Vasque announced the company’s domestic sales agency of the year and global distributor of the year on the eve of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance tradeshow in Knoxville, TN, this week.

Representing the Southeast, Outdoor Sports Marketing has been named Agency of the Year and Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co., representing China, was awarded Global Distributor of the Year. Both agencies were recognized and celebrated at the recent global sales meeting in Red Wing, MN.

“In a year with almost every Vasque sales agency posting record numbers, Vasque was once again placed in a difficult position of deciding upon an agency of year award recipient,” said Chris Miller, director of sales at Vasque. “OSM not only executes to the highest level in the Southeast but also serves as an example for my other agencies with best practices shared and lessons learned. I salute their high standards and their continual evolution of working to best meet and exceed the needs of Vasque customers.”

“The Outdoor Sports Marketing team is thrilled and humbled to be recognized by Vasque leadership and to have been singled out for this award, given the strengths of the other sales agencies that we are so fortunate to get to learn from each and every season,” said Rion Smith, co-founder and principal of OSM. “Vasque and Red Wing Shoe Company are clearly one of the founding brands of our industry and their values are perfectly aligned with our own.”

Addressing the global sales team, International Sale Manager Joel Lee said, “Jack and his team at Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co embody the Vasque ethos, demonstrating that by first taking care your brands, people and dealers, the business success will follow. He has a proven track record in a diverse and challenging market and we are honored to have him as a partner in China.”

“My team and I have proudly represented Vasque in China since 2005, and with great support from the brand, we have continuously developed hiking, backpacking and trail running in this young and dynamic outdoor market,” said Jack Lin, president of Himalaya Trading Co Ltd. “The entire Himalaya team is very excited to receive this award; we look forward to the further success.”