Watermark made their pending move from Arcata, CA to Portland, OR official, shifting all corporate headquarters functions and the Landsports division north in early 2005, while leaving call center, credit collections, accounts receivable, IT, and HR functions in Arcata, CA.

“Last year, we established an ambitious vision and growth plan for the company,” said Jim Clark, CEO of WaterMark, in a release. “During the planning process, it became clear that we needed to relocate some of our operations in order to attract the top talent that is essential to meet our goals. We came to this conclusion after much soul-searching. While Arcata is a beautiful place that has enabled us to live and work close to the outdoor recreation opportunities we all love, there have been a number of key positions that have gone unfilled because of our remote location.”

In a phone interview shortly after the company made the official announcement, Clark told BOSS that Watermark’s plan has a “double-digit” sales growth target through a combination of organic growth, line extensions and acquisitions. Clark sees opportunity for growth across all watermark segments, domestically and internationally, but the most potential is in the Landsports division. Currently the company sells product in North America, Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Clark feels there is equal opportunity for growth in all regions.

The move to Portland will give Watermark access to a larger pool of talent, but more important to Clark was the fact that the city matched the culture of Watermark, with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.

“Portland is a major transportation hub, offers access to outdoor recreation, and has a larger, more diverse labor pool,” he said. “In addition, Portland is an excellent fit for our corporate culture. Lastly, the city is home to some of the most respected companies in the outdoor industry.”

The move will begin in the first quarter of next year, and once complete Watermark will have 65 employees in Arcata, 70 in Portland, 300 at the company’s watersports offices and manufacturing facility in Easley, SC, and 300 at their manufacturing plant in Tijuana, Mexico. The move will eliminate 10 to 15 jobs.