Champs Sports

Last updated
Champs Sports
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded1984;40 years ago (1984)
Founder Bill Robinson
Headquarters,
U.S.
Number of locations
547 stores (January 2015)
Area served
Key people
Bryon Milburn (CEO) [1]
Products Sports apparel, equipment, footwear, and accessories
Parent Foot Locker
Website champssports.com

Champs Sports is an American sports retail store, it operates as a subsidiary of Foot Locker. [2] [3] Products sold at Champs Sports include apparel, equipment, footwear, and accessories. As of June 2019, there were 540 store locations found throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. [2] The stores are mainly located in shopping malls, and are 3,500 square feet (330 m2) on average.

Contents

History

Logo used until early 2022 Champs Sports logo.svg
Logo used until early 2022

Early years

Champs Sports was acquired in the 1980s by the Woolworth Corporation, then a specialty store division of the F. W. Woolworth Company. It, along with Foot Locker (which was owned by Woolworth and is now the name of the company that succeeded Woolworth), sold athletic merchandise, replacing the five and dime and department store concepts with the increasing specialty store concept.

In 1997, the Woolworth Corporation acquired the mail-order catalogue athletic retailer Eastbay for approximately 146 million dollars. [4]

A few months later, on July 17, 1997, the F. W. Woolworth Company closed their remaining department stores. The surviving Woolworth Corporation changed its name to Venator Group, Inc., while continuing its focus on the specialty store idea.[ citation needed ]

21st Century

In 2000, after a decline in the market of sports apparel, Venator Group shuttered many of their stores, including 27 Champs Sports locations. This proved successful as high-end footwear grew in popularity. [5]

Marketing

Swag Magazine

With the first issue released on August 28, 2012, Swag Magazine is a quarterly online magazine focused on showing sports fans a different side of athletes and celebrities. Champs Sports partnered with many companies, including Under Armour, Adidas, and Nike, giving fans an interesting look on sports. The magazine features athlete interviews, athletic gear, and interactive videos. [6] [7]

Nike Yardline

On September 8, 2012, Champs Sports and Nike launched Nike Yardline, a store specializing in NFL apparel. The first store opened in the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, New Jersey. Champs Sports and Nike stated that they are looking to expand the concept in the future. [8]

Between January 5–6, 2013, a Nike Yardline location was also opened in South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida during BCS weekend. The store displayed college football apparel featuring participating bowl teams, including Alabama Crimson Tide and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. [9]

On June 19, 2013, Champs Sports and Nike launched their second mall-based location in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Promoting the grand opening was Minnesota Vikings's running back Adrian Peterson, who signed autographs and released a new shoe style. [10] [11]

Sponsorships

From 2004 until June 18, 2012, Champs Sports sponsored the Florida Citrus Sports's annual college football bowl game. Each sponsorship is a four-year deal costing them $4.25 million. Vice president of Champs Sports Rob Brodersen commented, "As the premier mall destination for the core sports enthusiast, it is a natural fit for Champs Sports to continue our partnership with FCS. We are excited to strengthen our relationship and look forward to further success by building upon our athletic heritage with this high profile college bowl game." [12] Although the name of the bowl was changed, Champs Sports continued to remain an official partner of both the Russell Athletic Bowl and the Capital One Bowl through 2014. [13]

Controversies

Dispute with Nike

In late 2002, Nike placed restrictions on stores that sold their products. These restrictions required stores, including Foot Locker and its subsidiaries, to sell less popular lines of merchandise alongside the high-end products. Knowing the sale of these products could negatively impact profits, Foot Locker refused to sell any Nike products unless they received better quality products. Both Nike and Foot Locker suffered from the lack of sales. A negotiated agreement ended the dispute in late 2003, and Nike products were re-admitted to the stores. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. W. Woolworth Company</span> Retail company

The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company and one of the pioneers of the five-and-dime store. It was among the most successful American and international five-and-dime businesses, setting trends and creating the modern retail model that stores follow worldwide today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporting Life (retailer)</span> Canadian sporting retailer

Sporting Life is a sporting retailer shop based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sporting Life sells sporting goods specially made for runners, cyclers, skiers, snowboarders, and hikers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesco</span> American footwear retailer

Genesco Inc. is an American publicly owned specialty retailer of branded footwear and accessories and is a wholesaler of branded and licensed footwear based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded as the Jarman Shoe Company in 1924 as a footwear manufacturer, the company changed its name to the General Shoe Company in 1931 and became a public company in 1939. The company took its current name, Genesco, in 1959. Genesco exited footwear manufacturing in 2002 and now contracts with independent, third parties located outside the United States to manufacture its branded and licensed footwear. In June 2011, Genesco acquired U.K. retail chain and web business Schuh, which gave them an already well-established grounding in a market outside of the U.S.

A discount store or discounter offers a retail format in which products are sold at prices that are in principle lower than an actual or supposed "full retail price". Discounters rely on bulk purchasing and efficient distribution to keep down costs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foot Locker</span> American multinational footwear and sportswear retail company

Foot Locker, Inc. is an American sportswear and footwear retailer, with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and operating in over 40 countries.

