Every outdoorsman wants a camo watch. The trick for manufacturers is setting their timepieces apart from others.

 

Enter functionality combined with Realtree camo. That marriage has placed watches with the Columbia name, a brand famous for outdoor apparel, at the leading edge of a crowded field. Five Columbia watch models feature Realtree-camo bands, according to Jason Johnson, development director for ADAO Global, a Round Rock, Texas, company that makes watches under the Columbia brand name. And appeal for Realtree-branded products continues to grow — sometimes in surprising directions.

 

“Four of the five watch styles that we have utilized with the Realtree straps are more lifestyle in design,” he said. “One of our latest models is our first women’s watch utilizing the Realtree pink camo pattern, which is totally lifestyle focused. We are tying to appeal to a wider range of outdoor-inspired consumers rather than just hardcore hunters and fishermen.”

 

SWITCHBACK DIGITAL WATCH IN REALTREE XTRA

 

COLUMBIA MEN'S BASECAMP DIGITAL WATCH IN REATLREE APG

 

 

 

COLUMBIA FIELDMASTER IN REALTEE XTRA CAMO

 

Realtree’s commitment to the outdoors lifestyle made the partnership with ADAO Global a natural synergy.

 

“For us, adding Realtree to our Columbia watches gives us access to the many consumers that are already loyal to the Realtree brand,” Johnson said. “There are many camo patterns out there. For our watches, being branded with both Columbia and Realtree adds elements of legitimacy that we feel sets us apart from the other brands out there that utilize generic camo.

 

“The styles we have chosen are more classic in design, and since they accept a fabric band, they were easily adaptable and a great fit for the Realtree camo fabric.”

 

Still, reaching consumers requires a smart, focused effort. Johnson said ADAO Global relays its message on several fronts to ensure it lets potential customers know about Columbia watches.

“Since all the watches we make that utilize Realtree are Columbia branded, to reach our consumers, we draft off the popularity of the Columbia Sportswear brand in their strategic retail partners like Kohl’s,” he said. “We also focus our sales efforts to outdoor retail accounts like Columbia retail stores, Bass Pro Shops and Recreational Equipment Inc., where we know we have an outdoor inspired consumer.”

 

Consumers have responded well to the Realtree-branded watches, Johnson said — so much so that criticism or feedback on the pieces, which is typically an important part of marketing and product development, has been limited.

 

“Customer feedback is always very valuable in evaluating key details about about products like design aesthetics and quality level,” he said. “The watches where we have added Realtree bands are very classic in design and non-technical (simple analog watches). Due to the conservative nature of the product, we have not had much consumer feedback, good or bad.”

 

In other words, legions of outdoors-loving folks enjoy wearing their Realtree-branded Columbia watches, whether into the woods or just as part of everyday life.

 

For more information on Columbia Watches, please visit Columbia website. 

 

What are you doing to put your products and services in front of this huge group of 21 million hunting enthusiasts? If you’d like to explore new avenues, Realtree can help. Check out these case studies of companies who have expanded their distribution and sales through the power of licensing with Realtree. If you’d like to do the same get in touch with us and let’s talk.