Collective Licensing International Signs Comprehensive Footwear License Agreement With Intersport North America for Airwalk And Vision Streetwear
Press Release
- August 25 2008
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Bruce Pettet, President and CEO of Collective Licensing International
(ENGLEWOOD, CO) – August 25, 2008 – Collective Licensing International, LLC, announced today that it has signed a license agreement with sporting goods wholesaler Intersport North America Ltd. (“INA”), a subsidiary of The Forzani Group Ltd., to market and sell Airwalk® branded footwear in the United States and Vision Street Wear® branded footwear throughout the Americas. The two companies also announced that they are jointly working towards opening a design studio and showroom located in southern California to support the expansion of the two footwear brands with a focus on targeting and servicing an expanded specialty independent and mall-based retail network.
“With the popularity and demand for authentic youth lifestyle and action sports brands continuing to grow, we’ve had a great deal of interest from potential licensing partners for both Airwalk and Vision Street Wear,” said Bruce Pettet, President and CEO of Collective Licensing International. “INA recognizes the equity these brands carry, and we believe they are a tremendous partner as we invest and expand these brands over the long term.”
Robert Sartor, CEO, The Forzani Group Ltd., said, “This license agreement is foundational to build upon the INA distribution model. To be able to secure two iconic brands in the active youth lifestyle segment provides us with authenticity and credibility across our business. Furthermore, we have seen Collective Licensing International’s outstanding ability to position and market brands to today’s youth consumer. We believe that Collective Licensing International’s expertise combined with our sourcing and selling capabilities is a winning formula for long-term success.”
The Vision Street Wear® license will begin immediately, while the Airwalk® license begins January 1, 2009. This is a multi-year agreement. Additional terms were not disclosed.
About Collective Licensing International
Collective Licensing International, a unit of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE:PSS), was formed in January 2004 and is the owner and/or license operator of the Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™, Sugarboards®, Carve®, genetic®, Dukes™, Rage®, Ultra-Wheels®, and Skate Attack® brands. Collective Licensing International is based in Englewood, Colorado.
About Collective Brands, Inc.
Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS), headquartered in Topeka, Kan., is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, also headquartered in Topeka, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle™, Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion® and designer labels Abaeté for Payless™, Lela Rose for Payless™ and alice + olivia for Payless™, Patricia Field for Payless™, among others; Stride Rite, based in Lexington, Mass., focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International.
About Intersport North America Ltd.
INA is a subsidiary of The Forzani Group Ltd., with offices in Calgary and Toronto. The Forzani Group Ltd. is Canada’s largest national retailer of sporting goods, offering a comprehensive assortment of brand-name and private-brand products, operating stores from coast to coast, under the following corporate and franchise banners: Sport Chek, Coast Mountain Sports, Sport Mart, National Sports, Sports Experts, Intersport, Econosports, Atmosphere, Tech Shop, Pegasus, Nevada Bob’s Golf, Hockey Experts, The Fitness Source and Athletes World. The Company also has websites for several of its corporate and franchise banners which can be accessed through its main website at www.forzanigroup.com
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