Running Insight 9.15.17 by Running Insight

A NEW BIG RIVER

leven years after opening its original store, Big River Running has moved its flagship to a new location and grown its footprint by 40 percent, allowing the shop to add new categories of footwear and apparel. “We wanted a bigger presence in our community and also wanted to broaden our marketing and let consumers know that we were not just a running store,” says Matt Helbig, founder of Big River. “We now have a range of premium product that fits their lifestyle.”

RUNNING INSIGHT® is a registered trademark of Formula4Media, LLC. © 2017 all rights reserved. Running Insight is published twice each month, is edited for owners and top executives at running specialty stores and available only via email.The opinions by authors and contributors to Running Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Articles appearing in Running Insight may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher. Formula4Media, LLC, P.O. Box 23-1318, Great Neck, NY 11023. Tel: 516-305-4709.

runninginsight.com

Advertise

Big River was inspired to diversify by the success of stores such as Playmakers and Gazelle Sports, two Michigan-based retailers that carry a broad mix of footwear and apparel. With the opening of the new location, Big River has added shoes from Merrell, Sperry, Keen, UGG and OluKai. The store also re-designed its logo and website to coincide with the opening of the new location. The new logo emphasizes the “Big River” branding, Helbig says, as part of the effort to communicate that the store is about more than running. Helbig says the new flagship concept is part of an evolution

Jeff Nott....................................jnott@formula4media.com Jeff Gruenhut...................jgruenhut@formula4media.com Christina Henderson..... chenderson@formula4media.com Katie O’Donohue..........kodonohue@formula4media.com Sam Selvaggio.............. sselvaggio@formula4media.com Daemon Filson......................dfilson@formula4media.com

Editor-in-Chief......... Mark Sullivan: msullivan@formula4media.com Managing Editor............. Cara Griffin: cgriffin@formula4media.com Publisher......................Troy Leonard: tleonard@formula4media.com BACK ISSUES runninginsight.com

SUBSCRIBE store.formula4media.com

ENGAGING STORIES Authentic Specialty Innovation

Hot New Products for Fall Premium in-Season Style Drops Fresh Turn-Key Social-Ready Assets New Real-Time Digital Catalog & Portal

Hydration | Training |Race-Day |Visibility

SPECIALTY-EXCLUSIVE

The widest range of premium running essentials. 1.800.806.1288 - dealer@amphipod.com

A New Big River (continued)

Big River Running has a new flagship location and a new look.

that began two years ago when he took on a new partner that allowed him to stabilize the business and lay the foundation for growth. “Our business is on a tear right now,” Helbig tells Running Insight. Big River has focused its business around three doors (they closed their fourth store this past January) and benefitted from “We’re emphasizing the closure of running stores in the St. Louis market, including the shutdown that it’s a new store by Dick’s of its True Runner store. and logo, but the Big River spent approximately same great customer $750,000 on the build out of the new service we’ve had flagship, which is on the same street in the past.” as its predecessor. “We had a great allowance from our new landlord, MATT HELBIG, FOUNDER BIG RIVER RUNNING CO. which covered most of that cost,” Helbig says. “In the past, we had done our store design on the cheap, so it was exciting to use a design and architectural firm to help with this.” The store has also stepped up its advertising, including cable TV spots. “We’re emphasizing that it’s a new store and logo, but the same great customer service we’ve had in the past.” Says Helbig, “The business trends look good right now. We’re very bullish.” n

COMING SOON

THE EXCLUSIVE

COMBINATION OF STABILITY & SORBOTHANE ®

• • • •

CUSHIONING PAIN RELIEF SUPPORT COMFORT

insoles-sorbothane.com sorbothane.com

Ultra PLUS PERFORMANCE INSOLE

800.838.3906

UltraPLUS-RunningInsight-Ad.indd 1

runninginsight.com

MADE IN USA

8/28/17 9:58 AM

Introducing

ALBERT The Revolutionary 3D Foot Scanner

Aetrex is bringing consumers back into stores like never before with Albert, its revolutionary, 3D foot scanner. Albert captures unmatched data and information about feet, enabling consumers to make more educated buying decisions when it comes to footwear and orthotic purchases. Featuring 18 digital cameras, 960 infrared LEDs and receptors and over 5,000 gold plated sensors, Albert offers the most sophisticated, interactive, in-store scanning experience to date. Working in tandem with Aetrexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lynco orthotic line, Albert is tied to a unique business model that offers tremendous impact to your bottom line and proven consumer benefits.

