Columbia Sportswear Company Continues to Combat Counterfeiting
Columbia Sportswear Company [COLM], announced today a significant counterfeit seizure that underscores the Company's continued commitment to pursue counterfeiters.
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PORTLAND, Ore., — Columbia Sportswear Company [COLM], announced today a significant counterfeit seizure that underscores the Company’s continued commitment to pursue counterfeiters. With the help of customs officials around the world, Columbia, a global leader in the active outdoor apparel and footwear industries, has increased the seizure of counterfeit goods nearly ten-fold since 2003.
Recently, customs authorities in Greece notified Columbia that they had stopped a container of counterfeit footwear, resulting in a seizure of 19,200 pairs of counterfeit Columbia shoes. The shoes had been manufactured in China and were en route to an importer based in Greece. In accordance with the sanctions allowed by Greek law, the shoes will be destroyed.
“The assistance of customs officials around the world has been instrumental in identifying counterfeit shipments as they cross borders,” said Tim Boyle, President and CEO of Columbia Sportswear Company. “We are especially grateful to the Piraeus customs office in Greece, for their assistance in this significant seizure. We will not tolerate the effects of counterfeiting on our brand and the quality and performance related problems that these products present to the unsuspecting consumer.”
In recent years, Columbia has made tremendous progress in its anti-counterfeiting efforts. The cooperation of customs officials and the coordination of efforts with distributors around the world has helped to make this progress possible.
About Columbia Sportswear Company:
Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturers in the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. The Company manages a portfolio of outdoor brands including Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel, Montrail and Pacific Trail. To learn more about Columbia, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.columbia.com/.
