New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

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Type	Privately held company
Industry	Footwear
Founded	1906 as New Balance Arch Support Company
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Key people	William J. Riley, founder Jim Davis, Chairman Robert T. DeMartini, CEO & President John Withee, Exec. Vice President and CFO
Products	Athletic shoes, shoes, apparel
Revenue	US$1.55 billion (2006)[1]
Employees	4,180 worldwide (October 2008)[1]
Website	newbalance.com

New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. (NBAS), best known as simply New Balance, is an American footwear manufacturer based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company. Eschewing expensive advertising campaigns, it has, nevertheless, grown to be one of the largest makers of sports footwear in the world.

New Balance has continued to maintain a manufacturing presence in the United States as well as in the United Kingdom for the European market, where they produce some of their popular models such as the 990 model, in contrast to its competitors in the same market space who do not manufacture in the USA or UK. The result of this is that New Balance shoes tend to be more expensive than those of many other manufacturers. To offset this pricing difference, New Balance claims to differentiate their products with technical features, such as a blend of gel inserts, heel counters, and a greater selection of sizes, particularly for very narrow and/or very wide widths.

History[link]

In 1906, William J. Riley, a 33-year old British emigrant, founded the New Balance Arch Support Company manufacturing arch supports and other accessories designed to improve shoe fit in Boston, Massachusetts. His first product, a flexible arch support, was designed with three support points (a triangle) to provide greater balance and comfort in the shoe. It is believed that Riley came up with the name "New Balance" by observing chickens in his yard and demonstrated the way his arch supports worked by keeping a chicken foot on his office desk. He explained to customers that the chicken's three-clawed foot resulted in perfect balance. In 1927, Riley hired Arthur Hall to be a salesman. In 1934, Hall became a business partner and found his niche by marketing to people whose jobs required them to spend much time standing.^[2] In 1956, Hall sold the business to his daughter Eleanor and her husband Paul Kidd.

Eleanor and Paul Kidd continued to sell mainly arch supports until 1960, when they designed and manufactured the "Trackster," the world's first running shoe made with a ripple sole. It was also the first running shoe to come in varying widths. The "Trackster" was given a big boost through the YMCA programs in which it became the unofficial shoe. College track teams such as MIT, Tufts University and Boston University adopted the New Balance Trackster for their cross-country teams, soon to be followed by other colleges and private high schools around the country.^[2]

Marketing was mostly word-of-mouth or local sports fairs. Sales languished until 1972 when current Chairman Jim Davis bought the company on the day of the Boston Marathon. At the time, the company consisted of just six people making 30 pairs of shoes daily and selling products mostly through mail-order with a few U.S. retailers. Jim committed himself to uphold the company's traditional commitment to individual preferences, customer service and quality products. His future wife Anne, who joined the company in 1978, focused on building a distinct culture for New Balance employees and customers. Their timing was perfect, as the Boston area became a center for the running boom that struck the U.S. in the 1970s. Their product line expanded and sales grew rapidly. The company prospered, and the Davises looked to expand New Balance into a global company. The company is now run by Rob DeMartini. DeMartini's background includes Procter & Gamble and Gillette Shave Company. Today, 30% of the New Balance shoes sold in the European market are manufactured at the New Balance facility in England.

Shoes[link]

A New Balance running shoe

New Balance headquarters

New Balance is one of few shoe manufacturers to offer the majority of its shoes in a wide range of widths, typically men's range from B to 6E with 3 other widths in between (D, 2E, 4E) and one narrower offering (2A). Women's range from 4A to 4E with four widths to choose from in between (2A, B, D, 2E).

New Balance does not give names to the shoes it sells, instead referring to them by a 2, 3, or 4 digit model number. This is done to "place an emphasis on the New Balance philosophy, not any one particular shoe".^[3] When a shoe is redesigned, the model number is increased by one. The numbering system originated from the price. The Tracker 320 was $32, the 990 was $99, etc. However, now the model number reflects the category of the shoe such as stability, neutral, lightweight, and motion control. The numbering system allows customers to identify which shoes are in the categories that best fit their needs.

