Meijer Launches SKECHERS Concept Shop in Four More Stores Across the Midwest

Retailer continues its investment in fashion

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 24, 2015 -- Only six months after Meijer announced the opening of its first SKECHERS concept shop inside its Knapp's Corner store, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer announced today that it's duplicating the shoe shopping experience in four more stores this fall.

This week, customers of the Midland, Mich. and Greenwood, Ind. Meijer stores will have the opportunity to shop for more than 200 of the latest SKECHERS shoe styles for men, women and children, and similar shops will open next week at Meijer stores in Marysville, Ohio, and Grafton, Wis.

"At Meijer, we are always striving to provide our customers with the great items they are looking for at affordable prices," said Peter Whitsett, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for Meijer. "Our SKECHERS concept shops strengthen our commitment to customers and gives families a convenient place to shop for shoes together."

Meijer has offered the popular SKECHERS shoe brand for more than a decade and is one of the largest retailers of the SKECHERS brand across the Midwest. The 804-square-foot SKECHERS concept shop began as a pilot project at the Knapp's Corner Meijer to enhance the shoe-buying experience for its trend-savvy customers.

The concept shop has done so well that the retailer plans to expand to four more stores this year, with dozens of others on the horizon. The SKECHERS concept shop will feature four video screens to present product information and lifestyle news, including celebrity endorsements of SKECHERS shoes.

Grand opening celebrations, featuring giveaways and shoe experts from Meijer and SKECHERS, will be held at each of the new concept shops from noon to 3 p.m.:

Oct. 3 at the Midland, Mich. Meijer store
Oct. 10 at the Marysville, Ohio Meijer store
Oct. 17 at the Grafton, Wisc. Meijer store

"SKECHERS remains a very popular national shoe brand for our customers, who are looking for style and fit at an affordable price," said Glen Reinart, divisional merchandise manager of shoes, jewelry and accessories for Meijer. "Their designs and technology are kept fresh and appeal to all ages. These concept shops are a perfect way for our customers to easily find the SKECHERS style and fit that matches their lifestyle."

About Meijer:

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 222 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronic offerings.

For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/meijer and @twitter.com/meijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About SKECHERS USA, Inc.:

SKECHERS USA, Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle footwear for men, women and children, as well as performance footwear for men and women. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States and over 120 countries and territories worldwide via department and specialty stores, more than 1,000 SKECHERS retail stores, and the Company's e-commerce website. The Company manages its international business through a network of global distributors, joint venture partners in Asia, and 12 wholly-owned subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan and throughout Europe.

For more information, please visit skechers.com and follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/SKECHERS) and Twitter (twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA).

Contact : Christina Fecher, 616-540-6108 /christina.fecher@meijer.com



SOURCE Meijer through PRNewswire by press release ©
http://www.meijer.com

Chaco Supports Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition With $7,000 Donation

ROCKFORD, Mich. (September 25, 2015) – Outdoor Retailer veterans know that walking the halls of the Salt Palace is hard on your feet and a pair of supportive shoes is critical to a good show experience. That’s one reason Chaco sold through hundreds of its classic flips in the first day of the show. Another reason is that all proceeds from the sale, over $7,000, went to a great cause, the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (OIWC).

“We are committed to providing comfortable and durable footwear, and saw this as a perfect opportunity to invest in something else that’s important to us. We support OIWC’s commitment to empowering and expanding opportunities for women,” stated Colin Butts, Chaco director of marketing.

Founded in 1996, OIWC strives to expand opportunities for women in the outdoor, snow, bike and run industries in order to create more equity, diversity, and inclusion of women. For more information, visit http://www.oiwc.org.

