Stearns Buys Hodgman

[Fish Bones]

Stearns Buys Hodgman

St. Cloud, MN. - Stearns® Inc., leading manufacturer of watersports and outdoor products, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Hodgman,® Inc. Founded in 1838, Hodgman® is the market leader in unique and innovative waders and wading accessories.

These products include the Guidelite®, Wadelite®, Lakestream®, Brighton®, and Caster™ series of breathable, neoprene, canvas and rubber waders, outerwear, wading boots, rubber knee boots, and accessories.

"For over 160 years, Hodgman® products have been a part of wonderful days on the water for anglers and hunters around the world, according to Paul Ebnet, President of Stearns. STEARNS is excited to continue Hodgman's tradition of offering innovative, high quality products."

In addition to Hodgman®, Stearns has added SOSPENDERS® Inflatable PFD company, and Innovative Products International (IPI) to its product lines during the past year. "We are looking forward to Hodgman products adding to our already increasing sales growth," commented Paul Ebnet.

Stearns Inc., is a K2 Inc. company, a premier, branded consumer products company with a portfolio of leading brands.

For more information, contact Mary Snyder, Stearns® Inc., at stearns@stearnsnet.com, visit our website at www.stearnsinc.com or phone 320-252-1642.

[BigCliff]

K2? never would have guessed that connection exists. (K2 makes skis and such) Wonder if they can come up with a version of the sospenders that would help somebody rise to the top of an avalanche?

Steve, any idea on whether stearns plans on continuing to marlet the Hodgman products as such, or if they get rid of that? I can see them maybe going to "Stearns Wadelite" as a brand name, maybe.

[Fish Bones]

Cliff:

There's no official word as to the long term plans that Stearns has for Hodgman. I think it would a huge mistake for them to eliminate the Hodgman name. Hodgman has been a big name and a well respect provider of quality fishing wear for many, many years.

[BigCliff]

Steve, I agree, I would consider Hodgman to be one of the top names in waders. I hope this won't be one of those cases of a big company buying a good small one and negating all the good things they've worked to create over the years. I supose it might allow the fly shops that have carried hodgman products for years an avenue to enter the boat-towed-leisure-product-market, but I hope they realize how seriously us Fly Folks take waders and realize they shouldn't abandon the brand equity they just inherited. (wow, hadn't thought of the term "brand-equity" since a professor gave me credit for knowing it)