Mike Battistoni
From Maui Jim:
Maui Jim® Inc., is casting a deeper line into the fishing and marine market with the appointment of Mike Battistoni to the new position of Fishing and Marine Specialist.
For decades, Maui Jim’s sunglasses have been preferred by water sports enthusiasts because of the company’s proprietary PolarizedPlus2® lens technology that was originally created on the beach of Maui, HI, to withstand long hours in the beating rays and unrelenting glare of the sun while on the ocean. This summer, the company launched its ON THE WATER COLLECTION of what will be 27 sunglass styles with features that are designed specifically for fishermen and boaters.
Reinforcing the fishing and marine sales team with the elevation of Battistoni to a dedicated fishing/marine position is the next extension of the company’s strategy to educate water sports enthusiasts about the benefits of the company’s lenses. “Mike started his career in the fishing and tackle business,” said Harry Rhodes, vice president of sales at Maui Jim. “His knowledge of the industry has been indispensable since joining Maui Jim back in 2007. His connections, insights and leadership have put us in front of the biggest retailers and allowed us to truly showcase the difference in our lens technologies for water sports.”
Battistoni was hooked on the fishing and marine market while working as a Senior Tackle Buyer/Merchandise Manager at Turner’s Outdoorsman in Chino, CA, and then as a partner of Outwest Marketing rep group in Anaheim, CA. His knowledge of the business expanded as the Trade Show Coordinator of Fred Hall Shows, Camarillo, CA, the largest and most complete consumer shows in the fishing industry, While at Fred Hall, which is owned by the American Sportfishing Association in Alexandria, VA, Battistoni worked with ICAST and their New Product Showcase. After a move to Florida, Mike worked for Florida Fishing Weekly in ad sales. Upon joining Maui Jim, he started spreading the word about sunglasses that could enhance fishing experiences because of the company’s technology lets the angler literally see fish beneath the surface of the water. “There are so many ‘fish tales’ around the products in the fishing industry,” said Battistoni. “I love work ing for Maui Jim because the technology is proven and legitimately superior for fishing and marine sports. We are the only company to have lens technologies that are designed to enhance vision in all types of fishing conditions.”
Maui Jim’s reputation is based on the development of advanced technologies for double and single gradient lenses that reduce 100 percent of harmful UV rays and cut glare from above, below and behind each lens by 99.9 percent. Maui Jim uses up to nine layers of protection built into each lens, including the company’s proprietary polarized film, PolarizedPlus2®. Only Maui Jim uses three rare earth elements embedded in each lens to significantly enhance color and improve definition. The company offers four lens colors to enhance vision in varying light conditions: Neutral Grey lenses for bright, sunny days; HCL® Bronze lenses for changing light conditions; Maui HT® lenses that are high-performance lenses and brighten darker conditions; and Maui Rose lenses for the highest contrast for everyday conditions. Select Maui Jim styles are available with MauiPassport™ prescription lenses that come with all the advantages of PolarizedPlus®2 technology in powers from +3.00 to -3.50. Unmatched clarity with the widest field of view, each lens is fabricated with digital precision for wider, clearer, more vivid views, without glare or harmful UV. For sportspeople who need up-close vision to read maps, tie fishing knots, make cell phone calls, etc., two styles of MauiReaders® have hidden bifocals encased in lightweight polycarbonate lenses with PolarizedPlus®2 technology and are available in add powers of +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50.
Battistoni regularly wears Maui Jim’s Peahi sunglasses in different lens colors for different conditions. “I absolute love the Maui HT lenses for fishing. I’ve been in the fishing industry for more than 30 years and these lenses make all the difference on the water.”
Visit MauiJim.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @OfficialMauiJim for sunglass styles and more information.
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