About Chaco:

Born on the river in 1989, Chaco builds premium footwear for the outdoor-minded. As a result of the brand’s proprietary LUVSEAT™ footbed, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has awarded the Seal of Acceptance to all Chaco footwear styles. The APMA Seal is intended to raise awareness by identifying products of exceptional quality that are manufactured with comfort, health, and safety in mind. Simply put, Chaco is fit for adventure. Please visit us at www.chacos.com, Facebook: Chacos, Instagram: ChacoFootwear, Twitter: Chacousa.

Chaco is a part of Wolverine Worldwide's Performance Group, which also includes the notable lifestyle brands Merrell, Saucony, and Cushe.


Source Chaco ©

Running Specialty Group Introduces Brand Evolution to JackRabbit

Strategic rebranding initiative to begin with six New York locations

 

DENVER--Sep. 24, 2015-- The Running Specialty Group (RSG), an operating segment of The Finish Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL), announced a strategic, gradual rebranding initiative to evolve its entire family of specialty running destinations under one unified brand – JackRabbit. The company will begin its transition to the new branding with an omnichannel approach which includes a new logo, e-commerce site, an enhanced social presence and “Where FIT Happens” community approach. The transition will occur in six store locations in the New York market in November centered on the marathon

“We’re excited to have multiple locations in the region coming together under the JackRabbit brand,” said Bill Kirkendall, president of Running Specialty Group. “JackRabbit is a vibrant and distinctive name that evokes an active lifestyle. It speaks to running enthusiasts, coaches and friends and will elevate our consumer and community experiences at every touch point with a seamless, omnichannel approach.”

“The evolution to JackRabbit will truly take flight within the New York community and we’re excited for this next chapter of our brand story,” said Frank Pruitt, senior vice president of brand strategy and experience at RSG. JackRabbit activations this November will include a regional in-store and digital campaign surrounding the New York City Marathon with an elevated presence at the health and wellness expo. Following that, the company plans to roll out the JackRabbit brand across the country surrounding key running specialty events over the next 24 months. The new JackRabbit.com will serve as the e-commerce site for all re-branded stores.

”We will continue to invest in all of our stores throughout this rollout to be competitive and relevant to our customers,” added Pruitt. “Through this community-based approach, we will elevate the premium customer experience while incorporating core elements that align with our mission to inspire, connect and serve runners everywhere as they make “FIT” happen every day.”

About Running Specialty Group
 
The Running Specialty Group (RSG) is an operating segment of The Finish Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL). This includes 76 specialty running stores in 17 states and the District of Columbia under the JackRabbit, The Running Company, Run On!, Blue Mile, Boulder Running Company, Roncker’s Running Spot, Running Fit, VA Runner, Capital RunWalk, Richmond RoadRunner, Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, Run Colorado, Raleigh Running Outfitters, Striders and Indiana Running Company banners.

More information is available at JackRabbit.com or boulderrunningcompany.com. Follow the latest about the brand on Twitter or Instagram via @JackRabbitNYC.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This news release includes statements that are or may be considered "forward-looking" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "future," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "may," "should," "will," "estimates," "outlook," "potential," "optimistic," "confidence," "continue," "evolve," "expand," "growth" or words and phrases of similar meaning. Statements that describe objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements.

All of these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, management assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. The principal risk factors that could cause actual performance and future actions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the company's reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor); the availability and timely receipt of products; the ability to timely fulfill and ship products to customers; fluctuations in oil prices causing changes in gasoline and energy prices, resulting in changes in consumer spending as well as increases in utility, freight and product costs; product demand and market acceptance risks; deterioration of macro-economic and business conditions; the inability to locate and obtain or retain acceptable lease terms for the company's stores; the effect of competitive products and pricing; loss of key employees; execution of strategic growth initiatives (including actual and potential mergers and acquisitions and other components of the company's capital allocation strategy); cybersecurity risks, including breach of customer data; a major failure of technology and information systems and the other risks detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date of this report and Finish Line undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Source: The Finish Line, Inc. through BUSINESS WIRE by press release ©

The Finish Line, Inc./ Dianna L. Boyce, Corporate Communications, 317-613-6577

Amer Sports unveiled New jackets for fall winter

Arc’teryx

Lillooet Jacket
The Lillooet jacket is the warmest freeride jacket Arc'teryx makes, carefully designed to handle transitions between on piste and backcountry terrain. This requires thoughtful insulation and fabric technologies, versatility of ventilation, as well as specific features that improve performance without adding weight or bulk.

