Blog – Frankly Fendler

Perhaps like you, we are passionate about public relations – the latest trends and techniques along with the future of the industry.  We consistently attend conferences, seminars and forums to keep us up to date in this ever-changing and evolving field. 
 Along the way, we have meet some amazing speakers and presenters who are true thought [...]

While we liked to see what the “big guys” had in mind for 2011, there was lots to see off the main show floor too.  Here are a few of the unique and interesting products that caught our eye.
BugBand – These cool little wristbands are infused with oils from geraniums and totally deet-free. The portable [...]

Having recently finished reading Different by Harvard Business School Professor, Youngme Moon, it got me thinking about which brands in the active lifestyle market truly stand out from the competitive blur. 
In her book, Moon discusses that the more brands try to differentiate themselves from the competition, the more they become the same.  Moon reveals several [...]

Companies can work very hard to kick, shout, push and tug in order to get let into the minds of the media and consumers. Sometimes it’s enough, but often its not. Why struggle ?

It has been far too long since we’ve posted on our blog as we have been a bit busy redesigning our website. We hope you take a look around.  There are a still tweaks to be made, but we believe that it more accurately reflects who Fendler Communications is and the kind of work that we [...]

http://practicaltravelgear.com/
By Tim Leffell
What would a company known for orthotic insoles do with a pair of flip-flops? Spenco took a shot at it and completely redesigned the experience. You won’t confuse these with beach flip-flops from Wal-mart, so Spenco won’t even use that term. These are “PolySorb Total Support Sandals.”
It’s not just semantics though. Your feet [...]

Spenco Medical Corporation announced the launch of a bold new look for its performance insoles packaging and supporting merchandising materials

Over the past 12 years we’ve helped position PrimaLoft as a premium consumer brand of insulation  used in sleeping bags, gloves, outerwear and winter sports apparel and fill used in luxury bedding.  Our successful consumer-level public relations program for this business-to-business textile supplier highlights our creativity and broad capabilities to generate a long-term stream of [...]

Tim King Joins Fendler Communications
Fendler Communications, a leading public relations and marketing communications firm for the outdoor recreation, apparel, home and textile markets, announced that Tim King has joined the agency as a senior public relations counselor.

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Spenco Fancy Green Earthbound Mar 2010

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Spenco in Women’s Running April 2010

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Woolpower Wend Magazine 3-13-10

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How public relations counselors get a seat in the C-Suite.

PDF Spenco Footwear News Oct 2009
Spenco Medical Corp is supporting green initiatives with the Spenco Earthbound, a replacement insole made from 55 percent recycled materials.

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PDF Spenco Earthbound Backpacker Nov 2009
Gear Spotlight: Spenco Earthbound Insoles

Spenco’s first try at green is supportive and 55% recycled/renewable
Designed for hiking, walking, running and other sports where shock absorption and arch and heel support are key, Spenco’s Earthbound delivers.

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PDF PrimaLoft Real Simple Feb 2010
Road Test: Comforters
Best Nondown Synthetic: Garnet Hill PrimaLoft
The space-age hypoallergenic filling is airy, breathable, and light and it doesn’t bunch up the way down can. It also dries much faster after laundering. Medium warmth. Machine wash. To buy: ($228 full/queen) garnethill.com

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PDF PrimaLoft SKI Mag Nov 2009

Stuff We Like: Patagonia’s Nano pullover
Jacket-of-All-Trades

We love puffy jackets. We just wish they didn’t make us feel so, well, puffy. Therein lies the brilliance of Patagonia’s new barely there Nano pullover ($150). Three ounces lighter than Patagonia’s Down Sweater—a SKI staff favorite we were sure would never be unseated—the Nano’s [...]

Stop by the PrimaLoft Booth at OR Winter Market (#39043) & learn more about PrimaLoft Yarn Technology.
PLUS register for a chance to win a pair of socks made from PrimaLoft !

http://orw.goexposoftware.com/2010/goExpo/floorPlan/viewFloorPlan.php?ei=610&zb=39043

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Blend in with the extremely experienced Scandinavians @ OR Winter Market 2010 in Salt Lake City

“Beard Yourself” (see link below) and come on over for a beer!
The Scandinavian Village Bar will be open daily serving free coffee all day & microbrews in the afternoon from 4 – 7 p.m.
Don’t miss the Party / Scandinavian Get-together [...]

PrimaLoft® – The Luxury Down Alternative® and DOWNLITE®, America’s premiere manufacturer of luxury bedding, have joined forces to launch Support Your Dreams, a campaign designed to support women and children making the transition into a new life away from the fear of domestic abuse.
Through the Support Your Dreams campaign, PrimaLoft and DOWNLITE will partner [...]

On August 1-3, 2009, over 1,100 elite racers from all over the world will gather in Grande Cache, Alberta, Canada to cheat death in one of the world’s toughest adventure races – The North Face Canadian Death Race.   In support of its long-standing partner and its effort to get closer to consumers, PrimaLoft® – Insulation [...]

