Comments

Haven’t we seen this type of merger before -- Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler?

Posted by Making Innovation Work at August 3, 2005 9:55 PM

Disagree on the premise of entertaining giving Nike a run for their money - Halley - this is anti TP culture of "bigger is better" - mentioned by TP a zillion times.

The main deal may be that Reeboks' Canton, Massachusetts headquarters will soon be firing many of its employees in a cost cutting frenzy - like we've never seen that before - heads up Mass. takes another hit.

Posted by Sean at August 4, 2005 4:02 AM

Maybe Tom should make his speeches elsware then the Oktoberfest?
Then there migth have been less "It’s déjà vu all over again." ?!

Posted by Matt at August 4, 2005 4:13 AM

Supposedly Reebok is "hip hop" cool but people on the street say hip hop is dying due to violent antics toward women, gangbanging, STD sexual content, et. al.

Posted by Sean at August 4, 2005 1:23 PM

No, Sean, don't tell me that Hip Hop is dying soon! I'm just getting over the death of disco! sigh ...ya say a hip, hop, a hippy to the hippity hip hip hop you don't stop...

Seriously though, Nike will rarely be rivalled for street cred unless the other manufacturers get some action-PR from College and NBA basketball players who set shoe trends for the hip young things in our society.

There are other HUGE segments in the sneaker market however where they can make MASSIVE "strides":

The walking market (think BOOMERS)
The aerobics/active women's market (think WOMEN)

Personally, I always thought I was cool wearing my converse all stars, k-swiss or le coq sportif back in the early 80s! But then, I was a yuppy swimming/lacrosse player...and we had very little fashion sense (Remember Izod?)

Posted by Tom O'Leary at August 4, 2005 2:06 PM

This buy-out will see a further round of consolidation in the sports market... as the gain of this buy out, will see the rise in market share and event space of Addidas in asian nations. Moreso, when the bejing thing is on the door.Can Nike afford to sit back?

Posted by pankaj at August 5, 2005 7:33 AM

Both Reebok and Adidas have unleashed walking boots/approach shoes into the UK outdoor shops in the past, but little has been seen or heard from either brand over the last few years.

I work on one of the main outdoor magazines in the UK and I've had more approaches concerning Nike's ACG range in the last year than I've had from Reebok and Adidas combined in the last five years!

Interestingly enough though, I've just been on the receiving end of the press pack concerning Timberland's Spring 2006 ranges...

It will be interesting to see how much integration there will be between the brands and whether they can retain clear seperate identities.

And as to whether a rap act brings out a track called 'My Reebok'...

Cheers

Keith

Posted by Keith Rickaby at August 7, 2005 3:13 PM