The athletic fit allows room for layers, and ski specific articulation elevates freedom of movement.

Breathable N70p 3L GORE-TEX® fabric with tricot technology seals out snow and wind, yet is supple, quiet and moves easily with the body.

The Lillooet jacket combines Lofty 750 fill power goose down, Coreloft® synthetic insulation and Down Contour LT™ aired with Down Composite Mapping™ to enhance down insulation in a greater variety of weather conditions. Down Contour LT™ involves the construction of a down filled nylon taffeta inner placed inside the GORE-TEX.

The insulated helmet compatible StormHood™ provides protection and warmth without compromising visibility. The ingenious mesh backed PowderGuard™ vents under the arms dump heat without accumulating snow. Hand pockets stow essentials, a zip pocket on the sleeve is easily accessible with a pack or harness, an internal security pocket protects a wallet or smartphone, and internal dump pockets store gloves, goggles and a toque.

The Down Contour LT™ Technology is also available for men in the new Fissile Jacket, loaded with ski-specific features while versatile articulation and ventilation make it suitable for a wide range of conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CroMwGcY4Ww
 
24 Narin vest 

The Narin is a down vest with minimalist design, clean lines and a relaxed urban aesthetic for crisp fall days. Warm 750 fill power goose down in the body and Coreloft® synthetic insulation in the shoulders provide lightweight insulation with minimal bulk. A simple low profile hood adds protection from unexpected cold.


Materials, construction and disciplined design give the Narin a minimalist appeal without sacrificing performance. The Bast™ nylon face fabric is a light, durable matte taffeta that resists wind and has a soft, silky feel. A durable water repellant finish is added for moisture protection. Refined quilting and fleece panels on the sides streamline the look and fit. Light elastic around the hood and armholes smooth the Narin’s lines and seal out drafts.


http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=Womens&model=Narin-Vest-W


Veilance Mionn IS jacket

The new Veilance fall collection comprises 20 pieces of painstakingly designed and is sculpted, multi-functional, wearable works of art.


On the lighter side, the Mionn IS Jacket is a new, minimalist, insulated jacket that can be worn alone or as a layer for additional warmth. A low-profile collar allows for unobtrusive styling.


The Mionn IS includes Coreloft ™ insulation: a quick-drying Arc’teryx insulation that’s warm when wet, resilient to compacting and easy to maintain. It layers beautifully under a suit or sport coat, or can be stowed in a tote for impromptu warmth against autumn chill.


http://veilance.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=mens&model=Mionn-IS-Jacket

Salomon

Drifter

Drifter Hoodie is unique, with a versatile outer face fabric that resists weather, and soft, inner fabric that reverses to become a stylish piece for the city or the resort. Primaloft® insulation makes it exceptionally warm and the details provide a clean, sophisticated look.

Warmth is more than just insulation. It is a system of placing the right fabric in the right place to enable movement and manage airflow appropriately for each activity and each weather condition.

The reversible Drifter uses Primaloft® insulation with different face fabrics for reversible comfort and different levels of warmth. Wearing it the shiny side out blocks the wind, keeping more warmth and loft inside the jacket during really cold weather, downhill or static activities, while the stretchy side out allows the insulation to breath when less warmth is required.

The Drifter is available in different colors as a jacket and a hoodie for men and women.


Drifter Jacket for women:
www.salomon.com/uk/product/drifter-jacket-w-1.html?article=376694

Drifter Hoodie for men:
www.salomon.com/uk/product/drifter-hoodie-m-1.html?article=376678

Atomic

Ridgeline Hybrid Down Insulator
Ridgeline Hybrid Down Insulator is a stylish, super versatile skiable midlayer featuring Pertex protection and new PrimaLoft Down Blend.

