REI named Eagle’s Nest Outfitters Inc. (ENO) as its overall 2014 Vendor Partner of the Year at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, and honored Kühl, Thule and Osprey Packs as divisional winners.

The Vendor Partner of the Year awards program was established by REI in 1993. Each year,  the co-op’s three merchandising divisions – camp/travel, actionsports and outdoorwear – nominate vendors for their efforts to build a strategic and successful relationship focused on meeting member and customer needs, and to bring quality, innovation, outdoor stewardship and performance to the industry. REI retail employees vote on the slate of nominees.

“ENO redefined the hammock category and saw amazing growth in 2014,” says Susan Viscon, senior vice president REI Merchandising. “They are the consummate vendor partner. With their highly engaged, collaborative and strategic approach, they worked closely with REI to continue to deliver product and maintained above-market performance through the year.”

ENO, the brain child of brothers Peter and Paul Pinholster, was founded in the summer of 1999. Growing steadily from a two-man, one-van operation, to the leading provider of ingeniously crafted parachute hammocks and outdoor accessories, the company offers the highest quality relaxation products for adventure travellers and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.

The divisional vendor partner awards recipients are:

  • Camp/Travel division: Osprey Packs (Cortez, Colo.) Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, and still anchored by the design genius of company founder and owner, Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs has long set the standard for creating innovative, high quality gear carrying equipment. The collection includes packs and bags designed to help adventurers enjoy their outdoor, biking, active-everyday, and travel pursuits.
  • Actionsports division: Thule (Seymour, CT). The Thule brand was established in 1942. Under the motto “Bring your life,” Thule globally offers a wide range of premium products for active people that allow them to bring what they care most for safely, easily and in style. Thule offers among other things roof racks, bike carriers, roof boxes, computer/camera/sports bags and child related products like child bike seats and multifunctional strollers. The products are sold in more than 136 countries worldwide.
  • Outdoorwear division: Kühl (Salt Lake City)  Born in the Mountains®, Kühl is a product driven company combining exclusive fabrics and 3D engineering for timeless style and comfort. For independent, free thinking, Rebels, Renegades and Outlaws.

Past recipients of the REI Vendor Partner of the Year Awards include Atlas Snowshoe (1999), Black Diamond Equipment (1994, 2006), Bell Sports (1997), Brooks (2012), CamelBak Products, LLC (2008), Cascade Designs (2001), Columbia Sportswear (1998), Eagle Creek (2000, 2005), Keen Footwear (2004), Kühl (2013), Osprey (2007), prAna (2003), Smith Optics (2002, 2009), Vasque (1995, 1996), Vibram (2010, 2011) and Yakima (1993).

Based in Seattle, REI is national multichannel retail co-op with annual sales of about $2 billion. The company sells products from more than 1,300 vendors via 138 stores in 33 states and REI.com and REI.com/outlet.