NEW ORLEANS - BASS, a bass fishing tournament organization, has signed a multi-year agreement with Bass Pro Shops, the world's leading supplier of outdoor gear, to be the official outdoor retailer for BASS and to expand the Bassmaster brand into a line of high-quality fishing products designed for and by BASS anglers.
"This is a natural step for BASS," said Dean Kessel, Vice President and General Manager of BASS. "We have spent the past year working to grow the BASS licensing program and the Bass Pro Shops relationship is a cornerstone of this strategy. Their excellent reputation in the outdoors industry, their focus on quality in product development and their targeted distribution make Bass Pro Shops a natural match for BASS."
Michael LaBroad, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Bass Pro Shops, stated, "This is an excellent opportunity to grow our relationship with BASS and support an organization as passionate about growing the sport of fishing as we are. The new Bassmaster branded products will enhance our already broad selection of quality outdoor products."
The Bassmaster product line will launch with a few select items at the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans, Aug. 1-3, . As the line evolves, it will include everything from technical fishing apparel and holiday gifts to lures designed by BASS Federation members. Bassmaster merchandise will be available through all 17 and growing Bass Pro Shops stores, the world famous Bass Pro Shops catalog, and online at www.basspro.com, as well as www.ESPNOutdoors.com and www.Bassmaster.com.
"We put our marks only on products that will represent our 35-year tradition of excellence and quality," Kessel said. "As the line grows, we hope to involve other companies that have demonstrated a commitment to the angling lifestyle. Specifically, we anticipate more opportunities for our sponsors and advertisers as we grow our line of products into an extension of the BASS marketing platform."
A major Internet and catalog retailer, Bass Pro Shops also operates retail stores in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Memphis, Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Charlotte, N.C., Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Islamorada and Destin, Fla., Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., and St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.. Future stores include Bossier City, La.; Hampton, Va.; Las Vegas, Nev.; North Little Rock, Ark.; Washington, D.C.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Jackson, Miss.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Bass Pro Shops has been honored numerous times for their conservation and outdoor education efforts. Bass Pro Shops is the official retailer for Bassmaster Products.
Merchandise and other consumer products for ESPN and BASS are managed by ESPN Enterprises, the division dedicated to extending the various ESPN brands into new business.