Roberto Gutierrez
Looking for a change of pace and for something to reignite a fire in me, I began searching for jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Starting and growing Oru Kayak has been an incredible adventure. We have seen unparalleled success in our industry; from Shark Tank to running two successful Kickstarter Campaigns (First Campaign & Second Campaign) or winning some of the most prestigious awards in the Outdoor Industry, we have had an incredible journey.
I have played an integral role in almost every phase of Oru Kayak's growth. While my partners were working tirelessly on the product and manufacturing, I was building our reach and on the fundraising hustle. I have assisted in every major strategic decision and take pride in being the heartbeat of the company.
Marketing:
I managed the brand and engaged the community and currently work closely with the Director of Marketing to expand our reach and drive direct sales at www.OruKayak.com.
Sales:
Year-over-year, I have designed and developed a delicate balance of direct to consumer and business to business sales channels to fit the restrictions of our manufacturing. The goal has been to hold OruKayak.com as a center for information and place to introduce new products and to support our retail and distribution partners to reach as many people as possible. It is not just about selling kayak, it is about selling the right kayaks to the right people.
The business to business sales pipeline I have created is an impressive and sophisticated network of retailers and distributors all over the world. In Asia and the Southern Hemisphere, I rely on the connections and reach of key distributors. In Europe, I employ a distribution center in Rotterdam to deliver products to retailers throughout Europe and defer VAT. In the USA and Canada, I have identified the key accounts in our space and have pursued and closed all but one of them.
As the only professional paddler on the team, I take great pride in sharing my passion with my teammates to make the water more accessible.