3point5.com CEO Robins: Power Player to watch in 2009
While there’s no single secret ingredient to the online training company’s success, 3point5.com CEO Duncan Robins is a good place to start.
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT–(Feb. 3, 2009) – 3point5.com recently successfully re-launched the innovative BroForm.com Web site, pushed aggressively into the Hunt/Fish market, inked deals to train thousands of employees working for major retailers like Cabela’s and rocketed past the 100,000 user mark in the process.
That’s an impressive track record in any environment, but against the backdrop of the current challenging business environment, it’s especially noteworthy. While there’s no single secret ingredient to the online training company’s success, 3point5.com CEO Duncan Robins – recognized as one of 15 power players the industry will be talking about in 2009 by SNEWS Winter Outdoor magazine (click here to read) – is a good place to start.
Robins, former CEO of Yakima Products and a former vice president of the Hockey, Football and Sports Medical Division at Easton Sports, was hired as CEO of 3point5.com in March of 2007. He has overseen a period of significant growth as the company penetrated the Outdoor, Snowsports, Bike, Action Sports, Footwear and Hunt/Fish markets.
Using fast-paced, interactive Web sites, 3point5.com trains retail salespeople how to sell a range of products, from running shoes to sleeping bags to hunting rifles to surfboards. The company also handles employee purchases and uses BroForm.com – a California Web site purchased and recently re-launched by 3point5.com – to connect sales influencers and manufacturers via deep product discounts.
“When I was approached to represent 3point5.com as CEO, I quickly recognized the strong potential for growth,” Robins said. “Our company was designed to fulfill several previously unmet needs in the sporting goods and retail apparel industries, and I felt my previous experience put me in position to lead that charge.”
Over the course of a career that included significant stints with various outdoor industry companies, the former financial analyst led successful turnarounds of California Tan and Advanced Career Solutions, a career-management and e-learning firm.
A 1988 graduate of Harvard College, Robins earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of business, where he co-captained the rugby team. He is the inventor of dishwasher-safe hydration systems and LED technologies, the author of two books and captained kayaking teams to the World, Pan-American and National Championships.
“Duncan is not only a veteran of the sporting goods industry, but his prior experience in corporate finance and consulting gives him a deep understanding of what it takes to develop a strong company structure and build shareholder value,” said Scott Petty, a 3point5.com board member and partner with vSpring Capital. “We felt he was the perfect fit when we hired him and he has surpassed our expectations.”
About 3point5.com
3point5.com is an online campus that represents over 122,000 registered pros and sales professionals, 115 manufacturers and over 14,000 retailers in an increasing number of industries, including Outdoor, Snow, Bike, Action Sports, Golf, Tennis and Hunt/Fish. 3point5.com offers a fun and secure place for retail sales professionals to train, access information and interact within their industry.
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