About Parker PARKER COMPANY HISTORY Parker Compound Bows, Inc. is celebrating its 10th year of producing compound bows. The company was founded by Robert (Bob) Errett, who remains today as the President of the company. Bob is a West Virginia native and graduate of Marshall University. His archery industry career began in 1975 with Bear Archery in Grayling MIchigan. Bear Archery was the world leader in bow production and leading the way into the all-new compound bow era. During this period, Bob Errett was both an employee and friend of the legendary Fred Bear. That relationship included an annual week at Fred Bear's hunting camp in Michigan. It is obvious that Fred Bear was a huge influence on Bob Errett and Parker's attention to quality and customer satisfaction. In 1984, the archery industry was rapidly changing and Bob Errett made a decision to establish his own archery company. The new company was Nationwide Archery, the forerunner of Parker. Nationwide grew rapidly to become a major archery supplier and arrow manufacturer, serving thousands of archery dealers over the next 17 years. In 1996, Parker Compound bows was started and grew very rapidly. In 2003, Nationwide Archery was merged into Parker. At that time the wholesale and arrow producing operations were ceased and Parker occupied the entire facility in Mint Spring, Virginia. Parker is the third or fourth largest bow manufacturer, producing over 60,000 bows per year. The company is located near Staunton, Virginia on Interstate 81. Parker provides jobs to around 150 persons, including 23 salesmen over the entire United States. Over 1500 retail outlets sell Parker Bows. Parker has been honored two years running as "The Fastest Growing Manufacturer in Virginia," by Virginia Business Magazine. As well, in two separate years Parker was honored by INC Magazine as the 300th and 231st fastest growing companies in America. Very few companies receive these honors twice. Today, Parker continues to grow and expand rapidly posting double-digit growth each month. The company is closely managed and operated ensuring continued high quality, attention to detail, unsurpassed customer service - all combined to create the finest hunting bows in the world. |
