Veteran sales representation team expands service and success to anglers and dealers in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii
PARK FALLS, WIS. (March 5, 2024) – St. Croix, parent company to St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks, is excited to announce that H&H Outdoor Marketing has been selected to represent the St. Croix Family of Brands to anglers and retailers in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
Led by Dale Hightower and supported by Jason Hightower and Paolo Della Bordella, H&H Outdoor Marketing brings a 30+ year history of serving category-leading outdoor manufacturers throughout the American West. The region is home to some of the most unique fisheries in the country and a dynamic retailer base.
“The Southern California saltwater market is unlike any other in the world,” says Hightower. “It’s ridiculously great and our bluefin fishery is the best it’s been in a century. St. Croix is already a premium saltwater name with an extensive catalog of rods, and we’re looking forward to working with our passionate anglers and dealers to get them the new St. Croix and SEVIIN products that will exceed their expectations and elevate their experiences on the water.”
Home to Clear Lake, the California Delta, Lake Havasu, Mojave, and countless other world-class bass fisheries, H&H’s region is also supported by a diverse freshwater dealer base. “St. Croix has really delivered on the bass-centric products that resonate with our anglers in recent years,” Hightower says. “The brand has outstanding momentum, but there are still open doors – especially with respect to SEVIIN Reels, which has a well-earned and growing reputation for exceptional performance and reliability plus substantial value throughout the country. St. Croix and SEVIIN’s aggressive commitment to new-product development – especially in the bass segment – will make our job of serving dealers and anglers less of a challenge and more of an opportunity for everyone involved.”
Of course, California and the American Southwest also harbor exceptional cold-water fisheries, accompanied by a unique and enthusiastic fly-fishing culture. “The fly-fishing market as a whole is currently soft on the retail side,” Hightower reports. “But the great fishing hasn’t gone anywhere. The challenge is strengthening our retailers by making St. Croix the brand that is properly taken off the shelf and put into angler’s hands. We see this as a huge opportunity, as the recent investments St. Croix has made in its new-product funnel are apparent to anyone who casts one of the new EVOS, CONNECT, or TECHNICA fly rods. The rods are outstanding and so is St. Croix’s commitment to service. Retailers know and trust the brand and its heritage, so it’s a matter of opening doors and communicating the brand’s immense and reinvigorated value.”
St. Croix Vice President of Sales, Steve Self, describes the H&H Outdoor Marketing Team as highly knowledgeable, experienced, and well-positioned to represent the St. Croix brands in these important markets. “We love what we see with the H&H Team,” says Self. “Dale, Jason, and Paolo each have deep experience working in just about every segment of the fishing industry. That’s a huge benefit when it comes to understanding the needs of their customers. They are also die-hard anglers who not only have an intimate knowledge of the specific fisheries and anglers they serve but also have a deliberate history of working with category-leading brands,” he adds. “When you check these boxes, you earn a level of trust and accountability that makes it much easier to focus on the most important parts of our sales model, which is people and relationships.”
Hightower agrees. “It’s the trust, communication, and relationships that yield success,” he says. “And, ultimately, it’s the retailers who interact with anglers every day that are the most important. They need to be successful and, if they are not, nobody else is. We understand that every day. Aligning with St. Croix – its history, family values, quality, technologies, vertical manufacturing, and angler-centric approach to product development and service – puts us in a unique position to fuel new levels of success for our retailers.”
Contact the H&H Outdoor Marketing Team
Dale Hightower – Arizona and Hawaii
[email protected]
Dale started his fishing career in 1988 when he was hired as the fly-fishing product manager for Fenwick upon his college graduation. During the mid to late 90’s, he managed Bob Marriott’s Fly-Fishing Store during the “River Runs Through It” growth era of fly fishing. Dale moved on to the work for the Daiwa Corporation as an in-house sales representative for all of California. He teamed with his family’s business in 2002, representing brands including Seaguar and Yo-Zuri in the western United States. In 2011, Dale took over as owner of H&H Outdoor Marketing when his father, Richard, retired. When not representing brands such as Seaguar, Z-Man, Hayabusa, Nomad, and Bubba, Dale enjoys chasing pelagic saltwater species, especially large tuna on San Diego’s long-range boats, as well as catching trophy smallmouth on Lake Mohave along the Colorado River.
Jason Hightower – Southern California
[email protected]
Jason has been in the fishing-tackle industry all his adult life, turning his childhood passion for fishing into a career. His first job was at Turner’s Outdoorsman right out of high school where he worked for over ten years. Jason learned a lot from working specialty retail that has given him an edge today as a manufacturer’s sales representative. Additionally, he worked for Big 5 Sporting Goods for four years, where he honed the merchandising skills that have been a key to his success working with his independent retailers. In 2003, Jason teamed up in the family business with his father and brother as H&H Outdoor Marketing expanded into the fly-fishing industry representing top brands. In the fall, you will find him on his annual nine-day long-range trip abord the Red Rooster III chasing yellowtail and wahoo.
Paolo Della Bordella – Nevada and Northern California
[email protected]
After playing college baseball and graduating from USF, Paolo went to work for Orvis San Francisco in the early 90s. He went on to become Sales Manager for Glacier Glove in 1993, where he grew the company’s business with independent dealers throughout the United States and Europe. He also worked very closely with major sporting goods companies around the country such as Scheels, Bass Pro, Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, LL Bean, Orvis, Big 5, Dunham’s, Fleet Farm, and others. Paolo joined H&H Outdoor Marketing in 2022, bringing his passion and expertise to the organization. Aside from his 36-year fishing-industry experience, Paolo is an avid fly fisherman and bass fisherman. In the fall, Paolo’s passion turns to waterfowl hunting with his Labrador, Bailey.
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly producing the “Best Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph®, Mojo, and BASSX, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
About SEVIIN Reels
Wherever and however you fish, the reel in your hand should help create better experiences. Born from St. Croix’s seven decades of design and manufacturing expertise, industry-leading customer service, and unbroken private ownership by the Schluter family dating back to 1977, SEVIIN reels are meticulously engineered and purpose-built to help anglers conquer every species on every piece of water on the planet. SEVIIN focuses on reels and reels only, designing and crafting products that improve the angling experience, regardless of the rods anglers choose. Seven seas, seven continents, seven days a week, SEVIIN reels are fueled by a collective love of fishing surpassed only by a passion to deliver the most reliable reels on the water. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
About St. Croix Fly
At the core of our brand ethos lives a simple yet fierce conviction; we exist to create dynamic fishing tools that intuitively help you evolve as a caster and angler. Our focused philosophy continually questions conventional wisdom, inspires innovation, and drives our persistent pursuit of fly rod perfection. When you own a St. Croix, it’s more than just a rod; it’s a promise. It’s 75 years of hard-earned knowledge aimed at designing and building the Best Rods on Earth, so you can be the best in your own persistent pursuit. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
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