Inside the Biz

Our stores. What they do well, where we see room for improvement.

Retail stores. What they do well. Plus news from our brands.

Prana S20 End of Season Sale

July 13, 2020 by admin

Retailers, starting July 23, take advantage of the Prana End of Season Sale!

50% off all non-carryover styles
(also excluded are the 4/15 and 6/1 apparel and swim deliveries)

The fine print:

Sale is on all non-carryover styles only (also excluded are the 4/15 and 6/1 apparel and swim deliveries)
Order must be placed on dealer.prana.com
Valid for US and Canada.
Cannot be applied to existing open orders.
All orders must ship ASAP.
Offer applies to specified Spring 20 product only – spreadsheet available via this Dropbox link
Discount will be applied to price.
Discounted pricing will be maintained through end of 2020.

Specialty Retail SS20 prAna Orders on Hold

March 18, 2020 by admin

Yes, we hear you and we are all in the same boat. PrAna is going to hold all SS20 orders for specialty dealers from 3/17 until 4/20. If you want the orders to ship just let us know and we can make this happen.

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, and the influx of requests to hold, push, and cancel orders prAna would like to be proactive and make sure they receive approval before shipping. This will hopefully reduce costs of cancelling orders already in process at the warehouse and returns and refusals. Please note these orders will not ship without approval from us or the Buyer of the specialty retail store.

This is only for specialty orders. All major dealer orders will ship as planned unless directed otherwise.

We will all get through this together. Please stay safe!

xoxo,
Suzi, Erin and Kate
The Curtis Group Sales

The Story of Kari Traa, the Brand

February 29, 2020 by admin

How did Norwegian Olympic mogul skier, Kari Traa, go from skiing bumps to running an international business that has been going strong for 18 years? Read on this article from Gear Junkie to find out!

https://gearjunkie.com/kari-traa-ski-womens-girls-apparel-brand

Buff Brand Products at the New England Boat Show

February 9, 2020 by admin

This weekend, Erin is representing Buff Brand Products in the Goose Hummock booth at the New England Boat Show.

Erin may not know the difference between a shark and a trout but she can sell the shit out of a Buff!

Buff makes multifunctional headwear for all types of outdoor activities including fishing, to protect you from insects and sun.

Many products are UPF 50+, made for marine environments, and made from recycled bottles! Not to mention, they come in great fishing related designs – whether it be salt or freshwater fishing you are into.

There is a Buff Brand Product for every activity and store. For more information, please get in touch!

Haul Over Newburyport Holiday 2019

December 9, 2019 by admin

Celebrate Yourself with Kari Traa

August 25, 2017

Kari Traa Celebrate Yourself

Today, women are bombarded with messages about unrealistic standards of beauty. They are exposed to an extreme amount of pressure to fulfill and maintain standards of beauty, which are set forth by the media, brands and influencers. The quest for perfection has backfired. It does not contribute positively to women’s lives.

Right now, more than 8 out of 10 Nordic women feel uncomfortable with their own body. The majority find themselves doubting their own potential and worth because they can’t live up to an unattainable beauty ideal. This has a negative impact on the lives of many women and in the worst scenarios: exercise turns into an obsession, enjoying food becomes impossible, and choosing the right outfit is a nightmare. The reality is that women come in many shapes and sizes – and that’s a relief. The world would be so boring if we all looked alike.

At Kari Tara, we believe that daring to stand out from the crowd and being our own colorful self is the way forward. We want women to liberate themselves from unreasonable expectations to beauty, exercise and appearance. Because no matter the size of your thighs or the width of your waist, the distance you run or your diet, we believe that you are best fit to pursue your goals and live your life. Celebrate your own goals and what you accomplish. Celebrate your friends and family. Celebrate your body. Celebrate your mind. Celebrate YOURSELF.

Buff Hires Marketing and PR Firm Traditions Media

June 26, 2017

Original Multifunctional Headwear Brand Adds Reinforcements

Buff, Inc. Taps Traditions Media for Media Communications Role

Santa Rosa, California (June 20, 2017) – For over a quarter century, BUFF® has been an integral element of America’s outdoors tradition; so, it seems perfectly fitting that the company’s U.S. subsidiary, has retained Traditions Media for marketing and public relations services.