A skiable midlayer is an incredibly useful piece of kit – perfect on its own in good conditions and great under a shell when it is colder.

Thanks to the Perfect Endurance coated fabric, the jacket is water resistant and totally windproof. Inside, it features the new PrimaLoft Down Blend, a new hybrid down which combines ultra-fine PrimaLoft fiber and white duck down so it weights virtually nothing and, unlike other down insulation materials, dries quickly and stays warm even when wet.

Mavic

Cosmic Pro Wind Jacket
Mavic’s complete mid-season road kit provides an efficient protection to road cyclists that are looking for close fit products, not bulky feel, performing fabrics and style.

The road kit comprises of shorts, gloves, shoes and tees, and last but not least the Cosmic Pro Wind Jacket: a top performing technical wind jacket for lightweight protection. The jacket is ideal for winter without extra weight, offering the ultimate combination of wind protection, lightweight, high breathability and insulation.

The jacket features a technical material mix of three different fabrics, strategically located, and provides eight times more wind resistance than traditional membrane without sacrificing breathability.

Moreover, it is exceptionally comfortable, thanks to ergonomic seams mapped to the contours of the body to reduce irritation and enhance motion comfort, stretch inserts on the sides to provide optimal freedom of movement, and a new, ergonomically shaped collar with fleece lining.

www.mavic.com/apparel-men-road-jackets-cosmic-pro-wind-jacket


Source Amer Sports .

Top names and engaging topics lined up for Future of Yacht Recycling Conference

There is now two months to go before the inaugural Future of Yacht Recycling Conference takes place in RAI Amsterdam on Monday 16 November. The organisers have announced further details of confirmed speakers and panellists who will present their experiences and lead debates on the subject of End-of-Life Boats (ELBs) and how their growing numbers can be practically dealt with in the coming years. Being staged at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre and timed to take place the day before the 2015 METSTRADE show opens, this dedicated one-day forum will attract delegates and participants from all sectors of the international leisure marine industry.

The event is fully sponsored by METSTRADE and supported by ICOMIA, which has provided the chairman for the day in the shape of its secretary general Udo Kleinitz. Having been closely involved with the marine industry for well over 20 years, Kleinitz brings a great deal of personal and professional interest to the subject matter. As qualified master boatbuilder, he has held technical management positions with ICOMIA and the British Marine Federation (BMF).

Carla Demaria, president of Monte Carlo Yachts, president of the Board of the Italian nautical industry association UCINA and a speaker with acknowledged in-depth experience of the boatbuilding industry, will deliver the keynote address. She will set out her views on why the global yachting industry has to seriously engage in the process of dismantling and responsibly recycling the boats of yesterday in order to make way for the boats of tomorrow.

Mirna Cieniewicz, secretary general of the Brussels-based European Boating Industry will present an overview of the Boat DIGEST project. This collaboration between several EU-based partners has been designed to create a working platform that facilitates the safe and environmentally responsible dismantling of boats which have reached the end of their working life.

Interactive panel discussions on solutions to challenges presented by ELBs

A number of other confirmed speakers will bring a varied and insightful contribution to the interactive panel discussions, which will be structured to deliver details on practical and relevant solutions to the challenges presented by End-of Life Boats, now and in the future.

For example, members of the GS4C (Go Sailing, for a Change) project will share how they are addressing the issue of sustainability for the boating industry. Since starting GS4C in 2010, the founders - both of whom have America's Cup experience - have been engaged in the challenge of producing a 100% recyclable sailing boat where the hull, rigging and sails are made entirely of a single sustainable and recyclable fibre.

