January 20, 2004
BOSTON, January 20, 2004 – New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. recently announced several new licensee partnerships. "We are excited to launch new products under the New Balance brand name," says Jim Tompkins, president and COO of New Balance. "All of our licensee partners share our core values of product quality, integrity, customer service, and are a solid fit with New Balance's long-standing corporate philosophies."
Fitness Quest Inc. designs, markets and sells innovative cardio home exercise equipment. New Balance elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes and an upright bike will be available in Spring 2004.
The Franco Apparel Group designs, develops and sells a full line of New Balance performance and lifestyle children's apparel in newborn through youth. The line debuted in Winter 2003 and features three categories for boys and girls including performance wear, athletic wear and sports lifestyle. It also includes layette and playwear for newborns and toddlers.
The following licensee products are sold in association with the New Balance sales force:
Eyewear Designs Ltd. designs and develops innovative performance sunwear and eyewear. The New Balance performance sunwear collection will launch in January 2004 with eight styles. The New Balance performance eyewear collection will debut in April 2004 with nine styles.
Grangers International Ltd. is a manufacturer of technically-superior shoe and apparel care products that are environmentally friendly. Available January 2004, New Balance footwear after care products include a gel cleaner, spray cleaner, whitener, odor eliminator while New Balance apparel after care products include a water and stain repellent spray-on and wash-in, and a cleaner.
Moretz Sports is a manufacturer of performance socks. Available January, 2004, the New Balance line of performance technology sockwear includes three categories – elite, core and youth.
New Era Cap Company, Inc. is a global sports headwear designer, developer and manufacturer with exclusive responsibility for the official uniform performance-caps worn on the field of play by every Major and Minor League Baseball player. New Balance's 2004 line will include classic, suburban/collegiate and event-driven headwear, while new performance-caps for serious athletes, made with proprietary technology, will debut in Spring 2005.
"These partnerships enable New Balance to offer new and innovative products by utilizing each licensee's knowledge and experience in the marketplace," says Tompkins.
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., headquartered in Boston, MA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized performance footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children. The range of product categories includes running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, adventure sports, and kids. Dunham joined the New Balance family in Fall 1998. Dunham is an outdoor performance brand known for its technologies, innovations and development of footwear that is lightweight, comfortable and inspired by the world outside. New Balance acquired the rights to the PF Flyers brand in February 2000. First introduced in 1937 by the B.F. Goodrich Company, PF Flyers was re-launched in Spring 2003 as an authentic brand of active casual footwear. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. employs more than 2,400 people around the globe, and in 2002 reported worldwide sales of $1.3 billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
