Matt Fletcher rings in Zebco’s new year
Category: press release
Jan 5th, 2009 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:00 AM
TULSA, Okla. – Zebco Brands enters 2009 with a new vice president of sales, new goals and the company’s largest new products launch ever.
Matt Fletcher has been named vice president of sales for the longtime Tulsa company that markets fresh and saltwater rods, reels and related-accessories worldwide under a variety of proprietary brands.
Fletcher brings to the position more than 16 years of experience in the fishing and sporting goods categories, the majority of which was spent with Shakespeare Fishing Tackle in Columbia, S.C. There he rose through a progression of positions culminating as senior vice president of sales and marketing for their Shakespeare and Penn brands. He left the company on his own accord in April, following Jarden Corporation’s acquisition of the business a few months earlier.
Since May, Fletcher has been consulting for Zebco, assigned to focus on national accounts and recreational product development.
“We have been able to experience firsthand Matt’s operating style and values over the past few months, and also witness his deep knowledge of our product category and customers,” said Zebco president Jeff Pontius in announcing the appointment. “The respect and support he has earned throughout this industry and within our own walls are obvious. We are highly pleased that Matt has accepted this important role with Zebco Brands.”
“This is a great fit for me, too,” said Fletcher. “I know the Zebco and Quantum brands well, and I see excellent opportunities ahead for these and the company’s saltwater brands in what has become a rapidly changing marketplace. The people here have made me feel welcome, and I look forward to leading the sales efforts for such prominent brands.”
Fletcher is serving in his new position now, operating from the company’s world headquarters in Tulsa. Zebco Brands became the name of the business last July in order to more accurately reflect what the company has become in recent years with a portfolio of brands that includes Zebco, Quantum, Fin-Nor, Van Staal, Rhino, Martin and Cajun Line.
For 2009, Zebco Brands has introduced more than 300 new items. Included among them are recreational-angler products selling for around $10 to serious-angler saltwater big game reels that top $1,000.
The company has been considered a fishing industry trendsetter ever since R.D. Hull developed the Zebco spincast reel in 1949 when operating as Zero Hour Bomb Company. Notable engineering accomplishments of more recent times include nickel titanium bails and magnetic trip systems in Quantum’s PT series of spinning reels, and external adjustable centrifugal braking systems (ACS) and polymer-stainless bearings in the brand’s PT baitcast reels.
Quantum PT “Performance Tuned” products were first introduced in 2001 and given the name because all items in the series are constantly being tweaked and “tuned” as new materials and features become available. In fact, for 2009, the entire Quantum PT spinning and baitcast lineup has been redesigned, with most models being reduced in weight and size.
“Beginning a new year is always a great time to start fresh and with goals for improvement,” Fletcher said. “Our immediate focus will be to make it easier for our customers to deal with us, providing them greater access to people and information that can make the tackle selection process simpler and less intimidating. This is going to be fun, just like anything associated with fishing should be.”