Another ongoing project entitled 'FRP up-cycling', designed to deal with the practicalities of processing redundant fibreglass (GRP) hulls, will be presented by Antimo di Martino from UCINA, and Mario Malinconico who works with the Italian Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB). Pierre Barblou, who manages the established APER boat dismantling network in France, will give details on how their scheme has been set up and share the latest developments they have experienced as part of the EU Boat DIGEST project.

Welcome speech by Geert Dijks, managing director of HISWA

A welcome speech by HISWA Association managing director Geert Dijks will be followed by contributions from HISWA's membership director Jeroen van den Heuvel and the Netherlands-based specialist companies such as the Yacht Recycling Foundation. This will ensure plenty of topical input from a Dutch perspective into how the country’s significant leisure marine industry is approaching this challenge to the boating world.

'Sneak peek' at the Materials Xperience display showcasing 125 innovative materials

With an eye on the future, accepting that yachts will have to be built with more sustainable and recyclable materials than they have been historically, there will also be an exclusive chance for conference delegates to have a 'sneak peek' at the Materials Xperience display. This has been specially arranged with the METSTRADE show organisers, allowing entrance to the presentation on the day before the show officially opens.

The Materia exhibition showcased 125 innovative materials at the METSTRADE show last year including diverse lightweight and fire retardant materials, along with luxury interior finishes, honeycomb panels, foam materials and bio-composites. In addition, practical finishing materials including the latest veneers and surface materials were on show. The Materials Xperience is sure to be of interest to boatbuilders, designers, naval architects and all who appreciate modern and futuristic marine construction components.

First 35 delegates have entrance to METSTRADE show Breakfast Briefing

Early bird registration for The Future of Yacht Recycling is now open at a special price of 275 euros for the day. By kind arrangement with METSTRADE & ICOMIA, the first 35 delegates to sign up will also receive complimentary passes for entry to the METSTRADE show, the exclusive Breakfast Briefing and the evening Happy Hour on Tuesday 17 November.

Online delegate registration can be accessed at: www.regonline.co.uk/RECY15.

RAI Amsterdam is acclaimed for its environmental sustainability

The Future of Yacht Recycling Conference, Exhibition and Reception will be held in the new Elcium Building at RAI Amsterdam, which quite appropriately has been acclaimed for its environmental sustainability. Irene Dros, Maritime Domain Manager at RAI said: “We are really looking forward to host this event at METS 2015. It gives added value to the total programme of the METSTRADE show, and it completely fits with our stated environmental objectives for making this world a cleaner place” The RAI has won several awards for its approach to sustainability, and in 2013 achieved the distinction of enabling 100% recycling of all its generated waste.

For full details, updated agenda or to register online go to www.quaynote.com or access the event page via http://goo.gl/1jDYNt

To discuss sponsorship or speaking opportunities please contact:
lorna@quaynote.ca  or  yachtmedia.buz@gmail.com

End-of-Life Boats – A brief background

In recent years most nations with ownership of significant numbers of leisure yachts amongst their population, have been turning their attention to the ELB phenomena which has been exacerbated due to the boom years of the 70s and 80's, when large numbers of yachts were mass produced from long-life composite construction materials. And due to the fact their average life span is 30 to 50 years, they are now presenting the yachting industry with some economic and environmental challenges, in fairly large and annually increasing numbers. 

In simple terms, the future growth of new boat sales will depend to a large extent on effectively dealing with the boats of yesteryear, in much the same way as the automotive industry has developed its own solutions to the problem! 

A study carried out by ICOMIA (The International Council of Marine Industry Associations) has estimated that there are more than 6 million recreational craft in Europe alone. This also revealed that historically, disposal methods have been crude, and generally involve chopping up composite structures and reducing them to fragments that can be sent to landfill, which is considered unsustainable in the long run. The conclusion? Recycling is the only realistic option for the future...

