New Outdoor Retailer Exhibitors: Ecōths, Hot Logic and Ciao Baby Chair

Throughout the next month, SNEWS will recap its coverage of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013 with select stories from the O.R. Daily we published at the show July 31 – Aug. 3. It’s an opportunity for you to catch up on stories you might have missed in O.R.D., and for us to update and upload the articles to our searchable archives.

About 250 brands were new to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013. We take a look at a couple that caught our eye at the show.

>> Ecōths / www.ecoths.com / John Kirsch, president / Sparks, Nev.

John Kirsch on Ecōths: “Ecōths pronounced ‘ecos’ is a men’s lifestyle brand based on the concept of uniting eco-friendly fabrics with style, comfort and personality while giving back to help create a better place to live. Ecōths combines urban fashion elements with rugged outdoor influence. A brand that unites product, community and goodness. A brand with a true soul. As part of our Good Samaritan program, Ecōths will be supporting local food banks around the country. For every Ecōths garment purchased in the United States, three meals will be provided to someone in need through their local food bank. Ecōths mission is simple — bring together the triple bottom line of people, planet and product.”

Why is it important for your company to be exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer? 
Ecōths is an authentic outdoor lifestyle brand with eco roots planted back in 2002 when we were one of 16 founding members of the Organic Exchange. Outdoor retailers resonate with brands that are committed to lowering environmental impact while improving social wellness.

Tell us about your brands and products.
Ecōths brand utilizes 100 percent eco-friendly textiles – low-impact, organic, sustainable and/or recycled content. The launch season contains predominately organic cotton woven yarn-dye shirts, knit tops and shorts.

What were you doing before this? 
Ecōths is a new men’s only brand launched by the women’s-only brand Aventura, owned and operated by the second-generation Kirsch family for more than 48 years.

Where did your inspiration come from? 
Ecōths was inspired as the male counterpart to the Aventura women’s only brand. Aventura was launched at Outdoor Retailer for the Spring 2006 season. In the eight years since then, we have had a many requests from retailers for a men’s offering.

What’s the one best feature of your product? 
Impeccable design and attention to trim detail.

What has been your biggest challenge? 
Keeping the line tight; men don’t need a huge selection. This launch offers only 18 styles.

Who do you look up to in the industry? 
Patagonia, without question.

Who do you want to compete against in the industry?
Ecōths is uniquely positioned with its own niche — that eco-friendly, urban/rugged, target 35-plus-year-old male customer who is looking for a relaxed fit.

>> Hot Logic / www.hotlogicmini.com / Denise Chase, COO / Grand Haven, Mich. 

Denise Chase on Hot Logic: “Since 2008, the Hot Logic team has been developing unique meal heating solutions that are designed to enhance the hot meal experience and allow the user to save time and money, eat healthier and generally live better.”

Tell us about your company and its products.
Hot Logic products are fully automatic ovens allowing users to cook their meals to perfection while they go about their busy day. They are the ultimate slow cooker. The oven utilizes a unique, patent-pending conduction heating process that gradually heats meals in a fashion that preserves moisture and enhances the flavors, resulting in better tasting meals. Users simply place their frozen meals, leftovers or made-from-scratch cuisine in the Hot Logic (www.Hot-Logic.com), and then go about their day. Meals are heated to a perfect serving temperature in 45-90 minutes and are then held at a pathogenic safe temperature until the user is ready to eat. Hot Logic is a product of the Haven Innovation family. We produce several models of Hot Logic, from the Hot Logic Mini (www.hotlogicmini.com), a personal portable oven, to the larger four- and eight-shelf units. We also offer a commercial line of products using the same technology for business and industry. Those models are available in 10- and 24-shelf options.

Where did your inspiration come from? 
Our president, Don Wisner, has always been an entrepreneur. His forward-thinking nature has lent itself well to all of his business endeavors. His solutions are inspired by his desire to help solve the everyday problems people face. Sometimes they are problems they don’t even realize they have until a solution presents itself — like waiting in line for the microwave at lunchtime, wanting to continue on a specialized diet while they are out camping or when you’re out on the road on your way to hiking a mountain but want to have a delicious hot meal. The Hot Logic line of products takes care of those issues. Don’s passion is finding remedies for everyday hassles.

What’s the one best feature of your product?
One of the most attractive things about our products is their versatility. Our Hot Logic line of products are ideal for many different segments of the population including, business executives, the elderly, those on restricted diets, recent graduates, busy families and those who are interested in following a diet that requires more mindful eating.

What has been your biggest challenge? 
Our biggest challenge is convincing people that, “Yes, cooking and heating your food really can be that easy,” when you use a Hot Logic product.

Who do you look up to in the industry? 
We look up to businesses that truly strive to invent products that genuinely improve the quality of life for others.

Who do you want to compete against in the industry?
We are the first company to produce a product like this, so we are really in a league of our own. But this doesn’t make us lazy. Our competition is internal. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the product — to make it better or produce it more efficiently.

>> Jamberlay Group’s Ciao! Baby Chair / www.theportablehighchair.com /  Jamye Baker, principal / Louisville, Ky. 

Jamye Baker on Jamberlay Group and its Ciao! Baby Chair: “Jamberly Group consists of two partners Kim Strong and myself. We developed, designed and patented a unique children’s product: the Ciao! Baby Chair, a portable high chair. It is a one-of-a-kind high chair that folds and stores like a camp chair. It has an attached tray and requires no assembly. Ciao! Baby Chair was first launched in April of 2012 and has been a huge hit in the market. It is an awesome product for families that enjoy the outdoors and that are on the go.”

Tell us about your brands and products. 
Ciao! Baby is our brand. It is available in many colors including licensed Mossy Oak. We also have rights to 45 NCAA college brand logos to customize chairs.

What were you, as the founder of the company, doing before this?
Both Kim and I were sales and marketing directors for a wall covering company and have worked in the home décor industry for over 20 years.

Where did your inspiration come from?
The inspiration came from need. When our children were small something as simple as dinner at grandma’s house was difficult without a high chair. The idea for the portable high chair was born from the folding camping chair.

What’s the one best feature of your product?
Its lightweight and portable design. It weighs about eight pounds, requires no assembly and comes in a carry bag with a shoulder strap.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Having a new product and spreading the word to the right market.

Who do you look up to in the industry?
Dorel and Graco are big names in the children’s furniture market, but we have a very unique product that isn’t available anywhere else.

Who do you want to compete against in the industry?
We are just learning about the outdoor industry and hope to gain a lot of new insight at this show.