West Marine And Garmin Introduce The New eTrex Mariner Specifically Designed For Boaters
Sam Wormley
West Marine And Garmin Introduce
The New eTrex Mariner
Specifically Designed For Boaters
WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June
13, 2001--Boaters have come to rely on GPS to help
them navigate safely and successfully. West Marine
(NASDAQ:WMAR - news) worked with leading
electronics manufacturer Garmin International to
develop a new handheld GPS that's specifically
designed for marine use -- the new Garmin eTrex
Mariner. Already one of the hottest GPS units on the
market, the Mariner offers boater all the features of
Garmin's eTrex GPS line plus the convenience of an
extensive pre-programmed Aids to Navigation
database with thousands of coastal buoys, lighthouses
and other marine waypoints.
``The compact size of the eTrex line is extremely
attractive for many applications, however Garmin did
not originally build a marine-specific version. We were
able to work with Garmin to develop a version for our
customers that was more boating-oriented,'' says Ken
Corwin, West Marine's senior vice president and
general merchandising manager. ``The Mariner's large
internal memory capacity allowed us to add tens of
thousands of marine navigation aids, while retaining
the handy city database for land-based navigation. We
also insured that Garmin's latest WAAS-capable
receiver software was included, making the Mariner
one of the most accurate GPS receivers available. The
entire eTrex line has proven to be extremely popular.
Because of its boating-specific features, the Mariner, a
West Marine exclusive, has become the best-seller in
our eTrex lineup.
The eTrex Mariner features a handy ``rocker key''
which allows the user to scroll through menus, as well as easily select waypoints and
navigational aids. ``The software has been entirely updated to make use of the rocker
key,'' says Corwin, ``so it will be very familiar to users of previous Garmin models, such
as the GPS 45, GPS 48 and GPS 12.''
Data is displayed on the Mariner's super-high resolution, 160 x 288 pixel screen for
easy readability, yet the overall size remains the same as the original eTrex, making it
the smallest handheld GPS available that's specifically designed for boaters.
The positional accuracy of the Mariner is improved with a built-in WAAS receiver.
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) technology is designed to enhance the
accuracy of GPS through a system of ground station and geosyncronous satellites. The
Mariner's waterproof casing stands up in the marine environment, and an included PC
cable allows to unit to trade data with a personal computer.
West Marine and Garmin set out to create a compact, user-friendly handheld GPS
with innovative features specific to the marine environment. The new Garmin eTrex
Mariner is designed for boaters with the technology boaters need to make navigation
easier, safer and more fun. The Mariner is available exclusively through West Marine
stores, its catalog and online at westmarine.com. Contact West Marine for more
information.
West Marine, Inc. is the nation's largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and
apparel, with 239 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico, and more than $500 million in
annual sales. The Company's highly successful Catalog and Internet channels offer
customers approximately 50,000 products -- far more than any competitor -- and the
convenience of being able to exchange Internet purchases at West Marine retail stores.
The Company's Port Supply division is the country's largest wholesale distributor of
marine equipment, serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel
operators and government agencies. Because the overwhelming majority of West
Marine's revenues come from aftermarket sales, the Company has traditionally been
less affected by economic downturns than manufacturers and sellers of new boats.
In 1999, West Marine launched its West Advantage program designed to build on the
Company's strong brand identity and reward loyal customers. The Company expects
to have signed up more than one million West Advantage members by year-end 2001.
West Marine's other new initiatives include insurance, a private label credit card, boat
financing, boat towing, extended service contracts, and new destination super-stores.
``Safe Harbor'' Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
The statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events,
expectations, objectives, or performance (or assumptions underlying such matters),
including statements regarding future comparable store net sales and gross margin,
are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include the Company's ability to
increase sales at its existing stores and expand through the opening of new stores,
competitive pricing pressures, inventory management and shrink issues, the market
share erosion faced by the Company's catalog division as the Company and its
competitors have opened new stores, the impact of the Internet on the supply chain,
weather-related issues, the level of consumer spending on recreational water sports
and boating supplies, and other risk factors disclosed from time to time in the
Company's SEC filings.
lcopps
Sam Wormley wrote:
> [Snip]