Learn how you can get Albert for FREE! Call 800.526.2739 for more information

Compression’s

WINNING COMBINATION By Nancy A. Ruhling

Tech & Style Drive the Category.

s more runners and other athletes discover the performance and recovery benefits of compression hosiery and apparel, the products are becoming more sophisticated and the category is expanding to include men and women who want to wear them with their everyday athleisure attire. Tech-savvy, stylishly smart and increasingly sportspecific, the category is not only growing but also growing up. “Anyone can create a cylindrical garment, make it tight fitting and call it ‘compression,’” says Anthony Leon, sales and marketing manager of SKINS. “Backing your garments by science with the addition of innovation, style and quality sets the bar high for all compression.” John L.A. Wilson, president and chief operating officer of Wacoal Sports Science Corp., says that “after a period of over-proliferation, many of the ‘metoo’ copy-cat brands are dropping out, which leaves the more technical authentic Lily Trotters’ S’mitten compression socks, $48, which the brand bills as “badass and beautiful,” are fashion and fitness forward. Antimicrobial and moisture-wicking, they are made in the USA.

runninginsight.com

Compression’s Winning Combination (continued) brands to lead the category.” Calling compression a maturing category, Jared Finney, CEP national sales manager, says that “a lot of competitors that just manufacture a ‘tight sock’ have lost the trust of the educated consumer, and true graduated compression products are rising to the top.”

DonJoy’s Performance Trizone Calf Support, $49.99, combines compression and bracing. Its silicone banding offers targeted support.

LEGEND’s Compression Performance Socks, $42.50, feature moderate graduated compression of 15 to 20 mmHg designed for all sports. With a terry cushioned sole.

Zensah’s Featherweight Compression Socks, $49.99, are the brand’s lightest. They have a targeted band for arch support.

runninginsight.com

Socks Get Specific Socks, the traditional compression category for runners, are stepping up the game with intricate knits, innovative fabrics and muscle-specific targeted compression. Michael Kilchenstein, COO of ZeroPoint, says that the brand’s socks have many different patterns, weaves and amounts of pressure depending on the location against the body. “When you examine our full-length socks, you’ll not only see graduated compression, you’ll also see different levels of compression for different levels of users,” he says. Fashion, fit, function and style, according to John Thomas, president and founder of LEGEND, are leading the compression conversation. “As graduated compression becomes more common, we are seeing understanding of the product increasing and buyers making more educated “We are seeing decisions on what type understanding of the of compression they product increasing want and how it should fit them,” he says. and buyers making The brands see a more educated bright future for the decisions.” category. JOHN THOMAS, “An increasing LEGEND number of brands and products continue to emerge, leading existing players to continuously innovate their technology, materials and finishes,” says Kim Gross, chief strategist of sales and marketing for Lily Trotters. “I envision products tailor-made for different uses and athletic activities.” Thomas agrees, adding that LEGEND is “investing in multiple compression markets, from sports to outdoors to everyday business, because we are seeing our customer demographic move more and more into an all-day health and fitness mindset in how they treat their bodies. We see these different markets as molding into one as the general population continues to seek out more fitness opportunities and work/life balance in their daily lives.” It was the stagnated, saturated market, says Debbie

RUN REFLECT PROTECT ADVANCED HIGH VISIBILITY COMPRESSION REFLECTIVE

GLASS PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY

ALUMINIUM COATED GLASS BEADS Al | 100mÎ¼

ADVANCED REFLECTIVITY Running, biking or whatever your activity, 2XU REFLECT provides compression support with high reflectivity to keep you visible from all angles and safe in low light conditions.

THE MOST ADVANCED SPORTS COMPRESSION ON THE PLANET

Compression’s Winning Combination (continued)

CEP Nighttech Socks combine graduated compression with the safety of reflective colored dots for high visibility during nighttime running. The socks are $65; sleeves (not pictured) are $45.

