Atlas, Tubbs, and Little Bear snowshoes are moving their production to China. K2 Inc., which acquired the brands in October, made the decision to close a plant in Grand Junction, CO and shift production to its own 1.3 million sq. ft. facility in Guangzhou, China.

K2 currently sources and produces a number of other sporting goods products including both K2 and Ride skis and snowboards.

Distribution of snowshoes for the western half of the U.S. will be consolidated in its distribution facility near Seattle, WA. This move does not affect the eastern distribution facility, which will remain in Vermont. K2 will continue to domestically manufacture snowshoes in the U.S. at the company’s facility in Stowe VT, where most of the Tubbs brand’s products are produced.

This is no surprise to the folks at WinterQuest – the former parent company of Tubbs, Atlas and Little Bear. Sports Executive Weekly’s sister publication, The B.O.S.S. Report reported (BOSS_0343) that Ed Kiniry, former CEO of WinterQuest, saw “the $100 price point forcing production to move to the Far East.” Kiniry also placed a premium on production flexibility, saying that between 30-40% of WinterQuest’s orders were at-once.

The fact that K2 owns their production facilities – and is not outsourcing – allows the company to cut costs and maintain flexibility.


>>> We suspect there should be a, “to be continued…” at the end of this one…

Editor’s Note — Look for next week’s issue when SEW goes “One-on-One” with K2’s chairman and CEO, Dick Heckman.