Northwest River Supplies(NRS), a leading supplier of equipment and apparel for water recreation, safety and rescue, has announced a strategic partnership with kayak manufacturer Pyranha to combine sales and marketing efforts in Europe.
“We’ve always shared strong brand alignment and a close working relationship with Pyranha and the Pyranha team. With this partnership, we are formalizing that relationship to improve efficiencies and serve our retailers throughout Europe,” says Terry Feigenbutz, NRS Director of International Sales.
Under the framework, NRS’s European sales, marketing and customer service operations will move to Pyranha headquarters in Runcorn, United Kingdom. This will allow US-based NRS to provide timelier service to European customers. The two brands will combine forces out of the newly expanded Runcorn facility. They will team up on dealer visits, field events and marketing initiatives to support their respective retail and centre networks.
“Pyranha and NRS have been innovators leading the way for paddlesports since both their beginnings in the early 1970s,” adds Graham Mackereth, Managing Director of Pyranha. “This partnership will allow both companies to move to new heights in Europe to enable better support for customers.”
There will be no ownership changes for either company. Customer accounts and financial transactions will remain separate for the respective brands.
David Bain, who previously served as NRS European Sales and Marketing Agent, will move to a new role as Commercial Director at Pyranha, while also managing European sales, marketing and customer service efforts for NRS.
“Joining NRS and Pyranha at the age of 16 as an ambassador, it has been a privilege to work with both brands, paddling with their equipment for the last 15 years,” says Bain. “Having the opportunity to help build the future of these two companies is a dream come true for me.”
NRS plans to transition to the Pyranha facility over winter and be fully operational by spring of 2024.
About NRS
100% employee-owned, NRS is the world’s leading supplier of equipment and apparel for water recreation, safety and rescue. Founded in 1972 with a vision to create a better kind of company, NRS is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of its customers, employees and community. For more information on NRS, visit nrs.com, email the company at service@nrs.com or call 877.677.4327.
About About Pyranha
Pyranha has led the paddle sports industry in kayak design and construction since its origins within the slalom world in 1971. Fast forward 50 years, and Pyranha continues to have the same commitment to innovation and quality that founded the business. Along with its P&H and Venture brands, Pyranha manufactures leading kayaks for Whitewater, Sea, Recreational and Slalom, providing kayakers all over the world with the boats they need to maximise their on water paddling experiences.