Black Ice History (and that of Bill Simon)
1972
Bill Simon and Barry Solloway start manufacturing business in Taiwan called Snowline
Eddie Bauer threatens legal action over the name so it is changed to Snowlion
1973
Shipped first down bags into the USA
1976
Snowlion provides sleeping bags ands apparel for Ned Gillette’s Ellemere Island expedition
Gillette was planning to use North Tents, so Snowlion engaged freelance designer Bob Howe, who creates their Meridian dome
1977
Snowlion makes the first Gore-Tex jackets produced outside of the USA and UK
New York company Gateway offers to buy business, but deal goes sour
1978
Snowlion declared bankrupt by Solloway whilst Simon on business in Far East
(many of the designs were sold off including the Meridian dome tent to Wilderness Experience, where it was called the 'Equinox'
Bill Simon resigns and starts Trading company Odyssey
Odyssey manages Far East manufacturing for the likes of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) and Salewa
Also launches Black Ice brand with sleeping bags (down and Polarguard) and tents
The Meridian name re-emerges for a Black Ice dome tent, reminiscent of Jansport Mountain Dome, but with external poles & attached inner
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Odyssey opens up China as a manufacturing source for the global outdoor industry
grows to nine production control offices with factories across Asia, in Utah and Arizona, and in Mexico
1988
Bill Simon’s Odyssey Holdings acquires The North Face & Sierra Designs
1989
As head of The North Face Bill Simon teams with REI, Patagonia, and Kelty to form the outdoor industry's Conservation Alliance.
1990
Marmot was added to Odyssey Holdings portfolio
Alpine Designs also bought by the group
1993
Odyssey Holdings is bankrupt and sells off its assets
1994
Bill Simon partners with Marsden Cason (as Infinity Associates) to buy The North Face
They help quadruple TNF sales in three years, with the company attaining sales of $300 million
1996
They shepherd The North Face to becoming a publicly traded company.
Simon and Cason leave soon after. (Later buy and reinvigorate the Converse sneaker brand, before selling it to Nike.)