FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOLAR BAT EXTENDS FLW OUTDOORS
SPONSORSHIP TO INCLUDE NEW SALTWATER TRAILS MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 4, 2005)
— FLW Outdoors and Solar Bat, a maker of polarized sunglasses designed
specifically for anglers, announced Tuesday an expansion in Solar Bat’s
sponsorship of FLW Outdoors to include the new Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish
Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series. Solar Bat’s polarized sunglasses
have the toughest, lightest and clearest lenses on the water and are
worn by many professional anglers. Solar Bat’s high-performance lens
system can be seen along the FLW Kingfish Tour and FLW Redfish Series
as well as the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing
League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and
Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League. Solar Bat is a recognizable name on a long
list of more than 40 brands that have contributed to making FLW Outdoors
the world’s leader in competitive fishing. In August, FLW Outdoors announced
it would enter into the world of saltwater angling with the addition
of the FLW Kingfish Tour and the FLW Redfish Series to its list of competitive
fishing circuits. The FLW Kingfish Tour and the FLW Redfish Series aim
to meet impressive demand in these arenas and grow the overall market
for competitive saltwater fishing. “All anglers need eye protection
regardless of the species they target,” said Solar Bat founder Dr. Gary
Nesty. “Our sponsorship with FLW Outdoors has helped us market our high-performance
eye protection to serious anglers. When FLW Outdoors announced it would
be adding saltwater trails, we immediately realized the potential to
reach a new segment of the angling audience.” With more than 52 million
Americans spending time on the water every year, businesses are seizing
an opportunity to reach a segment of consumers known for their loyalty
to sponsor products. As an FLW Outdoors sponsor, Solar Bat will be featured
in a variety of media formats, most notably the “FLW Outdoors” television
program on Fox Sports Net. Sponsors also benefit from prominent advertisements
and news features in FLW Outdoors Magazine and at FLWOutdoors.com. Further
publicity opportunities at FLW Outdoors include sponsor-specific product
displays in the Family Fun Zone, signage at tournaments, angler-award
programs, and other promotional and public-relations materials. Solar
Bat will also have the opportunity to use the “Proud Sponsor of FLW
Outdoors” logo on its products. “Solar Bat is a loyal partner and a
natural fit to sponsor all of our tournaments,” said Irwin L. Jacobs,
chairman of FLW Outdoors. “Their products are specifically designed
for active outdoorsmen and many anglers on our tours use them on a daily
basis. I can’t think of a better way to reach their target audience.”
Solar Bat sunglasses – designed by Dr. Nesty, an optometrist who also
competes as a co-angler on the FLW Tour – were created with the competitive
angler in mind. Outdoor enthusiasts benefit from the lighter weight
and comfort of Solar Bat sunglasses as well as the polarized lenses
that protect their eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays that are reflected
off the water. FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive
fishing. Wal-Mart has served as the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since
1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and more information
about them, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page. For more information
about Solar Bat, visit SolarBat.com or call (800) 761-8228. For more
information about FLW Outdoors, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270)
252-1000.