Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd., the parent company of Rab USA, has acquired Integral Designs, the 24-year-old Canada-based brand known for high-end tents, bivys, apparel and other outdoor equipment for self-propelled adventurers.
Equip Outdoor said the move creates synergy with the Rab brand in North America through its complementary product line of technical outdoor apparel and sleeping bags. It also provides an opportunity for Integral Designs niche outdoor products to become more widely available through Equip’s worldwide distribution network, said Matt Gowar, the CEO of Equip, and Evan Jones, President of Integral Designs. As well, the brands will realize efficiencies employing Rab’s customer service and distribution center in Louisville, Colorado.
“Equip and Rab are deeply committed to the North American market, and we believe this move underscores our intentions to build a strong foundation and continue to evolve and grow in the North American marketplace,” Gowar said. “We believe Integral Designs complements the Equip brand portfolio nicely, and it meshes perfectly with our goal of realizing longer-term growth while keeping our brands focused on their core constituencies.”
Integral Designs remains an independent brand under Equip ownership.
“This is an exciting deal because it’s a strategic alliance that links the solid reputation that Integral Designs has built over the decades with Equip and Rab’s ability to communicate and sell products on a larger scale,” Jones said.
Sales support, warehousing, marketing direction and other administrative functions relating to Integral Designs will be transferred to Louisville, Colo., over coming weeks, while the Calgary-based plant will continue to manufacture Integral Designs products until mid-2011. Product deliveries to dealers will continue as scheduled.
Jones and the current team of Integral Designs employees will continue to own and operate the Calgary-based manufacturing center where they will continue to manufacture specialized non-consumer products for government and institutional accounts under the Integral Tactical brand.
