Businesses question KMHA's apparel deal

Regular readers here will recall the messy situation in which the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association found itself last season. Guess what? This time there wasn't underage drinking in the home of the KMHA president (who now is the past-president), but the KMHA again has found itself involved in a dicey situation. . . . There almost surely will be more on this one in the days to come, especially once I get through reading the deluge of e-mails that have come this way. . . . In the meantime, here is a story that appeared in Thursday's Daily News. . . . gregg


By CAM FORTEMS
Daily News Staff Reporter
Two city businesses are questioning a Kamloops Minor Hockey Association deal
that awarded exclusive supply of team apparel without open tendering.
That deal, claimed LN Group owner Todd Reutlinger, also forces parents to
pay more for clothing. He estimated the exclusive contract is worth $20,000.
The board decided this fall to award a contract to Kamloops Embroidery as
the only firm that can legally use KMHA’s logo on items that include team
track suits and hats.
The deal would appear to give minor hockey a percentage of revenue in return
for the sole-supplier status. But two competing businessmen — both of whom
are league sponsors — said Wednesday they were never given an opportunity to
bid. A current sole-supplier bid from another Kamloops business expired this
year.
“I would have been fine with whatever way they did it, as long as it was
transparent,” said Dan Long, owner of Designs in Thread as well as another
truck accessory business in Kamloops.
“I’m a businessman and competitor and I want open competition.”
Reutlinger said he knew the sole-supplier contract expired this year. When a
league insider told him the association was looking at a new contract
supplier, he rushed in a response. But it was deemed too late.
“Obviously it was decided there was a deal behind closed doors,” said
Reutlinger. Both Long and Reutlinger said they were told the contract was
handled by league president Jason Perris.
Contacted Wednesday, Perris declined to detail how the contract was awarded
or the benefits it brings to the league and its young players.
He would say only the volunteer board is entitled to make its own decisions.
“We’re an association and entitled to run our association how we see fit,
regardless of whatever a supplier or non-supplier says.”
Whatever benefits to the association, Reutlinger claims parents are paying
too much. He said he can supply a KMHA track suit from Canada Sportswear
that is identical to one offered through the association for at least 30 per
cent less — $64 versus the $95 listed on the website.
Even if Reutlinger were to pay 10 per cent of revenue to the association,
parents would still pay far less than the posted rate for that item.
“It’s supposed to benefit parents. How does this benefit parents who are
trying to afford to keep their kids in minor hockey?”
Ted Tree, owner of Kamloops Embroidery, deferred questions about the deal to
the minor hockey association. In an e-mail response to Long, Perris said he
should have submitted a proposal before it was too late for consideration.
“If you knew this contract was expiring, why wouldn’t you contact us to
submit something?” Perris wrote.
Long said he watched the association’s website this spring for a chance to
bid, but learned too late a deal was already signed. He believes parents
don’t want a sole supplier, regardless.
“They (parents) don’t want to be told who to go to. They feel ripped off.”By CAM FORTEMS
Daily News Staff Reporter
Two city businesses are questioning a Kamloops Minor Hockey Association deal
that awarded exclusive supply of team apparel without open tendering.
That deal, claimed LN Group owner Todd Reutlinger, also forces parents to
pay more for clothing. He estimated the exclusive contract is worth $20,000.
The board decided this fall to award a contract to Kamloops Embroidery as
the only firm that can legally use KMHA’s logo on items that include team
track suits and hats.
The deal would appear to give minor hockey a percentage of revenue in return
for the sole-supplier status. But two competing businessmen — both of whom
are league sponsors — said Wednesday they were never given an opportunity to
bid. A current sole-supplier bid from another Kamloops business expired this
year.
“I would have been fine with whatever way they did it, as long as it was
transparent,” said Dan Long, owner of Designs in Thread as well as another
truck accessory business in Kamloops.
“I’m a businessman and competitor and I want open competition.”
Reutlinger said he knew the sole-supplier contract expired this year. When a
league insider told him the association was looking at a new contract
supplier, he rushed in a response. But it was deemed too late.
“Obviously it was decided there was a deal behind closed doors,” said
Reutlinger. Both Long and Reutlinger said they were told the contract was
handled by league president Jason Perris.
Contacted Wednesday, Perris declined to detail how the contract was awarded
or the benefits it brings to the league and its young players.
He would say only the volunteer board is entitled to make its own decisions.
“We’re an association and entitled to run our association how we see fit,
regardless of whatever a supplier or non-supplier says.”
Whatever benefits to the association, Reutlinger claims parents are paying
too much. He said he can supply a KMHA track suit from Canada Sportswear
that is identical to one offered through the association for at least 30 per
cent less — $64 versus the $95 listed on the website.
Even if Reutlinger were to pay 10 per cent of revenue to the association,
parents would still pay far less than the posted rate for that item.
“It’s supposed to benefit parents. How does this benefit parents who are
trying to afford to keep their kids in minor hockey?”
Ted Tree, owner of Kamloops Embroidery, deferred questions about the deal to
the minor hockey association. In an e-mail response to Long, Perris said he
should have submitted a proposal before it was too late for consideration.
“If you knew this contract was expiring, why wouldn’t you contact us to
submit something?” Perris wrote.
Long said he watched the association’s website this spring for a chance to
bid, but learned too late a deal was already signed. He believes parents
don’t want a sole supplier, regardless.
“They (parents) don’t want to be told who to go to. They feel ripped off.”