Confluence Outdoor
{{Short description|American manufacturer of kayaks, canoes, and related accessories}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Confluence Outdoor
| logo = File:Confluence Outdoor logo.png
| type = Privately owned company
| foundation = {{start date and age|1998}} (as Confluence Watersports)
| former_name = Confluence Watersports and Confluence Holdings Corp.
| location_city = Greenville, South Carolina
| location_country = U.S.
| locations =
| industry = Paddling sports
| products = Kayaks, canoes, and accessories
| services =
| num_employees = > 425 (2014){{cite web |url=http://www.confluenceoutdoor.com/company/ | title=Company | publisher=Confluence Outdoor | accessdate=July 1, 2014}}
| owner = Pelican International
| homepage = {{URL|www.confluenceoutdoor.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
Confluence Outdoor (formerly known as Confluence Watersports) is an American manufacturer of kayaks, canoes, and related accessories. The company comprises seven separate brands which each specialize in paddling sport boats or accessories.
History
American Capital financially sponsored the merger of Wilderness Systems and Mad River Canoe in 1998 to form Confluence Holdings Corporation, known as Confluence Watersports, which it then purchased in 2002.{{cite news |url=http://www.snewsnet.com/news/confluence-watersports-sold-to-j-h-whitney-plans-to-expand-outdoor-business/ | title=Confluence Watersports sold to J.H. Whitney, plans to expand outdoor business | work=SNEWS | date=April 21, 2014 | accessdate=July 1, 2014 | author=Clucas, David}}
In 2005, Confluence purchased Watermark, acquiring the Dagger, Harmony Gear, Adventure Technology, and Perception brands. The company then acquired Bomber Gear in 2010.
Sue Rechner joined the company as CEO in 2007, coming from Victorinox Swiss Army.
On April 22, 2014, J.H. Whitney & Company purchased Confluence Holdings Corporation from American Capital. They renamed it Confluence Outdoor and announced plans "to grow the business into a full-service outdoor recreation company."{{cite news |url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2014/04/22/confluence-watersports-sold-equity-firm/8038503/ | title=Confluence Watersports sold to equity firm | work=The Greenville News | date=April 22, 2014 | accessdate=July 1, 2014 | author=White, Woody}}{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=94272 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702111453/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=94272 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2014 | title=Company Overview of Confluence Outdoor | work=Bloomberg Businessweek | accessdate=July 1, 2014}}
On December 16, 2019, it was announced that Confluence had been acquired by Pelican International, a Canadian manufacturer of kayaks and other outdoor products.{{Cite web|url=https://paddlingmag.com/paddling-business/pelican-acquires-confluence-outdoor/|title=Pelican Acquires Confluence Outdoor|first=Paddling Magazine|last=Staff|date=December 20, 2019|website=Paddling Magazine}}
Brands
Confluence Outdoor manages eight separate brands which each specialize in paddling sport boats or accessories.{{cite news | url=http://www.greenvillebusinessmag.com/View-Article/ArticleID/2646/Confluence-Watersports-Paddles-Against-the-Economic-Tide.aspx#sthash.Nbbdu0C0.dpuf | title=Confluence Watersports Paddles Against the Economic Tide | work=Greenville Business Magazine | date=October 1, 2012 | accessdate=July 1, 2014 | author=Mann, Becky | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201158/http://www.greenvillebusinessmag.com/View-Article/ArticleID/2646/Confluence-Watersports-Paddles-Against-the-Economic-Tide.aspx#sthash.Nbbdu0C0.dpuf | archive-date=July 14, 2014 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.confluenceoutdoor.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Confluence Outdoor | accessdate=July 1, 2014}}
= Adventure Technology =
Manufacturer of kayak paddles.{{cite web |url=http://www.atpaddles.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Adventure Technology | accessdate=July 1, 2014}}
= Boardworks Surf =
Distributor of imported stand up paddle boards, surf boards, and accessories.
= Dagger Kayaks =
File:Kayaker launches into flat water.jpg
Manufacturer of recreational, touring, and whitewater kayaks - including the Alchemy, Axiom, Axis, GT series, Katana, Jitsu, Mamba, Mambo, Nomad, Torrent, and Zydeco models.{{cite web |url=http://www.dagger.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Dagger Kayaks | accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Founded in 1988 based on the success of whitewater and touring kayaks designed by Joe Pulliam.
= Harmony Gear =
Manufacturer of canoe and kayak accessories - including apparel, fishing accessories, life jackets, paddles, and sprayskirts.{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonygear.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Harmony Gear | accessdate=July 1, 2014}}
= Mad River Canoe =
File:Marty Plante on the Chattooga River.jpg
Manufacturer of recreational, sporting, touring, and whitewater canoes - including the Adventure, Caption, Destiny, Expedition, Explorer, Freedom, Heritage, Journey, Legend, Malecite, Outrage, Reflection, Synergy, Serenade, models.{{cite web |url=http://www.madrivercanoe.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Mad River Canoe | accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Mad River Canoe was founded in 1971 by Jim Henry and Kay Henry in Vermont. The company's Malecite model was created in the Henry's woodshed, becoming their first model and remaining the company's signature model today.
= Perception Kayaks =
File:Classroom on the water (6186275776).jpg in Perception Prodigy kayaks]]
Manufacturer of fishing, recreational, and touring kayaks - including the Carolina, Essence, Expression, Impulse, Prodigy, Tribe, Tribute, and Triumph models.{{cite web |url=http://www.perceptionkayaks.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Perception Kayaks | accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Perception Kayaks was founded by Bill Masters in the early 1970s. The company develops rotational molding of plastic kayaks, reducing the expense and maintenance of kayaks.
= Wilderness Systems =
File:River Wye Kayaking.JPG in Wilderness Systems Tarpon kayaks]]
Manufacturer of fishing, recreational, and touring kayaks - including the Aspire, Commander, Focus, Pamlico, Pungo, Ride, Tarpon, Tempest, Tsunami, and Zephyr models.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildernesssystems.com | title=Home Page | publisher=Wilderness Systems | accessdate=July 1, 2014}} Andy Zimmerman and John Sheppard founded Wilderness Systems in 1986 in North Carolina.
Operations
The company operates in a single 300,000-square-foot facility in Greenville, South Carolina, which opened in 2011 and as of 2014 employs over 425 people.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Canoeing and kayaking}}