LICENSING TRENDS GENERATION Z HOT NEW PRODUCTS COOL CUSTOMERS Fashion & Fanatacism The Key Demographic Mouthguards, Baseball, Shoe Care Versatile Winter Jackets N B A P L A Y E R A N D A N D 1 P I T C H M A N L A N C E S T E P H E N S O N FORECASTING THE KEY TRENDS FOR 2015 PERMIT # 191 # PERMIT ITHACA, NY ITHACA, PAID US POSTAGE US RR STD PRSRT JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 Executive Editor Mark Sullivan [email protected] 646-319-7878 Editor-in-Chief Cara Griffin [email protected] www.sportsinsightmag.com www.facebook.com/sportsinsight twitter.com/sports_insight Art Director Francis Klaess Associate Art Director Mary McGann Contributors Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Suzanne Blecher Michael Jacobsen Nancy Ruhling Tim Sitek Publisher Jeff Gruenhut JANFEB15 [email protected] “The merging of lifestyle and performance (athleisure) is the trend of today and future seasons.” 404-467-9980 Advertising Fandom and fashion are driving the style trends in sports licensed product for 2015. Page 22 Beth Gordon [email protected] 949-293-1378 Troy Leonard [email protected] 8 30 352-624-1561 Matthew Mauer IN THE MARKET SHOE CARE 516-305-4710 [email protected] Reebok’s UFC Deal; Retail tips for Jeff Nott Lance Stephenson selling insoles and a [email protected] Q&A; Retail variety of footwear 516-305-4711 Insight and more accessories. Sam Selvaggio industry analysis. [email protected] 212-398-5021 Production Angela Zavulunova 516 305-4712 [email protected] 18 34 Subscriptions store.formula4media.com LICENSING BASEBALL Business Manager Vendors weigh in A roundup of the Marianna Rukhvarger with key trends to latest and greatest 516-305-4709 [email protected] watch in the sports new gear in the Promotion Director licensing category baseball world. Christina Henderson for the year ahead. 516-305-4710 [email protected] 22 PO Box 23-1318 36 Great Neck, NY 11023 FORECAST Phone: 516-305-4710 WINTER JACKETS Fax: 516-305-4712 Generation Z will be Consumers seek www.formula4media.com a driving force jackets that perform Formula4 Media Publications in 2015. And Big on the mountain and Sports Insight Data is Big Biz. Outdoor Insight in everyday life. Footwear Insight Team Insight Textile Insight Running Insight Trend Insight Sports Insight® is a registered trademark of Formula4 Media, LLC. ©2015 All rights reserved. The opinions expressed 26 42 by authors and contributors to Sports MOUTHGUARDS END INSIGHT Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Sports Insight is not Mouthguards Trendspotting on responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, are a key part Instagram. New photographs or artwork. Articles appearing in Sports Insight may not be reproduced of a player’s products. Hot tech. in whole or in part without the express protective gear. Hashtag that. permission of the publisher. Sports Insight is published bi-monthly: Jan/Feb; Mar/Apr; May/Jun; Jul/Aug; Sep/Oct; and Nov/Dec. Subscriptions: One year, $24.00 (U.S. Funds) in the United States. All other countries, $54.00 (U.S. Funds). Postmaster: Send address changes to Sports Insight, P.O. Box 23-1318, Great Neck, NY 11023 Champion Women’s Cover photo by SPORTSINSIGHTMAG.COM University Fleece. Wai Ng TIME OUT | MARK SULLIVAN Tempus Fugit Retail is in major ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFTS WAS A T-SHIRT THAT FEATURED THE LATIN transition and phrase “Tempus fugit.” Even a failed altar boy like me knows enough Latin to know the while that scares phrase translates to “time flies.” some people, And indeed it has flown all the way to 2015. It’s been a wild few years in the business I always say world and indeed even a wilder decade. In the 10 years since we started Formula4 transition equals Media, the business has seen dramatic and enduring change. Acquisitions and attrition opportunity. have led to a consolidated marketplace with power concentrated in the hands of fewer retailers and suppliers. To take it a step Retail is a mashup of concepts with stores big and small trying to figure out how to further, you could serve the consumer with what they want, when they want it. Retail is in major transition say big changes and while that scares some people, I always say transition equals opportunity. To take will equal big it a step further, you could say big changes will equal big opportunity. opportunity. At the same time, we’ve seen the emergence of new brands and the development of new categories. My Christmas T-shirt was from a brand called Linksoul, founded by John Ashworth, who revolutionized the golf apparel business 20 years ago. Active is again the driving influence in the apparel business. This