10/3/2017 8:00:00 AM
The Sega family met the Newberg family several years ago when the Segas were traveling from Duluth to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The Segas had been using canoe equipment from the Newberg’s family owned business, Spring Creek Outfitters in Mountain Iron for their Canadian outdoor adventures.
The Segas and Newbergs connected again at a Duluth Boat, Sport and Travel Show and began conversations about a possible sale of the company. In July 2017, Tom and son Grant Sega became the new owners of the Mountain Iron based company now called Spring Creek Manufacturing.
“As avid outdoorsmen, our family used Spring Creek products for many years,” said Tom Sega, president of Spring Creek Manufacturing. “We were always drawn to its product quality, ingenuity and commitment to being made in America.”
The Segas will carry on that same commitment of American made quality as they strive to expand the business into one focused on increased production and wholesale manufacturing of paddle sport accessories and stabilizers, canoe and kayak vehicle racks and industrial truck racks.
“We intend to get the canoe and kayak products into paddle shops across the nation through a dealership network,” said Vice President Grant Sega. “The kayak market has rapidly grown on the three national coasts, the Gulf, East and West, and their seasons are much longer than our season in northeastern Minnesota which presents an untapped opportunity for growth.”
The company will remain in the same building in downtown Mountain Iron, but the Segas are transforming it into a full-time production facility. Along with paddle supplies and racks, employees there will make anodized aluminum industrial truck racks which the Segas intend to sell to as many commercial users as possible, such as contractor and trades trucks.
“The industrial truck rack market is an enormous opportunity,“ said Grant Sega. “Because our racks are made of anodized aluminum they don’t rust, and we’ve already signed several contracts to exclusively supply these racks to regional and national contractors.”
Product Manager Chuck Newberg will be making the industrial truck racks and is the son of Spring Creek’s original founder Ted Newberg. Ted started the company in 1985 out of his passion for paddle sports and wanting a better way to carry, haul, portage or propel his canoes. Vi Newberg, Ted’s wife still works at Spring Creek each morning as the receptionist.
“To assist with expanding a family-owned and operated business into a national distributor is exciting for the Iron Range economy,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “Spring Creek has been a staple in Mountain Iron and the Iron Range for three decades, and we are eager to see what this company can grow into over the next thirty years.”
According to Tom Sega, a key to any company’s success is being passionate about it. He and his family intend to launch Minnesota-made products onto the national scene and further its commitment to making products in America, by American workers.
Tom Sega is also the owner of Duluth Pack, a 125-year old company that is nationally recognized for its iconic shell bags, travel packs and canoe packs. Duluth Pack is also committed to its products being made in the U.S.A.
The Spring Creek project was assisted by a bank participation business loan from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and financed through Grand Rapids State Bank.