Billing itself as “The Anti-Agency Agency,” the Minneapolis-based outfit specializes in progressive public relations, media buying, media communications and social media for the outdoor industry. Led by seasoned marketer, Noel Vick, Traditions roots its reputation in a well-documented track record of power-branding and influencer marketing strategies designed to move the needle.

“The team of communications specialists at Traditions Media brings not only an energy and enthusiasm befitting the BUFF® image, but also the proven skills and experience to advance our message of superior design and acute attention to the needs of outdoor sports enthusiasts,” said Shirley Brunetti, Vice President and General Manager of Buff, Inc. “We’re particularly pleased that Traditions Media works closely with the fishing, hunting and paddle sports communities — all activities with clear applications for many BUFF® products.”

Having invented the tubular headwear category 25 years ago, BUFF® now offers a versatile lineup of performance headwear, as well as arm and hand protection serving anglers, hunters, kayakers, cyclists, runners, campers and anyone pursuing their outdoor passion.

With a nod to Traditions Media’s tenured presence in the outdoors industry and its zeal for creative storytelling, Brunetti describes this as a good fit for the company committed to making sure that comfort comes with stylish flair.

“From our original multifunctional headwear and headbands to our gloves and UV arm sleeves, BUFF® continues to optimize the outdoors experience,” Brunetti said. “We are confident that Traditions Media brings the expertise to help us promote the BUFF® brand in a diverse array of activities.”

Noting his whole-hearted agreement, Vick adds this: “If it weren’t for sunburn, bug bites and chilly winds, the great outdoors would be absolutely perfect. But thanks to BUFF®, those concerns are minimized so the fun can be maximized.

“This is really a great story that anyone who enjoys being outside needs to hear. It’s our job to tell that story and, you know what, we’re super excited to tell it, because this team of anglers, paddlers, bikers and hunters at Traditions Media would gladly trade fresh air for AC any day — we just don’t want to do it without our BUFF®!”

ABOUT BUFF®
Founded in 1991, BUFF® is the original multifunctional headwear brand, having premiered and innovated the tubular headwear category. Partnering with superior manufacturers of raw materials and incorporating state-of-the-art fabric technologies such as COOLMAX®, Polygeine®, Polartec® and 100 percent Merino wool, BUFF® has built a world-renowned lifestyle brand recognized by athletes and outdoor enthusiasts for its quality, craftsmanship, and customizable design and style options. BUFF® models are sold in more than 70 countries across the globe and top outdoor sporting retailers across the U.S. Original Buff is headquartered in Spain and its subsidiary, Buff, Inc, is located in Santa Rosa, Ca

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Noel Vick
Traditions Media
[email protected]
612-708-7339

Dena Vick
Traditions Media
[email protected]
501-749-4575

Pistil Spring 18 at EORA June 2017

May 15, 2017

pistil dealers can see the Pistil Spring 18 line at the EORA show in Manchester, NH June 20-22, 2017.

Come see the new Pistil Spring 18 line
at the EORA show in Manchester, NH

June 20 – 22, 2017

Why Organic Cotton Matters

January 6, 2017

Organic cotton is something that Prana does not take for granted. 84% of the cotton they use in their product line is organic. When a consumer buys organic cotton they are saying they want to make the world a better place because they care about the farmers and the communities in which that cotton was grown in.

Hemp Matters

December 6, 2016

Hemp is a medicine, a source of food, and a sustainable crop that can be used to create soft, vibrant clothing. It has a short life cycle, is anti-microbial, and thermo-conductive. Find out what all of this means for the apparel industry, the environment, and you.

The Not Impossible Mission of the Conscious Consumer

November 22, 2016

Are you a part of the conscious consumer movement?

It’s about trying to live a healthy, inspired lifestyle. Pursuing your passions. It’s about trying to make a difference. Learn more about Prana’s sustainability mission and the simple choices you can make to effect change in the fashion and textile industry.

Kari Traa 2016 Collection

September 17, 2016

For Nuns and Knockouts

The designs in the Kari Traa 2016 collection are bright and fun. What started out as a small selection of feminine headwear has grown into a complete and extensive brand for women. With unmistakable designs and a strong color palette the collection stands out from the crowd.

Kari Traa 2016 base layers

Dare to play

The Kari Traa 2016 collection is designed to fit the female body, but still meet the rigorous demands of an active, sporty and adventurous lifestyle. The line features base layers, fleece, workout wear, lifestyle apparel, sports underwear and accessories.

The Kari Traa 2016 collection includes workout wear for women.

