Team Insight

workforce has tripled in team member count. Gare d is one of the fe w female-le d businesses in team sports. How does that impact the way you do business in 2023? It has been an honor to continue the tradition of being a female leader of this organization. In fact, Gared's division features an all-female management team with Bobbi Jones as customer care manager, Kara Oughton as marketing manager, and myself. What would you consider Gared's strengths as it celebrates its 100th year in business? As ambassadors of Gared's brand, our team is aware of the impact our predecessors have had on the evolution of basketball equipment. We are passionate about honoring our heritage by being trailblazers in the industry. And your commitment to team dealers is part of that? While many have turned to direct sale channels to create growth, Gared continues to support the dealer network regardless of market pressures. Our legacy has been built on the foundation of team dealer loyalty. You a l s o c onti nu e to s el l t h rou g h independent sales reps. We are indebted to our long-standing relationship with independent sales representative groups — RBC & Associates, Mickelson Agency and Teamwork Sporting Goods Sales. Members of these organizations, along with EC Frazier & Associates, have mentored us for more than 50 years. It has a great honor to be able to celebrate their contributions at Gared's annual Rep of the Year party every November in Las Vegas. Independent sales reps are truly unsung heroes of the team dealer channel. Basketball has been a particular focus in Gared's history. What are some of the innovations Gared has brought to the table over the years? Gared's basketball innovations are found in every professional, amateur and residential installation regardless of brand manufacturer. Our founder's 1926 basketball rim creation is the standard anatomy on playground and in gymnasiums today. Mid-20th century, we were the first to examine the impact of climate and playscape conditions on longevity of sports equipment resulting in the rear-mount outdoor basketball system configuration. In the eighties, Gared developed the 42-inch backboard and positive lock breakaway rim, which are the current competitive requirement for NCAA, FIBA, Olympic and NBA games. We improved the fan experience with the development of the clear view portable basketball series and at-home product lines in the '90s. Recently, understanding social responsibilities to the environment, Gared was the first to launch a virtually paperless marketing approach to reduce carbon footprint in our category. Last year, we debuted the first hybrid portable basketball system for competitive game play with a family of new portables, with a family of new portables debuting in 2023. How would you like team dealers and their customers to view Gared as a vendor and partner? Gared strives to be viewed as a resource for the sporting marketplace. When situations arise where we are unable to provide the product requirements, we actively attempt to connect the dealer with someone that can accomplish the facility's vision. More importantly, being advocates of play is our passion project. We are proud of the impact our philanthropic outreach has on communities globally. What are Gared's goals headed into 2023 and what is it going to take to achieve them? Aer a hectic couple of years due to global economies of scale, we hope that the cadence of the market begins to normalize. While the sales growth over the past couple of years has exceeded 30 percent, the unpredictability of the product needs has impacted Gared's deliverable standards due to supply chain, shipping and workforce instability. How are your responding to that? Our team is striving to return to exceeding industry standards and dealer expectations in 2023. We are excited to launch our Grow with Gared campaign, which aligns with our principle of celebrating communities and promoting wellness in youth athletes. Finally, what does Gared have planned for the next 100 years? e Gared team hopes to continue to build on our foundation of being an influential manufacturer of equipment that exceeds athletic expectations. We look forward to passing our passion and advocacy to the next generation of brand ambassadors. n teaminsightmag.com November/December ~ Team Insight • 32

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