Bent Metal Snowboard Bindings 2024/25 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboard Bindings 2024/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Bent Metal Binding Works
Interviewee: Barrett Christy Cummins

How would you describe the current state of the snowboard market? What big developments, changes, challenges, and/or opportunities are you seeing and how is your brand navigating them?
Over the past several seasons, snowboarding participation (as part of the greater outdoor sports culture) has experienced a nice lift. The challenge our industry faces now will be to keep all these new riders coming back each season to shred. A lot of people got in (or got back in) during the pandemic and are now looking to upgrade their equipment from rental to personal ownership, or from beginner to more advanced product. As an industry leader we see this as a unique opportunity for us to introduce snowboarders to equipment that rides better, lasts longer, is environmentally nicer, and frankly, more fun! We’ve also realized more timely delivery to our dealers, globally, this season, which we expect will drive sell through. The challenge continues to be snowfall in any given region. It appears as if we’re already off to a good start to the season though, with early snowfall in North America and Europe. Let it storm!

Following overall price increase, any positive developments with regards to manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics and the changes you’ve made? Are there any examples you can share of how your business pivoted effectively? What developments are you seeing with regards to product pricing?

Is e-commerce sales still strong since most brands have been put a lot of effort in physical retail?
Although our own DTC sales isn’t a large % of our business we feel it’s important to offer the consumer that option if they can’t find a dealer nearby, or just want to have a direct relationship with our brands. Retailer Ecomm has steadily become a key component to their own business and we want to support that. Our dealer finder has been a powerful tool in helping drive consumers to our valued dealers and we’ve seen a marked increase from shops taking advantage of our P2P links from our site to theirs. That said, there’s really nothing like visiting a shop, talking with another snowboarder and getting that hands-on experience.

After last winter and the lack of snow in Europe, what’s your overall sales and production/inventory strategy for 24/25?
We believe in the prebook model which allows us to plan accordingly. As for at-once, we take a conservative approach with still being able to fulfil the demand but also not to over-produce. We live by “sell out, don’t close out”

BINDING SPECIFIC

Are you introducing any new innovations in buckles, straps, highbacks, bases baseplates, heelcups, etc.?
BMBW is featuring a new canted footbed with a heel shock pad on existing models Axtion, Logic and Transfer as well as the women’s Forte. The new Anvil model also has a canted EVA footbed for increased precision control. We have designed a new highback for the women’s Metta with a refined love handle and medium flex and a new solid highback for the Forte for a more responsive feel. The Axtion is also using a new grip form toe strap, adding to it’s lightweight mobility components.

Are you using any new materials in your bindings for 24/25?
Our BMBW bindings feature flex control driveplates with unique flex patterns for dynamic binding response. Advanced composites give them a flex control advantage like no other binding. All driveplpates are produced with eco processes and mindful design. For 24/25 the Logic is integrating boron fiber into the driveplate and the Solution is using an electrolyte / carbon fiber UHMW core in the driveplate.

Anything new concerning sustainability and related product or construction you would like to highlight?
All of our driveplates in the bindings are made from advanced composites for specific flex patterns similar to your snowboard. These driveplates are unique to the binding market and set us apart from every other brand. They are a key component to our binding designs and they are made with environmentally friendly processes and and construction.

Any quick entry bindings in your collection for 24/25?
No

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 24/25 gear? Any collabs on the line?
Our driveplates give us an additional opportunity to collaborate with artists, athletes, and creators to elevate our binding designs. The Axtion binding Black/White colorway features Forest Bailey’s artwork, designed to merchandise with his Headspace board, although it’s perfectly comfortable mixing it up with any other board in the line. The women’s Stylist blue colorway is designed in collaboration with Hannah Eddy, an artist who’s work inspires a reverence for nature, culture, and the joy of snowboarding. She also worked with Naima Antolin to bring her positivity and creativity to the Gnu Velvet board. The men’s Transfer brings another Jamie Lynn graphic to the mix with a 1910 Jamie/Scoph artist collaboration.

Are you planning to focus on a special product range or type of customers?
Bent Metal offers a complete line up of bindings, with recent additions into lower cost affordable price points while still maintaining our high-end drive plate technology at every price point.

What are your top product marketing stories for next season?Anvil – new model in men’s line
Beam – new entry price point women’s model
Transfer – Lib Tech graphic collab

Best Sellers/Hero/Key products

ANVIL :

The new all mountain freestyle ANVIL has a ton of tech, a light weight chassis, blue steel looks and a perfect 6/10 flex. Featuring a highly engineered cored out high back, canted footbed, dual band ankle strap and of course the patented Flex Control Drive Plate. Drop cliffs, tricks and clips on ‘em with the all new BMBW ANVIL!

Anvil

BEAM :

The new BEAM is a lightweight, fully featured, all mountain dream. The reliability of BMBW’s most proven components like Forged Aluminum Buckles and the Revolutionary Cube forward lean adjuster make for easy, steezy mountain performance all season long. It’s easy to progress when your #bindingworks!

Beam

TRANSFER:

Versatile Performance and all mountain dominance. BMBW’s perfect all terrain combination of an Engineered Polymer Highbackand a responsive Magnesium Fiber Drive Plate gives you precise freestyle/ freeride performance and control in every riding situation.Team tested and approved from East Coast parks to AK peaks.

Transfer