerwear, Larry Reid, the senior hardgoods designer (read packs) for Arc’Teryx until 2000, and Faulkner, vice president of sales and marketing for Arc’Teryx until 2002, are now working together again.

Faulkner told SNEWS that the company is currently seeking reps for the following territories: Southwest, Southeast and the Central United States. Once the company successfully positions Blurr in the United States, ROI plans to expand distribution of the product line to Europe by exhibiting at ispo in 2004.