Nortec, a company among the leaders in the micro crampons market, has enthusiastically announced a new and significant strategic agreement: starting from this season, it will be the official distributor for Italy of the Finnish brand VJ, specializing in high-performance trail running and orienteering footwear.
Over the past five years, VJ has distinguished itself internationally for the development of a highly technical collection, appreciated by the most demanding athletes.
The payoff “Feel the Grip” perfectly represents the brand’s identity, based on grip, precision, and reliability: values that have a strong affinity with Nortec’s DNA.
Thanks to its know-how, over the years Nortec has built a solid reputation in developing innovative products, characterized by high performance, lightness, and safety, resulting from collaboration with some of the best athletes in the skyrunning and trail running scene.
Leading VJ’s entry into the Italian market, as brand manager, will be Marco De Gasperi, six-time world mountain running champion and already a Nortec ambassador. His dual experience as a top-level athlete and as a brand manager in the trail running footwear sector guarantees competence and strategic vision for the project’s success.
Marco De Gasperi will also join, as a consultant, the VJ product development team at the Orivesi headquarters in Finland, contributing directly to the development of the brand’s future collections, a global reference point in orienteering.
VJ products, as well as its representatives, will be displayed and available in person for the first time in the Italian market in Riva del Garda, during the ORBDAYS & Outdoor fair.
Statements
Maurizio Ragonese, founder and CEO of Nortec: “When Marco De Gasperi told me about VJ, describing to me with genuine enthusiasm an excellent product line, I immediately understood the value of his expert point of view and became curious. From the first contacts with Vili Mattila, CEO of VJ, I perceived strong strategic affinities with this Finnish brand. It was precisely these elements that convinced us to accept this stimulating challenge, supporting Nortec with the VJ brand that shares many affinities with ours. From the quality and durability of the product to the great reliability characteristics of the soles in terms of grip, VJ represents an ideal partner to strengthen our presence in the outdoor world”.
Marco De Gasperi, athlete and brand manager: “I started testing VJ products last season and was impressed by the high technical level reached by some models. The fact of being a brand so specialized in off-road running, although still niche in the outdoor market, is a guarantee of great attention to detail and a design strongly oriented towards performance. Furthermore, for me, it is always stimulating to accept challenges that may seem complex: in sports as in life, it is precisely the most challenging paths that give the greatest satisfactions”.
With this new partnership, Nortec further expands its positioning in the outdoor world, consolidating its mission: to offer enthusiasts and athletes increasingly high-performance, safe, and reliable products.