“We must include muscle targeting and such to increase the category’s value proposition.” ALBERTO BENARROCH, ZENSAH

runninginsight.com

ZeroPoint’s Pro Racing Compression Socks, $54.90, are ventilated and antimicrobial. Intense compression, strongest at the ankle, gradually decreases toward the top for optimal circulation.

Zamst’s HA-1 compression socks, $59.99, deliver gradual compression. Anatomically correct for the left and right foot, they flush out byproducts like lactic acid, reducing muscle vibration and fatigue.

Shannon, OS1st vice president of marketing, that led the brand to develop products that are “laser-focused on consumer needs in sports medicine and that re-engineer compression as bracing. The trend that we created with graduated zoned compression we believe will continue to lead the category.” It is likely, says Alberto Benarroch, Zensah director of marketing, that compression will become even more targeted. “A graduated sock is not enough to catch a customer’s attention,” he says. “We must include muscle targeting and such to increase the category’s value proposition.” Bryan Smeltzer, Zamst US general manager, says the category will continue to

McDavid’s Elite Compression Socks (8841), $49.99, feature the brand’s Targeted Compression. Made of a specialty yarn created from seaweed and wood cellulose, they have an anatomical 3D knit design at the toe and heel.

gain strength. “More and more runners are wearing compression socks,” he says. “The importance of recovery is one trend fueling the compression hosiery category. We have found more athletes recognizing that recovery is sometimes equally as important as working out, and they seek out products to shorten their recovery time.” Apparel Wears its Cred Well Increasingly, compression apparel is being seen as a “second skin” that moves with the body and improves health as well as athletic performance. Technology, the driving force behind the new products, is taking graduated and targeted

BRACE. YOUR PACE. NO SHOW - DOUBLE TAB

4 ™

Plantar Fasciitis Sock

Proven relief from your Plantar Fasciitis experts Designed using max-wicking technical fibers, seamless construction with built in best selling FS6® technology. Longer lasting, and more durable, the FS4™ Plantar Fasciitis Socks will continuously provide PF relief and help prevent recurring symptoms. FS4™ socks offer medical grade performance support to the entire foot structure. Call us or your OS1st rep for huge pre-order booking savings

BASE LAYER BRACING

OS1st.com // 877.647.0386

NO 0 STINK 360 NO SWEAT BLISTER PROTECTION

Compression’s Winning Combination (continued)

CW-X’s StabilyX Vented Under Tight, $150, is designed to be worn under running shorts when it’s warm or shell pants when it’s cold. Fabric moves air toward the skin to cool and wick.

“We see the opportunity for compression apparel that incorporates a hybrid of knit yarns and woven fabric, with the potential to add cooling fibers to the mix.” TRI NGUYEN, MCDAVID

runninginsight.com

2XU’s Men’s Reflect Compression Tights, $110, allow the wearer to stay visible from all angles with 360-degree reflective details.

compression one step beyond by focusing on specific muscles. “Targeted support and ventilated zones are being built into products with a focus on body-mapping concepts,” says CW-X’s Wilson. “We are continuing to evolve our patented EXO-WEB kinesiology-taping support technology, combined with strategic mesh venting zones for an optimum combination of support and comfort.” At 2XU, the emphasis is on new technologies like MCS (Muscle Containment Stamping) Reflect and Power Recovery. “We are always pushing the frontier of graduated compression and challenging ourselves to redefine the category,” says Kyle Martin, 2XU marketing director.

SKINS’ K-Proprium Compression Long Tights, $169.99, combine Dynamic Gradient Compression with built-in Proprioceptive Power Bands.

Tri Nguyen, McDavid product development manager, says that one of the bigger advances will be in fabrics. “Looking ahead, we see the opportunity for compression apparel that incorporates a hybrid of knit yarns and woven fabric, with the potential to add cooling fibers to the mix.” Smart technology, adds DonJoy Performance Product Specialist Anna Muñoz, M.Ed., ATC, will raise its IQ and significantly impact the category. “It’s being used for data collection primarily, including heart-rate monitoring, distance, steps, speed and body positioning,” she says. “We see this as the beginning of the trend of athletes turning to wearable technologies to aid in their performance and recovery.”

