Tackle Trade World - May 2023

NRS FOUNDER
BILL PARKS
PASSES
Bill Parks, the founder and
president of watercraft,
apparel and accessories
supplier Northwest River
Supplies (NRS) has passed
away peacefully at the age of
88.
The company announced
he had died of natural causes
at St Luke’s Hospital in
Boise, Idaho on March 5th.
A statement from NRS
said: “It is with heavy hearts
filled with fond memories,
laughter, love and respect
that we inform you all of the
passing of Bill Parks.
“Bill was known as a
businessman, river runner
and educator, but he was
foremost a humanitarian. He
leaves behind a 50-year legacy
of serving customers and
community, people and the
planet, steadfast in his belief
that business can be a force
for good in the world.”
When Bill started NRS,
his business philosophy
was considered unorthodox
by many of his peers as he
believed that a company
could aspire to have a positive
impact on the lives of its
customers and employees and
to be a force for good in the
world. He wanted to start
his own company, in part, to
simply prove his ideas could
work.
The catalyst for NRS was
a rafting trip through the
Grand Canyon back in 1969
where he saw the potential
for the sport to grow and for
a company to supply quality
gear and a commitment to
service.
In 1972, Bill took $2,000 of
his personal savings, stocked
an inventory of gear in his
garage and started Northwest
River Supplies, Inc.
He continued to build
NRS while teaching full time
at the University of Idaho,
often hiring students to assist
customers, help out in the
warehouse and fulfil orders.
It grew into a multimillion-dollar
international
company and in 2013 Bill
began taking steps to plan for
a future without him. While
he had received numerous
offers from investors over the
Bill Parks.
years, he decided to invest
in what he believed in: the
people. Bill helped finance a
deal to transfer all NRS stock
to the company’s workers and
in early 2014 NRS became
100 per cent employee owned.
The NRS statement
continued: “Even in his
final days, he was discussing
business with NRS managers.
His wife and best friend,
Donna Holmes Parks, was by
his side until the end.
“Bill took pleasure in
celebrating the NRS 50th
anniversary last year and
reflecting on the company’s
progress, saying: ‘I’m proud
to say that NRS is truly led
by its people. Sometimes
you guys tell me that I’m
important to the company
and I pretend to believe it.
But it’s about the people at
NRS now.’”
Eyewear brand looks to future with evolved approach
Fresh from settling into its new
headquarters in Texas, USA, premium
protective eyewear specialist Wiley X
is changing its product development
approach.
Now the company says it will
concentrate on three main elements
– a reinforced product development
team, an emphasis on American design
and production and a focus on using
sustainable materials.
The product development team will
build eyewear from the ground up,
finding design inspiration from core
Wiley X customers, including military,
law enforcement and outdoorsmen and
women.
Wiley X CEP Dan Freeman said:
“We’re excited to announce a reimagining
of our approach to product development.
“Controlling all of the processes
through American design and
engineering in Frisco, Texas, allows us to
create bold designs that push the limits of
what can be done in protective eyewear.
“Utilising the latest in 3D printers and
technology in house helps us take product
engineering to another level. Our goal
is to always create eyewear that truly
meets the needs of our unique customers.
By building from the ground up and
continually finding design inspiration
from our customers, we believe we can
deliver products that truly stand out.”
In addition to the strengthened product
development team, Wiley X plans to
assemble more products in the United
States and it will be working to make its
products more eco-friendly.
Dan added: “Wiley X will always
be committed to delivering premium
protective eyewear to our customers, and
this new approach is just the beginning.”
www.wileyx.com
14 www.tackletradeworld.com