Astral added Bluewater Trading to handle growing sales efforts in the Midwest, one of Astral’s largest territories.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, and led by company President Chris Bindert, Bluewater Trading has over two decades of experience working in the Midwest region for outdoor brands, including Bending Branches/Aquabound, Gregory Mountain Products, Scarpa, High Sierra, and Nikwax. Bluewater Trading has also worked with watersports brands, which will benefit Astral’s growing personal flotation device (PFD) and footwear businesses in the Midwest.
Bluewater Trading covers Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“We’ve spent a great deal of time getting to know the team at Bluewater Trading and were so impressed with how directly they reflected the core values that we hold at Astral,” said Bryan Owen, sales manager at Astral. “We are very deliberate in pursuing sales reps with personal interest and passion for the paddlesports and outdoor industries. Bluewater’s team–Chris, Rob and Tyler have dedicated their lives to being a part of our industry and going above and beyond to engage with the paddlesports community on personal and professional levels.”
The team at Bluewater Trading comprises industry professionals with a passion for the outdoors. Chris Bindert is responsible for most key account business. Bindert took his first Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) canoe trip as a teenager and is an avid paddler, fisherman and boater. Rob Bossen has over a decade of experience in the outdoor agency industry, with a focus on specialty retailers. Bossen serves on the board of the newly founded Paddlesports Trade Coalition and is a lifelong paddler passionate about the watersports industry. Tyler Henk is Bluewater’s road rep, responsible for servicing dealers and retailers.
“Astral is one of the most respected brands in the outdoor space, with a strong focus on serving their customers with high-quality products and excellent service. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with them in the Midwest,” said Bindert.
Image courtesy Astral