FULL POWER EVEN IN THE DARK. NIGHTTECH SOCKS & SLEEVES AVAILABLE NOW

Compression’s Winning Combination (continued)

EC3D’s Striker Ankle, $21.99, has calibrated compression of 20 to 25 mmHg and is designed to enhance posture and help correct light foot deviations like supination and pronation.

Bauerfeind’s Sports Compression Sleeves Lower Leg, $49.99, feature medical-grade compression for maximum leg muscle performance.

runninginsight.com

OS1st FS4 Plantar Fasciitis Socks No-Show Double Tab, $24.99, are designed for running and the prevention of plantar fasciitis. The brand’s patented Compression Zone Technology turns them into braces to improve wearability.

IntelliSkin makes posture a priority in its products. Its Smart Compression works with the body’s anatomy and physiology to tone underused muscles that lead to Upper Crossed Syndrome. “Intelligent compression stimulates the body to fire underused muscles to align the body and create joint centration,” says Dr. Tim Brown, founder and IntelliSkin inventor. “PostureCue and CoreCue Technologies restore the natural body alignment we were all born with.” Brown says that each time IntelliSkin apparel is worn, “it’s like a mini posture workout because it makes your body do the work. You become stronger and more confident as your proprioceptive awareness of good body alignment becomes second nature. Braces can make you weak and dependent. IntelliSkin stretches, strengthens and aligns your body from the moment you put it on.”

PROBLEM. ( #$%!!?! KNEE )

SOLUTION. ( CW-X® EXO-WEB™ )

Knees – can’t run with ‘em, can’t bend your leg without ‘em. By banding muscles and ligaments together to stabilize the joint, CW-X’s patented EXO-WEB™ finally provides an answer to the problem of knees. MEN’S STABILYX TIGHTS Patent #6186970

cw-x.com

Compression’s Winning Combination (continued)

IntelliSkin’s Foundation Tee, $110, features Smart Compression, which works with the body’s anatomy and physiology by stimulating cutaneous nerves in the skin and causing a response that tones under-used muscles.

Mueller’s Graduated Compression Arm Sleeves, $24.99, feature seamless engineering, 20 to 30 mmHg graduated compression, reflective logos, antimicrobial odor control and 50+ UV protection fabric.

For Runner’s It’s Not Only About The Feet “It takes roughly a minute for a blood cell to complete one lap through the body at about three feet per second,” says Richard Avis, product marketing manager, Mueller Sports Medicine. “Your blood hauls butt. Some may think arm sleeves aren’t so important for runners, but keep in mind that there is a great deal of blood in the arms. That same blood was in the legs just a few seconds before. It makes sense that efficiencies in venous return from the arms benefit the entire body, including the legs. And while the arms don’t take on ground-reaction forces as do the legs, they still perform a great deal of work. Most runners know the feeling of ‘heavy arms.’ That’s fatigue. Good arm sleeves are very relevant.” n

Roll to Recovery 16

runninginsight.com

Athlos Brings its Custom Apparel to Run Retail Once the order is finalized, the company either ships the merchandise directly to the club or team with a “bounce back” coupon to the store, or ships the merchandise to the store where team members can come in and pick it up in person, which Sporidis says serves as a traffic driver. In either case the store earns a commission on the sale, typically in the neighborhood of 15 percent. “We try and serve as a special-order concierge,” says Dave Manchester, the other Athlos co-founder, who spent 20 years with Cannondale. “The custom business can be a headache for retailers and we try and keep everyone happy with the end result of making money and building a stronger relationship between the consumer and the store.” Athlos, a young Manchester says Athlos recently completed company that an in-store program with Princeton Sports, a two-unit specialty store in Maryland for a has had success 400-person triathlon club that is participating with independent in an IRONMAN race on October 8. bike stores, has Athlos can also accommodate smaller introduced an apparel orders in cases where a consumer will walk into the store and say “me and 30 of my collection that will buddies are doing a race and need shirts,” bring its concept to Manchester said. running stores. Athlos has six designers and graphic artists on staff who are critical to developing and approving product designs on short notice. thlos was founded in May 2016 based Once the design is approved, the product is produced using on the idea of delivering high quality American-made fabrics in factories in El Salvador, where customized cycling gear to clubs and the garments are made using fusing rather than sewing. teams and creating special merchandise The factory also has sublimation capabilities. with lead times of less than 30 days. Sporidis says Athlos keeps a solid inventory of Earlier this summer, the company performance fabrics, zippers and other components on introduced a line of running T-shirts, shorts and singlets that hand and uses very few companies in its supply chain. will allow the company to start working with run stores. “We keep it simple, which means orders flow smoothly “Many companies who offer what we do bypass retailers and quickly.” The lead times are also tight because of and go direct to consumers and clubs,” says Phil Sporidis, the proximity of the factories to its Atlanta headquarters one of the founders of Athlos. “It’s not our intent to bypass (about three hours). retailers. We want to be a resource for them.” “Specialty retail is just about the hardest job in the world Atlanta-based Athlos works with retailers in a number of right now,” says Manchester. “Store owners have to deal ways. In certain instances, Athlos will set up a web portal with employees, landlords, banks and customers, so we for a store that allows its customers to order merchandise try and make their lives a little bit easier. If we do our job that meets with their particular specifications. Customers correctly, retailers can make money selling custom apparel can choose colors, place their logos and team names online without holding inventory and having to worry about turns and Athlos works with them on sizing and approvals. and pre-orders.” n