Famous Footwear is a nationwide chain of retail stores in the United States dealing in branded footwear, generally at prices discounted from manufacturer's suggested prices. The chain is a division of the St. Louis–based Caleres and had more than 1,125 stores in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastbay</span> US sporting goods retailer

Eastbay was an American supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment, selling through direct mail and the internet. In 1997, it became a subsidiary of the F. W. Woolworth Company, later known as Foot Locker, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza del Norte</span> Shopping mall located in Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Plaza del Norte is a 698,581 sq ft (64,900.3 m2) shopping center located in Hatillo, Puerto Rico currently owned and managed by DDR Corp. It is the largest shopping center in northwestern Puerto Rico, with over 130 stores and fast food restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hibbett Sports</span> American holding company

Hibbett, Inc. is an American publicly traded holding company for Hibbett Sporting Goods, a full line sporting goods retailer headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. As of February 3, 2024, the company operated 1,169 retail stores, which include 960 Hibbett Sports stores, 193 City Gear stores, and 16 Sports Additions athletic shoe stores in 36 states. Hibbett Sports, Inc. operates sporting goods stores in small to mid-sized markets, in the Southeast, Southwest and lower Midwest regions of the United States. States with the most stores are Georgia (97), Texas (97), and Alabama (90). Its stores offer a range of athletic equipment, footwear and apparel. The company's primary store format is the Hibbett Sports store, an approximately 5,000 square foot store located primarily in strip centers which are frequently influenced by a Wal-Mart store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Athlete's Foot</span> American clothing store chain

The Athlete's Foot (TAF) is a global retailer of athletic inspired lifestyle and streetwear — footwear, apparel and accessories. Its global headquarters are located Stans, Switzerland and US headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Oviedo Mall is a single-story indoor shopping mall, with movie theater, located in Oviedo, Florida, a northeastern suburb of Orlando, Florida. The mall is owned and managed by International Growth Properties. Its only current anchor store is Dillard's, although there are two empty spaces that formerly housed Macy’s and Sears. Other major tenants are Barnes & Noble, a Paul Mitchell cosmetology school, and a Regal Cinemas movie theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinney Shoes</span> Shoe retailer

The G.R. Kinney Company was an American manufacturer and retailer of shoes from 1894 until September 16, 1998. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in March 1923, with the symbol KNN. The shoe concern was started by George Romanta Kinney whose father ran a general store in rural Candor, New York. The father became indebted and George vowed to repay his debts. In 1894, at the age of 28, he had saved enough to purchase a Lester retail outlet in Waverly, New York. Lester Shoe of Binghamton, New York was the predecessor to the Endicott Johnson Corporation. Kinney succeeded by selling affordably priced shoes to working Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tillys</span> American retail clothing company

Tillys is an American retail clothing company that sells an assortment of branded apparel, accessories, shoes, and more. Tillys is headquartered and operated from Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza Rio Hondo</span> Shopping mall in Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Plaza Rio Hondo is a shopping mall in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. It opened in 1982 and is anchored by Marshalls Megastore, Caribbean Cinemas, TJ Maxx, Best Buy, Golden Corral, Pueblo Supermarkets, Chili's Grill & Bar, Walgreens, and PetSmart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marathon Sports (retailer)</span> American sporting goods retailer

Marathon Sports, LLC. is an American chain of sporting goods retailers founded in 1975. It is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and operates 14 stores in Massachusetts and 4 locations in Connecticut operating under the Marathon Sports brand and three locations in New Hampshire operating under the Runner's Alley brand. The chain mainly sells running/walking footwear and athletic apparel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. P. Charlton & Company</span>

E. P. Charlton & Company, also known as E. P. Charlton Company, E. P. Charlton, or simply Charlton's was an American chain of five and ten cent stores owned by Earle Perry Charlton, which merged with several associated brands to create the F. W. Woolworth Company in 1912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonial Plaza</span> Shopping mall in Florida, U.S.

Colonial Plaza is a shopping mall in Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened in 1956, it was the largest retail development in the state of Florida at the time of its construction. The original complex included two supermarkets and two variety stores, plus a Belk department store. It underwent multiple expansions in its history, the first of which added a Jordan Marsh department store and an enclosed mall concourse. Further expansion in 1973 added a second enclosed wing and a relocation of Belk, while Ivey's was added in 1983 and sold to Dillard's in 1990.

Afterthoughts was a chain of accessory and jewelry stores in the United States, from the 1980s to 2002.

Retailing in New Zealand is an important sector in the economy of New Zealand, as a channel for a large proportion of household spending and international visitor spending.

References

  1. "Foot Locker, Inc. - Announces Organization Changes". www.footlocker-inc.com.
  2. 1 2 "About Us". Foot Locker . Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. "Champs Sports Information". Foot Locker. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  4. "Woolworth acquires direct marketer". Advertising Age. 3 December 1996. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. 1 2 "History of Foot Locker, Inc". Funding Universe. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. Glass, Alana. "LeBron James Headlines Champs Sports' SWAG Magazine". Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  7. "Champs Sports Ups Its Game with Launch of SWAG". Business Wire (Press release). Business Wire. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. Richard, Brandon. "Nike and Champs Launch Yardline, First Football Retail Destination". Sole Collector. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  9. ""Nike Yardline at Champs Sports" on South Beach Delivers Premium Retail Experience". Nike, Inc. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  10. "NIKE, Inc. : Adrian Peterson Opens Doors to New Nike Yardline at Champs Sports". 4-Traders. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  11. Kim, John (21 June 2013). "Nike Yardline Opening at Champs Sports in the Mall of America". FreshnessMag.com. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  12. "Champs Sports extends sponsorship of Orlando bowl game". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  13. Romero, Iliana Limón (Jun 19, 2012). "FCS lands new title sponsor, changes name from Champs Sports to Russell Athletic Bowl". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2019-10-25.