Made in USA (and UK) stance[link]

New Balance is one of several shoe companies that makes some of their products in the United States. Green America states in the New Balance Responsible Shopper company information page that around one quarter of NB's shoes are made in the United States.^[4] New Balance owns six factories in the United States: two in Massachusetts (Boston and Lawrence), three in Maine (Norridgewock, Skowhegan, and Norway), and one in California. ^[5][6]

In 1994, New Balance manufactured 70% of its shoes in the United States.^[7] In 2006, New Balance stated on it's customer help site that "approximately 25% of the New Balance shoes sold in North America are Made in the USA and we will continue domestic manufacturing." ^[8] According to Fortune Magazine in 2006, "about 70 percent of its shoes are now made in China and the other 5 percent in Vietnam." ^[9]

The New Balance production facility in the United Kingdom has been, since 1982, at Flimby, Cumbria in North West England, where 28,000 pairs of shoes are produced each week.

Toning footwear[link]

A class action lawsuit against New Balance filed in 2011 alleges that the company's toning footwear touts unproven benefits. In support of its claim of false advertising, it cites a University of Wisconsin – La Crosse research study on Toning Shoes that has been funded and published by the American Council on Exercise.^[10]

Researchers reported that there were no “statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation” as a result of wearing the Toning Shoes. There was no statistically significant difference between participants wearing special "Toning shoes" and controls wearing normal sneakers. The researchers concluded that there is "simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.” However, it was noted that “These shoes may be encouraging a fair number of people who probably wouldn’t put on a normal pair of walking shoes and go out and walk." ^[11]

Sponsorships[link]

A member key for the New Balance Hubway system in Boston.

New Balance is the apparel partner for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. It also has one endorsement deal in the NBA with Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs. New Balance also sponsors the Boston Cannons major league lacrosse team (MLL). New Balance is also the primary sponsor of Boston's bike share system, the New Balance Hubway.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Sneakerset.com sneakerpedia
• FTC "Complying with the Made In the USA Standard" site
• Info on New Balance UK manufacturing

Anton Krupicka

Personal information
Nickname(s)	Tony
Born	(1983-08-08) August 8, 1983 (age 28) Nebraska
Website	http://antonkrupicka.blogspot.com/
Sport
Country	United States
Event(s)	Ultramarathon
Team	New Balance
Turned pro	2006
Coached by	Self

Anton Krupicka is an American ultra-runner. He has won the Leadville 100 twice,^[1] the Miwok 100K,^[2] the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler,^[3] the Collegiate Peaks 50 Miler, the White River 50 Miler twice (Set 2010 CR 6:25:29),^[4] the High Mountain 50k and the Estes Park Marathon. He also came in second in the Western States Endurance Run in 2010 in what would have been a course record time of 15:13:53.^[5]

Training and personal life[link]

Krupicka is known for his long hair and beard as well as his minimalist approach. He often runs without a shirt and with very lightweight minimal running shoes. He ran his first marathon when he was twelve. During college and in his early 20s he often ran upwards of 200 miles a week. Krupicka is featured in the film Indulgence: 1000 Miles Under The Colorado Sky^[6] which chronicles his Summer 2007 training leading up to the Leadville Trail 100.

Krupicka is a graduate student at the University of Colorado. He is pursuing a MA in geography, focused on alpine/mountain watersheds and acid mine drainage.^[7] Krupicka earned his BA from Colorado College^[8] in 2005, double-majoring in physics and philosophy. In 2006, he completed a second BA at Colorado College in geology.

External links[link]

• Anton's Blog
• Running Times Blog
• Feature on Anton in Competitor Magazine
• "How Krupicka Raced the Western States 100" Running Times
• Outdoor Ambassador's Profile
• Backcountry Runner Profile

Notes[link]

Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani at the Red day Party in GUM, Moscow
Born	(1934-07-11) 11 July 1934 (age 77) Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Fashion designer
Parents	Ugo Armani Maria Raimondi
Awards	CFDA International Award for 1983
Labels	Giorgio Armani S.p.A., Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Casa.

