Team Insight

END ZONE 34 • Team Insight ~ January/February 2023 teaminsightmag.com Brand RPM Merges With Downtown Athletic Store Brand RPM, the provider of branded apparel, athletic uniforms, equipment and promo- tional items, has merged its team athletic division with Virginia- based Downtown Athletic Store. The new division will operate under the trade name Achieve Athletics. According to a statement from the two companies: "Achieve Athletics combines the market reach of Brand RPM's Team Division and Downtown Athletic and creates one of the largest team uniform and equipment deal- ers in the mid-Atlantic, with a sales footprint extending from Maryland to Georgia." "is merger is about taking our partnership to the next level," says David Anderson, Brand RPM president. "We've been working together for several years since Downtown Athletic joined the Brand RPM technology platform. As Achieve Athletics, we have a unified, streamlined organization and we will continue to provide the high level of quality and ser- vice our customers expect." D a v e D e a n e , o w n e r o f Downtown Athletic, emphasizes the benefits of the merger: "We've combined decades of experience and expertise with an innovative approach to the market." Midwest Sporting Goods Joins Alli Sports Group Continuing its growth through bringing on new members, Alli Sports Group has added Midwest Sporting Goods, based in Tulsa, OK, to its team. "We are very excited to add Midwest to the Alli Sp or ts Group," says Rhett Johnson, of Johnson-Lambe, one of the founding members of Alli Sports Group. "I have known John and Zac Lassiter for 20-plus years and they are a great fit and strong addition to our family. ey repre- sent everything we are. As always, great things ahead!" BSN Sports Acquires Unique Image In late 2022 BSN Sports pur- chased Unique Image, located in Wilmington, DE. Unique Image specializes in custom promo- tional, corporate and team athletic products and apparel since its founding in 1979 by Bob Gleber. The second-generation family business was managed by brothers and co-owners Jason and Jon Gleber. As part of the acquisition, Jason Gleber and the company's sales team joined BSN Sports. e company's in-house screen- printing operation will remain under Jon Gleber's management as a contract decoration service joining BSN Sports' third-party decoration system. In other news at BSN Sports, the team dealer and Nike recently signed a three-year deal with Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. In the agreement, Nike, which first partnered with the university in 2007, will continue as the school's official apparel, footwear and uniform provider. BSN Sports, which had not been part of the former agreement, comes on board as the official equipment provider. Currex Partners With U.S. Soccer's Jesús Ferreira Jesús Ferreira, a member of the United States Men's National Soccer Team, has entered into a sponsorship agreement with sport insole brand Currex. In addition to his position with the U.S. national team, Ferreira, 21, is also a star forward in Major League Soccer, playing for FC Dallas. In the 2022 MLS season, Ferreira scored a club record 18 goals for FC Dallas and earned a trio of noteworthy honors: MLS Best XI, MLS Young Player of the Year and #1 in MLS's 22 Under 22 list. Ferreira made his first appearance for the U.S. national team in January 2020. On June 10, 2022, he scored his first in- ternational hat-trick with four goals against Grenada during the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League. Rawlings Relocates HQ Rawlings Sporting Goods is moving its current corpo- rate headquarters in Town & Country, MI, to Westport Plaza, in Maryland Heights, MO, later this year. e decision to relocate was made by the need for additional office space and a desire to create a full corporate campus, including an experiential retail destination. Rawlings has been based in St. Louis since its inception in 1887. Within the expanded experi- ential retail space, the company's full assortment of baseball and soball product lines will be dis- played and available for purchase as well as a wide array of custom- izable options across multiple product lines. Additionally, the brand will highlight historic artifacts, such as commemorative baseballs hon- oring special moments, including the recent milestones of Aaron Judge's 62 homeruns in a single season, and Albert Pujols' 700 career homeruns. n Under Armour Names Linnartz President and CEO Under Armour has named Stephanie Linnartz president, CEO and member of its Board of Directors, effective February 27. Linnartz currently serves as the president of Marriott International, Inc., the world's larg- est hospitality company, with a portfolio of nearly 8200 properties across 138 countries and territories and 30 brands, including e Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Marriott Hotels, W Hotels and Westin. "Under Armour is an iconic brand with a huge opportunity ahead. is company has immense energy and excitement and I am committed to building growth while main- taining operational excellence," Linnartz says. "As a 25-year veteran of one of the world's most respected global companies, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the brand," adds Kevin Plank, Under Armour executive chair and brand chief. "She is a proven growth leader with a distinguished track record of brand strategy, omnichannel execu- tion, talent acquisition and development and passion for driving best-in-class consumer connectivity, experience and brand loyalty. "Responsible for leading Marriott's multi-billion dollar digital transformation, driving scale through continuous brand innovation across the portfolio, developing premier sports league and team partnerships, while architecting the extraordinary growth of its loyalty program – the board is confident that Stephanie – along with our leadership team and all of our key stakeholders – will accelerate our ability to realize the substantial opportunities for Under Armour as both an operating company and aspirational brand," Plank adds. When Linnartz joins, Colin Browne, who has served as interim president and CEO since June 2022, will continue in a leadership role by resuming his position as COO. n NEWS, ANALYSIS AND OPINION. From the most experienced editorial staff in the team sports industry. Delivered every first and third Thursday of each month. Get your complimentary subscription today.

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