Bill Chandler has joined the team at Sherpa Adventure Gear as its new sales director for North America. Chandler, who has 30 years in the outdoor industry, is already on the job in the newly created role. Chandler will be responsible for directing all sales strategies and expanding the dealer network for Sherpa Adventure Gear in the United States and Canada.
Chandler sees the relatively untapped potential of Sherpa Adventure Gear as an opportunity to help build and offer a focused and fresh brand that will appeal to independent outdoor retailers. Im devoted to specialty retail, said Chandler. Its how I got my start, and Sherpa Adventure Gear can become strong in this arena. Its an enticing new challenge for me, but its one that I understand well.
Taking on the lead sales role for Sherpa also gives Chandler the chance to work with a company that has strong tradition of social responsibility. Sherpa Adventure Gears purpose-at the outset of the companys founding in 2003 by Tashi Sherpa-is to give back to the Sherpa people as well as to provide valuable jobs in Nepal, where it makes most of its apparel. The company employs several hundred people in Nepal, and directly funds the education of Sherpa children through the 501(c)(3) organization it founded in 2012, called the Paldorje Education Fund. The company sets aside a portion of every sale towards this organization.
Chandler began his extensive career on the sales floor with mid-Atlantic retailer Hudson Trail Outfitters, and ultimately established his own independent sales agency, called Nomad, Inc., which served the Southeast United States until 2012. Under his stewardship, the agency represented many brands including Mountain Hardwear, Montrail, Darn Tough Vermont, Gregory, and Katadyn. Nomad repeatedly and consistently ranked first among sales agencies for growing sales of the companies they represented. Their long tenure-for example, over 20 years representing Montrail and nearly two decades with Mountain Hardwear-demonstrates the important contribution Chandler and the Nomad team made to the growth of these companies.
Chandlers experience-beyond fostering extensive retail relationships in specialty markets including outdoor, running, clothiers and military-includes developing strategic growth and product plans in close alliance with company managers. Chandler also has been involved in building customized marketing campaigns for key retailers to support sales growth and brand recognition.
Bill is easily in the top echelon of sales leaders in the outdoor industry, said Tashi Sherpa. He brings the knowledge and wisdom of how to build a loyal following for outdoor brands, and he has extraordinary respect from retailers and peers in the business. We are pleased to have already welcomed Bill to the Sherpa Adventure Gear family in both Nepal and U.S. headquarters.
Chandler is operating from Knoxville, Tennessee.
