Montrail net sales are expected to double this year

Montrail, a Seattle-based outdoor footwear manufacturer, announced that year-to-date sales through September 30th are 27 percent higher than last year, and net income is expected to be double what it was in 2001.

Menno van Wyk told SNEWS® that despite the economy, Montrail is having its best sales year ever. He attributes the success to a number of factors including better brand recognition than in years past, finally reaping the rewards of all the company’s grass-roots marketing efforts over the last several years, and product that retailers are giving more shelf space to.

The company’s core strength remains in hiking footwear, accounting for nearly 44 percent of footwear pairs sold by the company this year. In trail running, where the brand is recognized as a category leader, sales account for 40 percent of the overall number of pairs sold. The remaining pairs sold break down as 15 percent for multisport footwear and 1 percent for mountaineering.

Montrail’s best-selling boot is the Torre GTX, which accounts for just over 20 percent of the hiking sales by the company.

SNEWS® View: SNEWS® has learned that Montrail’s women’s boots are currently top sellers for some very major retail accounts — Montrail would not confirm or deny when asked — and in some cases the women’s line is not only the best-selling hiking boot, but the best-selling women’s shoe period! Buyers have told us that this is due in large part to Montrail now offering widths in the women’s Torre. Looking back at published numbers from last year, Montrail’s growth puts it on track to leave the single digits in overall sales and perhaps crack into the $10 million to $12 million range — heady growth indeed, but well deserved.