As far back as 1999 the US based naval architect Eric Sponberg wrote an article entitled Recycling Dead Boats, in which he said: “Boat builders cannot produce a new boat that is competitively priced with its used counterpart. And added to that, “the industry has ‘shot itself in the foot’ by building boats out of such a durable and almost indestructible material as fibreglass (GRP.)”

Sponberg elaborated further: “What we need is a disposal pipeline for old boats. Take them out of the market, cut them up, grind them into little pieces and use them for something else. If old boats go away, the market and marinas automatically have space for new boats, and business booms. Recycling of course is the answer.”

So, now there is a new technical and commercial process in the yachting industry that will undoubtably develop and expand into the future. Not only that, but naval architects, designers, boat builders and their sub suppliers will start to think more creatively about how to construct yachts, taking into account the eventual prospect of sustainably recycling them.

A fully detailed conference brochure can be downloaded from the Quaynote website (www.quaynote.com) or via this short link: http://bit.ly/1Q6mXtq


Source MetsTrade ©

Messi's boots today, recycled into yours tomorrow

adidas reveals plans for custom, recyclable, zero-waste sporting goods

adidas today announced Sport Infinity, their plan for a new breed of sporting goods that will never be thrown away. Instead, football creators will be able to constantly reimagine and recycle their dream products using an inexhaustible 3-D super-material. Every gram of sportswear, including the boots of Leo Messi, will be broken down to be remoulded again in a waste-free, adhesive-free process that gives consumers more scope for personalisation than ever before.

I am proud that adidas is working to make sure that all of their boots, including mine, are being made in a way that protects the environment. For me, this is the future of football.

Leo Messi, Four-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner

Sport Infinity is a research project led by adidas and funded by the European Commission, which brings together a variety of industry and academic experts, and combines broken-down sports products with excess materials from other industries. So the football boots of the future could contain everything from carbon used in aircraft manufacturing to fibres of the boots that scored during the World Cup.

The new super-material will make every sports fan a product designer. A pair of boots can be restyled as often as the wearer wants without worrying about waste. Whether to keep up with the latest trends or react to on-pitch needs, the football fan of the future will never wear old boots again.

This is a game-changing development for football fans. Over the next three years, Sport Infinity aims to end the days of throwing away football boots. Instead, every pair of boots is not just recycled but reimagined to the consumer’s most personal specifications.

Gerd Manz, Vice President Technology Innovation at adidas

Following the announcement of SPEEDFACTORY and our partnership with Parley for the Oceans, Sport Infinity is the next step in our commitment to innovation and sustainability. This project will close the sustainability loop, creating a high-performance product that can always be recycled.

Glenn Bennett, Executive Board Member Global Operations at the adidas Group

adidas and the European Commission kicked off the project in June 2015 together with nine other industry-leading experts: BASF SE;KISKA GmbH;FILL Gesellschaft m.b.H.;Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); OECHSLER AG; University of Leeds, Centre for Technical Textiles (CTT); Association CETI (Centre Européen des Textiles Innovants); Hypercliq E.E.; SportsMethod Ltd.


Source adidas ©

NAUTIQUE RECEIVES THE INDUSTRY’S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD FOR THE TENTH YEAR IN A ROW

ORLANDO, FLA (September 16, 2015) – Yesterday during the International Boat Builder’s Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) trade show, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recognized Nautique for the tenth consecutive year of achieving excellence in customer satisfaction in the Inboard Watersports Boat category.

The Marine Industry CSI Awards program honors participating manufacturers that actively measure customer satisfaction and pursue continuous improvement to better serve the customer. Once again, Nautique achieved and maintained an independently-measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past year, based on information provided by customers purchasing a new boat during the period between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015.

“Customer satisfaction is so much more than providing an outstanding product. It’s about delivering an exceptional experience during the sale and beyond,” notes Robert Newsome, Vice President of Engineering Standards for NMMA. “We congratulate these 45 manufacturers for their commitment to promoting a positive boat ownership experience.”