A 18

runninginsight.com

TRE Is Courting Race Directors

SPECIAL RACE DIRECTOR REGISTRATION RATE OF $195 INCLUDES: • Access to conferences and workshops • Entry to the three-day TRE Trade Show • Registration in the Indie 5K race • Invitation to the Wed. night reception and two lunches.

RACE DIRECTORS CAN REGISTER FOR TRE ONLINE

CLICK TO REGISTER

he Running Event is courting race directors of road, trail, triathlon and obstacle races by providing comprehensive programming and access to key players across the sport. Race and event directors who register for the three-day package will have the opportunity to network with the top manufacturers and retailers and attend The BibRave 100 awards luncheon honoring the best races in America. “We know how important race directors are to the running community, and last year we were thrilled to open our doors to event directors of all kinds,” says Troy Leonard, show director of The Running Event (TRE). “We’re all playing under the same tent – retailers, manufacturers, accessory vendors, running media, and race directors alike, and TRE brings the entire $1.4 billion running industry together to grow the sport,” says Leonard. A special race director registration rate of $195 includes access to conferences and workshops on Wednesday, Nov. 29, entry to the three-day TRE Trade Show, registration in the Indie 5K race, an invitation to the Wednesday night reception on the trade show floor, and two lunches. Race directors can register for TRE online at: https://formula4media.swoogo. com/therunningevent2017/register?reg_ type_id=14794

Just as TRE will bring together all facets of the running business – retailers, brands, manufacturers, sponsors, and races – BibRave is incorporating relationships from across the running world – from races and running brands to race vendors and a burgeoning online community of social runners – to create a definitive list of the best races in America. “BibRave is all about elevating the best races and helping runners decide their next racing destination,” says Tim Murphy, CEOfounder of BibRave. “Collaborating with TRE to honor the best races at a live awards luncheon is the perfect extension for The BibRave 100.” The BibRave 100 (TheBibRave100.com) will feature the top 20 Marathons, top 20 Half Marathons, top 15 10Ks, and the top 15 5Ks, as well as three top-10 lists of runner-nominated categories (i.e. Best Medal, Best Scenery, Best Post-Race, etc.), according to Murphy. “While plenty other ‘Best of’ lists exist, none incorporate this many voices and viewpoints,” says Murphy. “Considering our diverse blend of relationships, The BibRave 100 will be the definitive list showcasing the very best.” n For more information contact Show Director, Troy Leonard at tleonard@formula4media.com or (352) 624-156

HOTEL SCAM ALERT THE RUNNING EVENT ® DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANY THIRD PARTY HOTEL BOOKING COMPANIES TO USE OUR TRADEMARK.

