Kokatat extends 2014 American Made Outdoor Gear Awards entry deadline through today
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ARCATA, CALIFORNIA, November 11, 2013 – Kokatat, the paddlesports apparel and gear company known worldwide for its longstanding commitment to American manufacturing, has extended the deadline for applications for the 2014 American Made Outdoor Gear Awards through the end of day today, Monday, November 11.
“We received a large number of entries late last week and we wanted to give anyone else who was considering entering, but hadn’t a final chance to do,” said Jeff Turner, Kokatat sales and design manager. “We have currently over eighty entries and know there are many more companies out there with amazing domestic manufacturing stories to tell.”
Targeted to the outdoor industry, the second annual American Made Outdoor Gear Awards is open to all companies with a solid commitment to American manufacturing and sourcing and have a compelling story to tell.
The company with the best “made in America” story receives one-year ownership of the ‘Sassy’ travelling trophy — a hand carved, 3-foot-tall, redwood Sasquatch from Humboldt County, CA. Runners up receive miniature versions of the award and all entrants will receive a certificate of participation.
This year Kokatat recognized overall winner Liberty Bottleworks (www.libertybottleworks.com) of Yakima, WA, and four category winners at an awards presentation during the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. Category winners included; Cilo Gear (www.cilogear.com) of Portland, OR for companies with less than 10 employees; Branches LLC (www.bendingbranches.com) of Osceola, WI for companies with 10 to 50 employees; Stormy Kromer (www.stormykromer.com) of Ironwood, MI for companies with 50-100 employees; and Jackson Kayak (www.jacksonkayak.com) of Sparta, TN for companies with 100+ employees.
In 1971 Kokatat began making paddlesports gear in Arcata, CA. Its founder and president, Steve O’Meara, recognized from the start that keeping production local was necessary in order to control quality and continually develop the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world.
Applications for the Sassy award may be completed online at http://www.Kokatat.com/sassy. Applications must be received by November 11, 2013.
Winners will be announced on Friday, November 29, 2013, and an official “Sassy” presentation will be made at the 2014 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, UT.
For additional information on the American Made Outdoor Gear Awards visit http://www.Kokatat.com/sassy.
About Kokatat Inc.:
Kokatat has been manufacturing paddling gear in Arcata, California for more than 40 years. At a time when many technical apparel brands were moving manufacturing offshore, Kokatat continued to invest in infrastructure in the United States. Kokatat founder Steve O’Meara was committed to the development of the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world and recognized the need to control and continually evolve the development of our dry wear. In the early days, Kokatat worked closely with W.L. Gore & Associates, makers of GORE-TEX®, to refine the sewing and sealing techniques required for full immersion suits and tops. Today, our hands-on approach to manufacturing continues to set the standard in paddling apparel. Into the water with Kokatat! Please visit www.kokatat.com and follow Kokatat on Facebook and Twitter “@kokatat”.
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