WATSONVILLE, Calif. – West Marine (Nasdaq:WMAR), one of the world's largest waterlife outfitters, yesterday announced that the print version of its 2015/2016 catalog is now available in stores. The catalog is $4.95 in West Marine stores and is free to members of West Advantage, West Marine's popular loyalty program. The online version of the catalog can be viewed or downloaded at catalogs.westmarine.com.
The 1,112-page catalog, sometimes referred to as the "boating bible," provides details on tens of thousands of products. Exciting new items include the Simrad ForwardScan which shows what lies ahead in the water and works with collision avoidance systems such as radar; a new range of Lehr propane-powered outboard engines; innovative safety gear such as West Marine's Deluxe Belt Pack with a Hydration Pouch and the Dynamic Move Paddling Vest that conforms to your body for comfort and flexibility.
The catalog also provides 100 informative West Advisor features that provide expert advice and additional information to help customers select the best products for their specific needs. For example, "The Basics of Onboard Satellite TV" explains the evolution of antennas and how different inshore and offshore cruising destinations impact satellite TV purchase options. "Selecting the Right Oar Size" gives the basic rule, which is to triple half the beam length and then add six inches.
The 2015/2016 West Marine catalog includes several changes brought about by the growing popularity of westmarine.com. "Even with the catalog, with over one thousand pages, our product information and selection is always going to be the most comprehensive on our website at westmarine.com," says Senior Vice President of Marketing, Deb Radcliff. "We are constantly adding new products and fresh content to help our customers make the best purchasing decisions."
In the age of the Internet, why print a catalog at all? "Marinas have notoriously poor mobile coverage," says Radcliff. "Our customers have told us they heavily rely on the printed version of our catalog while they are on their boats and may not have a reliable Internet connection."
In recognition of the many customers who have made the move to online shopping and in respect of West Marine's mission to reduce their impact on the environment, the printed catalogs will no longer be automatically mailed, but are exclusively available at all store locations.
"We've given a lot of thought about how to best meet the needs of our customers," says Radcliff. "As an omni-channel retailer, we're committed to providing our product information in a variety of formats."
About West Marine
Founded in 1968 by a sailor, West Marine, Inc. is the largest omni-channel specialty retailer exclusively offering boating gear, apparel and footwear and other waterlife-related products to anyone who enjoys recreational time on or around the water. With over 275 stores located in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and an eCommerce website reaching domestic and international customers, West Marine is the leading waterlife outfitter for cruisers, sailors, anglers, paddle sports enthusiasts and industry service providers. West Marine has everything you need for your life on the water. For more information on West Marine, Inc. its products and store locations, visit westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464). West Marine's stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol WMAR.