“Our culture at Nautique is driven by our team’s commitment to building the world’s best boats by a company that cares. This industry award acknowledges that customer satisfaction doesn’t end when the boat leaves the factory; we stand behind our product through the entire ownership experience,” stated Nautique President Greg Meloon. “Our entire team from our employees to our dealer network is thrilled to be recognized by the NMMA for excellent customer satisfaction,” Meloon added.



Source Nautique ©

Introducing Grassroots Connect 2015: A New Platform for Excellence in Outdoor Specialty Retai

Asheville, N.C. (September 24, 2015) — Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, an organization of innovative specialty outdoor retailers across the U.S., will host a landmark event this November in the first annual Grassroots Connect show.

The inaugural Grassroots Connect takes place November 11-13, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn., and is far more than an early buying trade show.

While the event will serve as an efficient and intimate platform for buyers to build a powerful store presentation, Grassroots Connect is also about creating the future of outdoor specialty retail.
The fact that Grassroots Connect is taking place in the original gathering place for the outdoor industry – Knoxville, Tenn. – is intentional. The event is designed to create a new success blueprint for independent specialty outdoor retailers during an important juncture in the evolution of the outdoor active lifestyle industries.

“Specialty retail is in a critical window of evolution and with that evolution comes incredible opportunity for our membership,” said Wes Allen, President of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and former owner of two specialty retail stores. “Grassroots Connect was launched to support specialty retailers through this evolution, arming them with new best practices specific to outdoor specialty and enabling independent stores to take a prominent position in the connected consumer’s buying journey.”

Grassroots Connect is an invitation-only event for premier outdoor brands and independent specialty retailers. Over 70 of the industries leading brands will be represented, including: Patagonia, The North Face, Under Armor, Ibex, Darn Tough and Hydro Flask. Through Grassroots Connect, these select vendors will have one-on-one time with more than 80 of the leading independent outdoor specialty retailers in the United States.

Invitations were extended to brands based on significance of business already done with Grassroots member retailers, and invitations to non-member retailers is based on fit with the independent, specialty focus of the group.

“We’re an independent specialty outdoor retail store based in Telluride, Colorado, and this will be our first year attending Grassroots Connect,” said Erik Dalton, owner of Jagged Edge Telluride. “The standard show schedule is really hectic and they happen at extremely busy times for us— in the middle of winter or the middle of summer. So to find a show that’s happening in early November is great timing and allows us to look at these lines earlier and get orders in ahead of deadlines.”

About Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance unites 55 independent outdoor retailers with over 100 doors in 30 states, as a strong voice to protect and promote the experience of outdoor enthusiasts across the United States. To learn more about Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, visit our website at www.GrassrootsOutdoors.com.



Source Grassroots Outdoor Alliance by Wes Allen through press release ©


Media Contact:
Wes Allen Grassroots / Outdoor Alliance / Wes@grassrootsoutdoors.com / 307.250.8675

3N2 Unveils World's First Patented Fastpitch Softball Pants

Footwear and Apparel Company Obtains Patent Approval for NuFit Knicker Fastpitch Softball Pants

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23, 2015 -- Sporting goods company 3N2 has solidified its position as a market leader in fastpitch softball by introducing the World's first patented fastpitch softball pants. The 3N2 NuFit Knicker is the result of two years of intensive research, development, and on-field testing.

NuFit Knickers were recently deemed innovative and different enough from any other softball pant to warrant patent protection. The pant features slimming construction, a low-rise fit in front for added comfort, and a high-rise fit in back for coverage. Four-way stretch poly-spandex in hips, thighs, and calves hugs curves and allows for free and easy movement. The NuFit is reinforced with heavy-duty poly knit to protect high abrasion areas, and a combination of elastic and poly-spandex holds cuffs in place without rubbing or cutting.