About the brand

The Kari Traa brand started as a hobby for champion freestyle skier Kari Traa knitting beanies in between training and competing and customizing her own ski wear. It has turned into the fastest growing sports brand in Europe. Available internationally since 2006 and in the US since 2015, the brand has grown consistently year over year.

Pistil Fall 2016 Collection

August 25, 2016

Playful Yet Refined

The Pistil fall 2016 collection includes brand new styles and updated favorites. They have updated colors on their best selling headbands like the Petra and the Ginger. These cozy cold weather headbands are perfect for women who want winter weather warmth without a full hat. Teal, Marine, Poppy and Orchid are new colors for the Pistil fall 2016 collection that coordinate perfectly with outerwear styles for the season.

Woman with hat, scarf, hand wear and bag from the Pistil fall 2106 collection.

Lifestyle bags

Pistil Designs has expanded their lifestyle bag collection for fall 2016. New to the line is the Bust a Move bag. It’s the ideal get-away bag. Perfect for a day trip or a weekend adventure. They’ve also got some great native American blanket inspired designs Sahara and Poncho that look great on the Finders Keepers backpack. Practical, functional and fun, the bags in the Pistil fall 2016 collection have a simple, relaxed aesthetic that fits right in with the trademark Pistil sense of style.

Handwear

Wristlets are one of the fastest growing segments of the Pistil fall 2016 line. They are a great way to keep your hands warm, but still be able to use your smart phone. Plus they are super cute too! New for Pistil fall 2016 is the Mindee Wristlet in black, teal and fuchsia. Their best selling Anika Wristlet gets updated colors of marine and jade.

The London fedora from the Pistil fall 2016 collection looks great on. — Pistil London fedora

Fedoras and wide brims

Their curated collection of fedoras and wide brim hats is all about grace, fun and style. Rich colors perfectly suit the season while felted wool keeps you toasty and warm. Their best selling fedora, Soho, meets you at the intersection of bohemian and classic. All of the women’s fedoras in the Pistil fall 2016 collection have a true mountain aesthetic and are right at home among the falling snow and aspen trees near your favorite ski slope.

The Pistil fall 2016 line includes some great pieces for men too.

Pistil for men

Don’t forget Pistil Designs makes great knit beanies, belts, caps, handler, neckwear and slouch hast for men too. A new cap for fall 2016 that is sure to be a hit is Detour. It’s a mid-volume ball cap made out of cotton canvas that is sure to be a hit for apres-ski.

Bronwen Jewelry 2016

August 20, 2016

Active Jewelry

Bronwen Jewelry makes active jewelry. Jewelry that speaks to busy, confident women with an active lifestyle. It is for women who need their jewelry to keep up with both their workouts and their life. Women with a keen eye for style and a need for function. It’s for climbers and runners and yogis and surfers and skiers and busy moms on the go. Bronwen feels that you should be able to pursue the sports you love while still being feminine in jewelry that will stand up to rocks, water, sand and sweat.

Active jewelry from Bronwen for 2016

Inspired by a bohemian approach to life, Bronwen collections are sturdy yet sexy. Simple, yet sophisticated. Delicate yet powerful. Just like the women who wear it.

The company conveys a simplistic beauty with a lot of soul. — Kim Havell, Professional freestyle skier

Bronwen makes bracelets, charms, necklaces, rings, anklets and earrings. They use nylon, leather, glass beads, wood beads, ribbons, shells, nuts, semi-precious stones and gold and silver in their designs. They have partnered with Carve Designs for a special collection of swim bracelets that turns leftover swim fabric scraps into beautiful, 100% recycled, fully adjustable, water friendly bracelets.

Active jewelry for women who are interested in fashion and function.

All Brownwen Jewelry is hand crafted in their studio in downtown Bend, Oregon and has a lifetime warranty.

Prana Summer 2016

August 5, 2016

Thoughtfully Designed

The prAna summer 2016 collection does not disappoint. With the prAna summer 2016 collection, prAna has created versatile, stylish and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear everyday during every adventure and every activity all summer long.

Lightweight, stylish, sustainable

Prana uses sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester and hemp in their summer line to create clothing and accessories that are lightweight, stylish and sustainable. Their summer board shorts for men are are all-purpose performers designed to work in the water and on land.

Prana summer 2016 apparel is thoughtfully designed.