Giorgio Armani (pronounced [ˈdʒordʒo arˈmaːni]; born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy,^[1] with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a personal fortune of $7 billion as of 2012.^[2]

Early years[link]

He was born in the northern Italian town of Piacenza, where he was raised with two other siblings,Mariana Armani and Penelope Armani(who also work along with him), along with his mother Maria Raimondi and father Ugo Armani. Armani aspired to a career in medicine after reading A. J. Cronin's The Citadel, and enrolled at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.^[3] In 1953, after two years of studies, he was called to military service, which included working in a military hospital. The experience convinced him that he was not cut out to be a doctor.

Design career[link]

After his stint in the armed forces Armani found a job as a window dresser at La Rinascente, a department store in Milan. He went on to become a seller for the menswear department, in which capacity he gained valuable experience in the marketing aspect of the fashion industry. In the mid-1960s, Armani moved to the Nino Cerruti company, for which he designed menswear. His skills were in demand, and for the next decade, while continuing to work for Cerutti, Armani also freelanced, contributing designs to as many as ten manufacturers at a time. In the late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti, an architectural draftsman, which marked the beginning of a personal and professional relationship that lasted for many years. In 1973 Galeotti persuaded him to open a design office in Milan, at 37 corso Venezia. This led to a period of extensive collaboration, during which Armani worked as a freelance designer for a number of fashion houses, including Allegri, Bagutta, Hilton, Sicons, Gibò, Montedoro, and Tendresse. The international press was quick to acknowledge Armani's importance following the runway shows at the Sala Bianca in the Pitti Palace in Florence. The experience provided Armani with an opportunity to develop his own style in new ways. He was now ready to devote his energy to his own label, and in 1975 he founded Giorgio Armani Spa in Milan with his friend Galeotti. In October of that same year he presented his first collection of men's ready-to-wear for Spring and Summer 1976 under his own name. He also produced a women's line for the same season.

Armani established an innovative relationship with industry, characterized by the 1978 agreement with Gruppo Finanzario Tessile (GFT), which made it possible to produce luxury ready-to-wear in a manufacturing environment under the attentive supervision of the company's designer. In 1979, after founding the Giorgio Armani Corporation, Armani began producing for the United States and introduced the Mani line for men and women. The label became one of the leading names in international fashion with the introduction of several new product lines, including G. A. Le Collezioni, Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, and Giorgio Armani Accessories. In the early 1980s the company signed an important agreement with L'Oréal to create perfumes and introduced the Armani Junior, Armani Jeans, and Emporio Armani lines, followed in 1982 by the introduction of Emporio Underwear, Swimwear, and Accessories. A new store was opened in Milan for the Emporio line, followed by the first Giorgio Armani boutique. Armani's concern for the end user culminated in the development of a more youthful product with the same level of stylistic quality as his high-end line, but at a more accessible price.

Because of the democratic nature of the Emporio line, Armani felt that he had to make use of new and unconventional advertising methods. These included television spots and enormous street ads, together with a house magazine that was sent out by mail to consumers, faithful Armani Eagle wearers. Armani also felt that a relationship with the cinema was essential, both for promotional reasons and for the stimulus to creativity. He designed the costumes for American Gigolo (1980), the success of which led to a long-term collaboration with the world of film. Armani designed costumes for more than one hundred films, one of the most important of which was The Untouchables (1987).

In 1983 the designer modified his agreement with GFT. They began to produce both the Mani line for the United States and his high-end ready-to-wear line, rechristened Borgonuovo 21, after the address of the company's headquarters. During the late 1980s, despite Galeotti's death (1985), Armani continued to expand commercial horizons and licensing agreements. He opened Armani Japan and introduced a line of eyeglasses (1988), socks (1987), a gift collection (1989), and a new "basic" men's and women's line for America known as A/X Armani Exchange (1991). After the frenetic expansion of the 1990s (sportswear, watches, eyeglasses, cosmetics, home, and new accessories collections), 2000, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the brand, saw a flurry of investment activity, including stock sales and the acquisition of new manufacturing capacity intended to increase Armani's control over the quality and distribution of his products.

