Columbia Sportswear Announces New Distribution Strategy for Norway and Iceland.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2004

Capitalizing on increased business prospects and opportunities for brand expansion in Norway, Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq:COLM), a global leader in the active outdoor apparel and footwear industries, today signed a distribution agreement with Portland Norge AS to distribute Columbia and Sorel products in both Norway and Iceland. Distribution will commence in Norway and Iceland with the Spring 2005 product line. Sorel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear which distributes a separate footwear and apparel line of products.

Due to the fact Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU, Columbia Sportswear and Sorel chose to use an independent distributor, rather than using its direct to retail system through its own Cambrai, France, distribution center.

In addition to distributing Columbia and Sorel product, Portland Norge will own and operate two Columbia Sportswear retail stores under a licensing agreement with Columbia. The stores will be located in Oslo, Norway, and Reykjavic, Iceland. The stores are planned to open by Spring 2006.

"Over the past few years, Columbia and Sorel have developed reputations overseas for producing high quality products," said Bill Tung, director of International Operations for Columbia Sportswear. "We feel that this particular market has been underserved, and consumers will enjoy increased access to our products."

The establishment of this new relationship will enable Columbia to distribute a substantially higher volume of products in this area, and will make it possible for retailers to stock a wider variety of Columbia and Sorel product in their stores.

Portland Norge will also assume marketing efforts to generate widespread exposure to the two countries' five million residents. Previously, Columbia's products were distributed in Norway by Sports Brands of Scandinavia since 1998.

Oslo-based Portland Norge AS is a newly established company founded by Henning Hexeberg, the majority holder of Fashion Holding AS, the sales agent for other US-based footwear and apparel brands. For more information about Portland Norge AS, please call [phone].

Columbia Sportswear Company(R) is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear brands in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear, please visit the Company's Web site at www.columbia.com.