Evolv Bolsters Sales and eCommerce Staff, Eyes New U.S. Headquarters

February 19, 2020

Leaders in High-Performance Climbing Shoes Makes Moves After Recent Oberalp Acquisition

Buena Park, Calif. (February 2020) – Evolv, the southern California-based leader in creating high-performance climbing shoes, announced today that it has bolstered both its wholesale sales and eCommerce departments and will move into a new office, retail and manufacturing facility as it looks to expand its global footprint in the urban and outdoor climbing communities.

After nearly five years with the company, industry veteran Jacob Jeffries has been named Evolv’s sales manager for North America, tasked with helping the company broaden its reach as a leader in the climbing industry. Jeffries joined Evolv in 2015 and has served in various positions since then, most recently in the rebuild of Evolv’s website and management of the Evolv eCommerce channel, in addition to Key Account and Dealer Service Management.

“We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in climbing – it’s no longer a fringe sport with limited access, but part of the mainstream,” Jeffries said. “I am thrilled to be at the helm of the North America sales effort and further develop Evolv’s customer relationships and wholesale channels.”

Evolv has also hired Colleen Kelly to serve as eCommerce Manager, the latest step in a career that has included stints with brands such as Helly Hansen, Hurley, Columbia, Patagonia and Teva. Kelly boasts 12 years of experience in retail and eCommerce, and she’s also worked in the planning and buying departments across a wide spectrum of categories of the outdoor industry, including sailing, paddle sports, fishing, surfing, dive, fashion, and mountain lifestyle.

“I’m beyond excited to join Evolv and help grow their eCommerce presence, and I see a lot of potential,” said Kelly, who is an avid climber based in Bozeman, Mont. “A great foundation has been laid down with a strong brand, and a great team. Now is the time to communicate all the incredible things within Evolv to the wonderful climbing community.”

Evolv General Manager William Sinoff also announced that the company will move into a new location for its Orange County-based headquarters in April. The new space will help the company consolidate its office, retail and resole manufacturing facilities into one seamless operation. The new facility in Tustin, Calif., is also better positioned for Evolv to thrive in the community, with a close proximity to the intersection of the 405 and I-5 freeways and the John Wayne airport, as well as Sender One Climbing, the biggest climbing gym in Orange County and Los Angeles.

Sinoff said that Evolv’s space will allow customers to not just shop for the company’s latest line of high-performance shoes and gear, but also to interact with Evolv employees who are climbers themselves and can offer valuable insight and recommendations on products.

“When you walk in you’re going to see all the elements that make this brand what it is – marketing, design, product development and our resole facilities,” Sinoff said. “Of course you can shop for the latest products, but customers will really get a glimpse inside the brand.”

The move comes roughly eight months after The Oberalp Group, which owns leading outdoor brands Salewa, Dynafit, Pomoca and Wild Country, acquired Evolv and pledged to invest in the brand for growth in its home markets of the U.S. and Canada.

“The Evolv brand was started in Los Angeles, and we’re reinvesting in the brand in Los Angeles,” Sinoff said. “The Oberalp Group bought a southern California rock-climbing shoe brand, and they’re investing in keeping that way. This move allows us to upgrade our facilities dramatically to handle what we see as a huge opportunity to scale the business.”

About EVOLV

EVOLV is based in Los Angeles, California, and was founded in 2003 by Brian Chung. The company initially targeted climbers in southern California before growing into an international brand, and it has become one of the leading brands in the climbing industry.

The brand also boasts a strong and diverse group of athletes, including Daniel Woods, Kai Lightner, Ashima Shiraishi, Paul Robinson, Steph Davis, and Alex Johnson on the US team and many other global athletes.

About The Oberalp Group

The Oberalp Group is a family-owned business based in Bolzano, Italy, that employs almost 700 people worldwide. Since 2007, Oberalp has had a North American subsidiary based in Boulder, CO, that runs the sales, operations, marketing, distribution, and service for the Group’s brands in the US and Canada.