Each year unofficial housing companies attempt to take advantage of our show participants. Do not be fooled by unofficial housing companies soliciting your housing business claiming to be from The Running Event. They do not have access to our room block. Often times our exhibitors who purchase rooms through these companies arrive and have no room available, no way of recovering the charges to them and have put their personal information at risk.

runninginsight.com

The Running Event (TRE) will not call you for hotel bookings, and we will only contact you via email to direct you to our website. TRE will provide all the information with direct links on our website once registration opens. www.therunningevent.com Please contact Christina Henderson for further information: chenderson@formula4media.com • 516-305-4712

New Balance Unveils NYC Marathon Collection

ew Balance has introduced a 27-piece Marathon collection to mark its first year as the official apparel and footwear sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. “The collection celebrates the history of this iconic race, drawing inspiration directly from the diverse runners who are drawn to New York and the city itself,” Tom Carleo, New Balance’s vice president of running, says. Indeed, the signature pieces in the collection, a line of running jackets, bears a striking resemblance to the jackets that New Balance advertised in Runner’s World magazine more than 30 years ago. The footwear line features a design motif of speckled gold dots, which Carleo says is meant to “reflect the bright lights of New York.” “The designers came up with this neat thing where they took satellite photos of the Eastern Seaboard, and as you get to the greater New York area, it’s mind-boggling what it looks like from 30,000 feet at night,” Carleo says. You can find the gold in the trim and details of apparel and sneakers in the limited-edition collection. n

Marathon Windcheater Jacket

runninginsight.com

860v8 Marathon

Marathon Seasonless Long Sleeve

INTRODUCING THIN RUNNING with

DIGIFADE GRAPHICS TM

NO SHOW TAB

N E W SMALLER RETA IL PA CKA G ING

THIN

RUNNING SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY #1 TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP FEET DRY ANTI-BLISTER . 3D ADVANCED FIT ACTIVE ODOR CONTROL . DURABLE

MINI CREW

CREW

AVAILABLE NO W Inquire for free sample: sample@drymaxsports.com

MADE IN USA

DRYMAXSPORTS.COM

Running Shorts Zamst Taps Into Authenticity

Podcast: Listen to an interview with Zamst’s Bryan Smeltzer at sportsinsightextra.com/podcast.html

The 22-year-old sports protective company Zamst prides itself on being a “First mover brand willing to take risks and disrupt the status quo for the benefit of the retailer and consumers,” says Bryan Smeltzer, general manager of Zamst Americas. The Irvine, California company, a subsidiary of Japan’s Sigamax, focuses on authenticity and identifying product around specific injuries consumers may have. For example, Zamst’s Fusion technology, a twotime Gold Innovation award winner at ISPO, combines bracing and taping. We recently conducted a podcast interview with Smeltzer. Listen to the podcast here: sportsinsightextra.com/ podcast.html Key New Retail Locations for ASICS America

ASICS America has recently celebrated two new store openings showcasing

runninginsight.com

its new retail concept—one in the Mall of America in Minnesota and another at International Market Place in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. Both locations feature sustainability considerations in lighting, flooring and other materials used throughout. The new stores are designed to “bring to life innovation and technical excellence” and will offer the brand’s performance footwear, apparel and accessories. The stores also include an ASICS MOTION ID area that uses sensors to capture consumers’ natural posture and style of movement when running. NFL Stars Partner with Reebok; Showcase Print Run Ultraknit Shoes

Reebok has signed NFL players Brandin Cooks and Devonta Freeman as new endorsers. Cooks and Freeman will support Reebok Running’s new Print Run Ultraknit and join the brand’s ambassador

roster that includes J.J Watt, Aly Raisman and Gigi Hadid. “We are honored to welcome Brandin and Devonta to the Reebok family, working with us to develop the best possible running and training product for the fitness community across the country. Both athletes are emblematic of power and explosive speed – what better starting points to build durable, highperformance running and training products?” says Scott Daley, general manager of running at Reebok. “We’re excited about what can be achieved with these talented young men on our team.” Reebok’s Print Run Ultraknit shoe has an Ultraknit upper for flexibility and breathability, as well as pressure mapping technology to deliver precise cushioning. An inner fit system and external TPU heel clip enhance support and fit. n

WHO IS THE FASTEST RETAILER IN AMERICA? INDIE5K PRESENTING SPONSORS:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Exhibitor & Sponsorship Information: Troy Leonard: tleonard@formula4media.com / 352-624-1561

THE RuNNING EvENT 2017

THE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW FOR RuNNING RETAILERS

NOvEMbER 28- DECEMbER 1, 2017 AuSTIN CONvENTION CENTER