Armani's men's and women's skiwear and ski casualwear line was developed in 1995. His 1991 project, A/X: Armani Exchange, represented Armani's attempt to break into the American mass market, offering lower prices for the relaxed chic clothes. He also prepared to break in the Chinese market by opening up his first store in that country in 1998. The small shop in Beijing was followed by a flagship store in Shanghai in 2004 and plans for 40 by 2011. In 2000, Giorgio Armani SpA was introducing new lines of cosmetics and home furnishings, and expanding its line of accessories. At the same time, the Guggenheim Museum in New York hosted an exhibition of Armani's work, a first for a living designer. With average attendance of 29,000 a week, the show featured Armani's eveningwear for women, which although one of the designer's strong areas, was not even his main interest.

In 2008 Armani designed the bullfighting costume, called the "Goyesco", worn by Spanish bullfighter Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez at the "Corrida Goyesca" in Ronda, Spain. They have also collaborated on several fashion shows and other events.^[4]

As of 2009, Armani has a retail network of 60 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 11 Collezioni, 122 Emporio Armani, 94 A/X Armani exchange, 13 Armani Junior, and 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori spread over 37 different countries.

Innovations[link]

Armani was the first designer to ban models with a body mass index (BMI) under 18, after model Ana Carolina Reston starved herself to death due to anorexia nervosa.

Armani broadcast his collection live on the Internet, a first in the world of haute couture, on 24 January 2007. The Armani Privé Spring/Summer 2007 fashion show was broadcast via MSN and Cingular cellular phones.^[5]

After LG teamed with Prada to introduce the LG Prada phone, Samsung joined Armani to design the Giorgio Armani phone.

Armani designed made-to-measure suits for Christian Bale's character Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight. Advertisements featuring "Giorgio Armani for Bruce Wayne" were released in 2008 with pictures of Christian Bale wearing Armani suits. However, Bale later claimed in a GQ interview that the campaign was produced without his permission.^[6]

Armani has designed many stage outfits for pop superstar Lady Gaga, including those worn on her record breaking Monster Ball Tour and Born This Way Ball Tour. And to many high-profile award shows, such as the 52nd Grammy Awards and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards

Sport[link]

Giorgio Armani has a keen interest in sports. He is the president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team,^[7] Inter Milan fan,^[8][9] and has twice designed suits for the England national football team.^[8][10] He has since designed suits worn by players of the London club Chelsea since August 2007.^[11] He designed the Italian flag bearers' outfits at the opening ceremony at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin^[12] and has been chosen to design Italy's Olympic uniforms for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[12] Armani also designed and introduced the EA7 range, a brand inspired by Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko, who at the time played for A.C. Milan and wore the number 7 jersey.^{[citation needed]}

The Chelsea Football Club has commissioned Armani to create a new look for its Directors' Suite at Stamford Bridge. To be called the "Armani Lounge," the dining room and lounge area serves as the principal meeting place on matchdays for the Chelsea Board of Directors and for the entertainment of VIP guests. In total the "Armani Lounge" covers 200 square metres for which Giorgio Armani has personally designed a unique concept featuring furnishings from his Armani/Casa home interiors collection.^{[citation needed]}

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Mackenzie, Suzie (2004-12-11). "The gentle touch". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1369891,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
• McCartney, Stella (2006-05-16). "The wisdom of King Giorgio". Independent on Sunday. http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article484641.ece. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
• "Q & A: Giorgio Armani". The Scene (CNN). 2006-10-03. http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/06/01/milan.qa/. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
• Lee, Vinny (2007-09-22). "Above the shop". London: The Times. http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/interiors/article2474210.ece. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
• Schinke, Amanda (2008-10-07). "Liar, Liar, Armani on Fire!". PETA. http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/10/liar_liar_arman.php. Retrieved 2008-10-09. 
• Giorgio Armani, Spring-Summer Couture
• Giorgio Armani - The Businessman, the Designer and the Brand

External links[link]

• www.giorgioarmani.com — Company website
• www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com — Beauty website
• Giorgio Armani on Fashion Net
• Giorgio Armani, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
• Giorgio Armani interview with Harper's Bazaar