3N2 CEO, Sean Murphy, views the patent as validation of 3N2's heavy investment in women's sports: "It's a testament to our continued commitment to creating fastpitch gear that is unique in its construction and performance benefits. When 3N2 first entered the market, manufacturers were simply 'shrinking and pinking' men's gear. We were determined to break industry bounds by designing footwear and apparel with the female form in mind. Believe me when I say that it's not easy to get an apparel patent. The NuFit is a real breakthrough."

NuFit Knickers are already being worn by major colleges, elite travel ball programs, and professional athletes. Natasha Watley, two-time Olympian and member of the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) USSSA Pride, recently sang the praises of the product: "My game is built on speed so I need pants that will move with me, not against me. NuFits fit like a glove. The best pant I've ever worn."

According to Murphy, 3N2 plans to expand its distribution in 2016 via major retail outlets.

For more information on 3N2 NuFit Knickers, visit www.N2NuFit.com

About 3N2

Headquartered in Orlando, FL, 3N2 maintains a singular focus on designing and developing the most dynamic line of high-performance athletic footwear and apparel in the marketplace.

Contact: Josh Pollack/ National Sales Manager, 3N2/ 1-877-362-1440/ www.3N2Sports.com



SOURCE 3N2 through PRNewswire by press release ©

Arc'teryx opens brand stores in London and Shanghai

Arc´teryx experience in the heart of London

The new Arc´teryx flagship store, the first of its kind in Europe, opened its doors in London, right in the heart of the iconic Piccadilly Circus.

“The location couldn´t be better”, says store manager Jaime Silva with a big smile.

“We’re looking to attract the active London commuter – the one that cycles to work, goes to the gym and hits the outdoors on the weekends in the Peak District or skiing in the Alps. Also, this location draws millions of tourists annually. We’re aiming to attract these consumers as well – in some cases they will have the first contact with the brand through this flagship store.”

The new 350 m2 store was opened at the beginning of September. When Silva speaks about the opening weekend his smile gets even bigger.

“The first impressions couldn’t be better either. We had almost 1.500 people coming through the door. We had some core enthusiasts wearing Arc’teryx from top to bottom and customers commenting that finally they can see the full seasons’ collection in one place.”

The store includes a full men’s and women’s collection and departments for footwear, packs & accessories, Veilance and Suunto watches.

An interesting extra feature is the new Community Area.

“We invite local outdoor groups to come and participate in lectures and seminars – the first one will be “Get ready for the winter – Layering System”. This connection with the outdoor community is very important for us. We want people to feel at home in the Arc’teryx Piccadilly Store.”

The store has already a nice collection of stars in the assortment.

“The iconic jackets Beta AR, Atom Hoody and vest and the Delta LT are already selling really well. We are also selling a lot of accessories. The Conveyor belt and the new exclusive Revivex re-proofing spray have been huge hits. And there’s already a lot of demand for our Whiteline Collection, which gives us a good indicator of how peak season will shape up.”

The initial experiences have proven that the store concept works well.

“The store reflects the core values of the Arc’teryx brand: design, craftsmanship and performance. It’s quite easy to tell the story to the consumer and take him through the collections with the key products well highlighted. The sense of space without compromising visual merchandising quality is a distinctive point– the way that the collections are showcased makes the shopping process for the consumer much easier.”

“In my opinion this is the most beautiful outdoor store in Europe and a strong statement from the brand”, concludes Silva.



 

Premium location and full range offering in Shanghai

 
Just a few days after the Arc’teryx Piccadilly Store, Amer Sports China celebrated the grand opening of its first brand store in Shanghai.

The 285 sq ft store is located in the Shanghai commercial center. The premium location and full range offering sets another milestone for Arc’teryx and Amer Sports retail business in China.


The store is well designed to provide the best brand experience to China outdoor expert and urban astute consumers with brand history wall, core product demonstration area, community area and clearly defined product category segmentation. The Veilance range is also merchandised at a special corner with the touch of Shanghai architecture decoration.

 

Source Amer Sports ©