While we are big fans of getting our news across electronically, there is nothing like getting face time with the media.
We recently held our annual PrimaLoft NYC media event – and while in the past attendance has been a bit off due to layoffs, fear of leaving one’s desk, or just being too plain busy [...]

In it’s effort to better educate retailers and consumers about PrimaLoft® products, PrimaLoft®, a division of Albany International Corp., has signed on to be the technical insulation and sleeping bag sponsor of Backpacker Magazine’s 2009 Get Out More Tour.

Full Story: PrimaLoft® Products and Backpacker Get Out More Tour (PDF)

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Another season of season of hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and all of the many outdoor activities we look forward to,is on our doorstep! As we prepare to enjoy our summer outdoors, it seems appropriate and timely that we introduce you to Donn Fendler.
In addition to being the uncle of our founding partner Nancy Fendler he [...]

As outdoor enthusiasts we are welcoming Spring with open arms!  One of the things that makes Spring such a special season is that it serves as our bridge from Winter to Summer.   As we travel across this bridge we are busy making plans to once again pursue our favorite outdoor activities and perhaps considering a [...]

Years ago when I was urged to get my APR (Accredited in Public Relations) designation, I always had a number of excuses as to why I wasn’t interested.  It wasn’t until I got a strong kick in the pants from our SAGE, Dick Truitt that made me reconsider. Two years ago, I attended an APR [...]

Isn’t it wonderful when you find an article that is truly thought-provoking and motivating? I finally got around to reading a piece published in The McKinsey Quarterly that my partner gave me a few months ago – Centered leadership: How talented women thrive (funny how one reads things when the time is right).
The article explains [...]

While we all love winter (why else would we live in Maine?), longer days and warmer temperatures tempt us  to hang up our skis and pull out the boats.

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Our marketing communications agency is privileged to work with clients in the outdoor industry.  Stepping outside our office for some fresh air after a recent snow storm, we’re quickly reminded why we love our area of expertise.

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Fendler Communications has worked with media for many years.  We’ve witnessed the rise of the internet, wireless, and social media, and we know media relations will continue to evolve alongside new communications technologies.  That’s why we constantly knock our heads together to discover what works and what doesn’t.  A recent survey of our team members [...]

Lights.  Camera.  Action!  
Alex Connelley, general manager for Inno Advanced Car Racks, masterfully ad libbed several product demonstration videos at a recent trade show.  The footage is available for viewing at www.innoracks.com, including an overview of Inno’s innovative cable-locking kayak carrier (click here to watch).

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Full story: PrimaLoft introduces two new yarns (PDF)

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PrimaLoft donated jackets to nonprofit Maine’s WinterKids programs to keep its volunteers warm and dry while introducing children across Maine to outdoor activities. 

Full Story:  PrimaLoft donates jackets to WinterKids (PDF)

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After-hours socializing with clients, media, and other industry members is a critical duty during a busy week at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City.  Sometimes this involves meeting at a coffee shop or a nice meal downtown.  Or, or as Brock demonstrates, it might involve a Lebanese belly dancer and a room full of Scandinavians. [...]

Fendler enjoyed working with the Scandinavian Outdoor Group at the 2009 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market last week.  
The first-ever Scandinavian Village at OR was a great success.  Friday afternoon was the Scandinavian Get-together, and we helped attract a nice crowd of retailers, exhibitors, media, and other show-goers gathered near the booths for Hilleberg, Bergans, Dale, [...]

Click here to view the invite

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Textile maker completes re-branding with strong position on the environment
January 12, 2009, Hampton, New Hampshire—Sympatex, a manufacturer of windproof, waterproof, and breathable laminates used in clothing, footwear, and accessories, recently announced its new brand motto: “if nature had a choice.”
The new tagline—which will accompany Sympatex’s logo on future marketing communications–embodies the company’s long heritage as [...]

The Fendler Team wishes our clients, future clients, and colleagues a prosperous New Year.  Like you, we know the current economic landscape is tough.  Our agency was established in 1988.  Since then we’ve seen market peaks.  And we’ve seen some valleys.  We’re fortunate to specialize in the outdoor recreation industry, which is often resilient, though by [...]

December 19, 2008, Hampton, New Hampshire – Sympatex, a manufacturer of environmentally-friendly laminates used in high-performance textiles—announces its recent partnership with bionic-textile finishing specialist, Rudolf Chemie, and the joint development of Bionic Finish Eco—the first fluorocarbon-free durable, water-repellant (DWR) treatment for textiles.
Sympatex with Bionic Finish Eco represents a significant departure from previous textile-treatment technology. [...]

December 8, 2008, Tukwila, WA – Fly Rod & Reel magazine has awarded ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go™ performance underwear a 2009 Kudo Award for helping to make fly fishing more comfortable, more enjoyable, more convenient and more fun.
Now in its 30th year, the Fly Rod & Reel Kudo Awards are given to what its reviewers believe are [...]