Styles designed to let you move

With versatile styles created for every activity in the water and out, prAna has a something for everyone. Swimwear, dresses, shorts, tops, jeans, pants, cover ups and accessories for women. Board shorts, pants, shirts, and accessories for men. PrAna apparel is more than just stylish – it’s style that performs. They use echnical fabrics designed to keep you cool and comfortable on even the hottest of days. There is a versatile style available from prAna for every activity you do.

Must have for men

A must have from the prAna summer 2016 line is the mens’ Brion short and pant and Stretch Zion short and pant. All are made from the Stretch Zion fabric, which is lightweight, durable and breathable. It is a unique stretch fabric that is wrinkle resistant, quick drying and DWR coated to repel water and spills. Consequently these pants and shorts are perfect for travel or just wearing around town.

Go to for women

There is so much good stuff in the prAna summer 2016 line for women it’s hard to pick just one to talk about. The Cali Dress reflects the effortless style of California beach wear. It’s stylish scoop neck and supportive racerback highlight the versatility of this dress. The empire seam and dropped hem look great on everyone. The lightweight and stretchy recycled polyester/spandex blend is stretchy and quick drying enough for all your adventures. This dress is perfect to throw on at the beach or wear out on at hot summer’s eve.

The prana summer 2016 line inspires healthy, active and inspired living.

The mission of prAna is to inspire healthy, active and free-spirited living. PrAna apparel reflects who you are, how you feel and what you value the most. It is thoughtfully designed with you in mind.

Prana: Clothes with a Conscience

July 17, 2016

Prana makes the beautiful and functional products we love. And they produce them in a way we can all feel good about. By using sustainable and socially responsible materials and partnering with companies and factories that adhere to strict guidelines for safety and efficacy, they are able to minimize the impact their fabric production has on the world. Sustainable clothing production is an important part of the brand.

Prana uses socially responsible materials and methods to manufacture their sustainable clothing.

Prana is part of the sustainable clothing movement

They seek out materials from sustainable sources. Treat their people fairly and improve the industry with the processes they use. Here’s a little more information about the materials they use for their sustainable clothing:

Organic Cotton – prAna uses organic cotton. Conventionally grown cotton is loaded with insecticides and pesticides. Approximately 25% of the insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides used in the world are used in conventional cotton farming. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the rate of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third party organizations verify that organic producers use on methods and materials allowed in organic production. Meaning no toxic and persistent pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and no genetically engineered seeds are used.

Recycled Wool – The wool used by prAna comes from old garments and the cuttings from new garments. The process to recycle wool has a much lower impact on the environment than creating new wool. It also removes waste from the world that might otherwise go to a landfill. After being sorted, cleaned, and reduced down to fiber in a facility, prAna’s recycled wool is spun into yarn and knitted into new, warm and snuggly pieces.

Hemp – Because growing hemp is illegal in the US, the hemp prAna uses comes from industrial hemp plants grown in China. While not certified organic, it is grown as organically as possible. Because of the hardiness of the hemp plant, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are required to grow it. This makes it safer for the farmers to grow and safe for the land it is grown on. In fact, this drought resistant plant does wonders for the soil it’s grown in. In addition, farmers who grow hemp are able to plant food crops in the same fields immediately after hemp harvest. This is not possible with a lot of other crops.

Recycled Polyester – Recycled polyester is a better alternative than manufacturing virgin polyester material because it relies on recycled materials, which mean you don’t have to factor in all the toxins and energy used in manufacturing plastic in the first place. Recycled polyester primarily comes from post consumer plastic, aka PET. Meaning water bottles and soda bottles. But it can also comes from pre-consumer waste as well. Recycling means less energy used. So less Greenhouse Gas emission. Less water used. All around better for the environment.

Repurposed Down – PrAna values ethical, sustainable manufacturing processes. They are committed to supporting these values throughout the entire supply chain. As of Fall 2016 they are working with Responsible Down Standard to certify that all down used in prAna products is 100% Responsible Down. Ini order for down to be certified as Responsible Down it must be certified that there was no live plucking, no force feeding, and lifelong humane treatment of the waterfowl. This is traced through the entire production process right up to final shipment. The entire supply chain is audited by a 3rd party certification body. Only products with 100% Responsible Down carry the RDS Certified logo.

All of these materials meet the highest quality standards and produce a fabulous end product. Try out some of the sustainable clothing from prAna for yourself and see!