is great news for sports retailers, but it’s certain to bring increased competition from other channels of distribution. The other category that promises to be a gold rush is wearable technology. This is the category that began with activity bands and heart rate monitors and is now moving into hats, socks and jackets that help measure athletic performance. Such product sounded almost laughable a few years ago, but in the next few years the retailers and brands that figure it out will be laughing all the way to the bank. Sometimes readers will tell me that it’s easy for us to sit in our offices and write about the business with a sense of wonder and optimism. And I’m the first to say “it’s easier to write about retail than it is to run a store.” But I will also say the media business has also undergone dramatic change that has inspired companies like ours to adapt, innovate and figure out new ways to serve our markets. I promise that we’ll continue to do that in 2015 and beyond to keep pace with the changing business environment. 6 • Sports Insight ~ January/February 2015 sportsinsightmag.com IN THE MARKET Reebok Partners with UFC New Apparel and Footwear Line to Come n a move that Reebok pay-per-view event provider in the president Matt O’Toole world. Exact terms of the deal were describes as “more than not disclosed. a licensing agreement,” O’Toole points out that there Reebok and UFC have are 35 million people around the entered a partnership in world who train like fighters, be which Reebok will be the it in fitness routines at the gym, exclusive global outfitter in boxing and jiu-jitsu classes or Iof UFC. O’Toole describes the in MMA training. “This is not just move as a good fit for Reebok’s about the elite athletes,” he says. “fitness roots” and a complement “There are millions of people to Reebok’s existing partnerships training like this, doing combat and product in the “tough training, just to be the best they fitness” realm. can be. We will have a whole new Under the long-term deal collection of footwear and apparel with UFC, Reebok will become dedicated to this discipline.” the exclusive authentic global Adds O’ Toole, “Over the last few outfitter of UFC, creating for the years we have created a coalition first time UFC “Fight Week gear” of fitness brands with CrossFit, and a “Fight Night kit” for all UFC Reebok Spartan Race and our athletes. Reebok will also be the partnership with Les Miles that is apparel provider for millions of really about an aggressive form UFC fans around the world. Owned of functional fitness. It’s ‘tough and operated by Zuffa, the UFC is fitness.’ UFC is the next step in our UFC champions and Reebok athletes Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey. the premier mixed martial arts fitness journey. We’ll be addressing (MMA) organization and largest a whole new consumer.” O Zamst Extends Relationship with NBA Star Stephen Curry amst recently amazing talent to watch on the court.” announced a says Bryan Smeltzer, general manager continuation of of Zamst U.S. “Our performance- its worldwide driven product line was founded endorsement deal through innovative products created with NBA star Stephen to help players like Stephen stabilize Curry. One of the their injury and provide them with league’s best players both the physical and mental con- Zon one of its best teams, the Golden fidence to play without limitations. State Warriors’ Curry has overcome We look forward to continuing our persistent ankle injuries to become an relationship with Stephen, providing elite NBA player. He wears the A2-DX the products he needs to perform at ankle braces on the court. an elite level and watching him con- Since his ankle ligament surgery tinue to dominate as one of the NBA’s in 2011 Curry has been wearing the premier point guards. Our Precision Zamst A2-DX to support his ability Engineered Support products protect to stay on the court. He was named and reinforce the elite athletes of the to his first All-Star Game in 2014 and world and we are proud to continue he set the single season NBA record our partnership with Stephen.” with 272 three pointers in 2013. Curry The A2-DX ankle brace is is making a case for himself as one of constructed with EXO-Grid rigid the elite shooters in NBA history. In guards, which restrict both inversion addition to these achievements, he and eversion sprains. X-straps was also selected to the 2014 USA provide anterior, lateral and medial Basketball team. In the 2013-14 sea- stability of the ankle. With a rear son Curry averaged 24.8 points, 4.3 entry design, the brace provides rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.6 steals.