ExOfficio fights local hunger with Northwest Harvest

PrimaLoft Infinity for sleeping bags

Albany, NY; December 5, 2008 – After extensive development, PrimaLoft is launching a new insulation technology – PrimaLoft Infinity.  PrimaLoft Infinity is a fine denier continuous filament insulation.  The new insulation is designed for sleeping bags to offer greater loft and shelf appeal while providing the technical properties for which PrimaLoft [...]

We’re thankful for being able to work with amazing clients, fantastic media, and all the incredible folks in the outdoor industry.  Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
– The Fendler Team

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We’re tweaking a few things on our new site’s back door, but we’ll start posting our clients’ press releases lickety-split.

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Our old corporate-looking website is dead to us. Fendler Communications is moving over to a blog.

Insider beauty secret: NBC Today highlights Spenco 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads for fighting those pesky bags under your eyes.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Albany, NY, October 29, 2008 – Today, PrimaLoft® is introducing a new website dedicated to its innovative new product line, PrimaLoft Yarn – The Next Generation in Yarn Technology™ – www.primaloftyarn.com.
The user-friendly site is designed for manufacturers to easily find and download information about PrimaLoft yarns, including product information sheets, color cards, hang-tag information and design. 
Additionally, [...]

October 20, 2008, Tukwila, WA – ExOfficio, a leading manufacturer of adventure travel and outdoor apparel, announces that it will open a retail concept store in JetBlue’s highly anticipated Terminal 5 (T5) at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on October 22, 2008.  
ExOfficio has three additional stores in the greater Seattle area where [...]

October 14, 2008, Waco, TX – Spenco Medical Corporation has been selected to receive the Save Energy Now – Energy Champion Plant Award from the U.S. Department Of Energy (DOE).  Spenco is recognized for its active efforts in implementing energy saving opportunities.
Over the last year, Spenco participated in a Save Energy Now energy assessment conducted [...]

On September 16-17, we presented the entire line of Spenco’s foot-care products to media at Spenco’s “Love Your Feet” event at the Dylan Hotel in New York City.  Our attendees included editors and writers covering several men’s, women’s, and children’s publications as well as health, fitness, fashion, lifestyle, and travel media.  In step with the [...]

Tukwila, WA, September 17, 2008 – ExOfficio, a leading manufacturer of adventure travel apparel, has launched a new line of footwear designed with its Comfort3 philosophy – offering consumers physical comfort, emotional comfort, and comfort of value.   The Spring/Summer ’09 collection made its debut at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City last [...]

Albany, NY; July 31, 2008 – PrimaLoft®- Insulation Technology™ is introducing PrimaLoft Cotton Blend, a new yarn for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the feel of cotton and the performance of PrimaLoft fibers.
PrimaLoft Cotton Blend yarn is an optimal blend of 45% PrimaLoft fibers and 55% cotton, which combines the renowned technical properties of PrimaLoft fibers [...]

July 14, 2008, Tukwila, WA – With the spirit of adventure, ExOfficio turned to the Silk Road as inspiration for its Spring/Summer ’09 collection that will be introduced at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, August 8-11, 2008.
The Silk Road is one of the most historical trade routes that spanned from Italy to [...]

July 2, 2008: Chico, CA- Overland Equipment will be presenting its new spring bags for 2009 at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 8-11, 2008.
The spring ’09 collection includes nine bags all designed to be practical and multi-functional to help you stay organized through out your everyday journeys.  The [...]

Albany, NY, June 12, 2008 – Pursuing its commitment to a healthier environment, PrimaLoft® is expanding its line of eco-friendly products with a new yarn, PrimaLoft® Eco Yarn.  The new development will be introduced at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show, August 8-11, 2008, in Salt Lake City, UT (booth # 39043).
PrimaLoft Eco Yarn is [...]

June 4, 2008, Waco, TX – Spenco Medical Corporation’s Spenco Kids line has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, which recognizes products that contribute to better foot health.  Spenco Kids is the only line of insoles for children that carries the Seal.
“This award acknowledges what we do best – developing innovative [...]

On May 21, we previewed PrimaLoft’s fall/winter 2008-09 collections at PrimaLoft’s first ever fashion show in Manhattan. The Scaninavia House provided a sleek, modern backdrop for the latest in gloves, socks, hats, footwear, sleeping bags and luxury bedding–all insulated with PrimaLoft.   As event managers, the Fendler team worked with PrimaLoft’s partners, the show coordinator, [...]

Haute design and craftsmanship to enhance the beauty of backyard play
Rockport, Maine, January 2008 – Taking backyard child’s play and home-landscape design to the highest level, custom wooden swingset maker, CedarWorks, Inc., introduces the Serendipity Series.
Created by international designer, Heather Telo´, Serendipity combines whimsy and New England craftsmanship with hints of classical architecture that is as [...]