ClickZ Sports Equipment - 08.22.2024

PLUS: The rise of athlete partnerships and innovations in new sports gear design

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ClickZ
August 22, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Specialty Bites 🍪

An innovative solution for athletes has emerged from Zimmerman, Minn., where an inventor has developed the QUICK DRY, a device designed to efficiently dry sports equipment within the bag itself. "I wanted to provide hockey players with a quick and effective means of drying their equipment without the hassle of removing everything from the bag," the inventor explained. This invention promises to evaporate perspiration and moisture, significantly reducing the notorious locker room odor.

The QUICK DRY operates by circulating air throughout the gym bag and its contents, saving time and effort for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Its portable and user-friendly design makes it an ideal companion for anyone engaged in sports. The device not only enhances convenience but also contributes to a more pleasant and hygienic sporting experience.

Currently, the original design has been submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp and is available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. This development opens up new possibilities for the sports equipment industry, offering a practical solution to a common problem faced by athletes.

For more information, interested parties can contact InventHelp at their Pittsburgh office. This invention represents a significant step forward in sports equipment maintenance, combining practicality with innovation to meet the needs of modern athletes.

We R Table Tennis Inc. partners with Yishale Sports Technology to host the 2025 Classic Table Tennis World Cup in Suzhou, China. The event, certified by the ICTTF, will feature over 300 players from 40 nations, competing for $50,000 in prize money.

Belk partners with Fanatics to expand its licensed sports merchandise, enhancing the online shopping experience. Customers can now access a wide range of Fanatics' products on Belk.com, including NCAA gear. This collaboration aims to offer more diverse and high-quality fan gear, benefiting sports enthusiasts.

Industry Appetisers 🥨

Adidas embraces competition at Paris 2024, sponsoring over 850 athletes and 11 NOCs. The brand launched 49 shoes across 41 disciplines, showcasing its commitment to diverse sports. CEO Bjorn Gulden emphasizes overinvestment in marketing, aiming to solidify Adidas as the premier sports brand during the Olympics and Paralympics.

New York or Nowhere has partnered with the Yankees to launch a co-branded athleisure collection. This collaboration follows their successful partnership with the Knicks. Cofounder Quincy Moore highlights the brand's unique blend of sports merchandise and athleisure, aiming to replicate their previous success with the Yankees' iconic status.

Performance Platters 🍽️

Fospha's TikTok Playbook highlights the platform's explosive growth and its power for eCommerce, especially during peak shopping periods. With brands allocating an average of 10% of their marketing budgets to TikTok, the platform has shown exceptional return on ad spend (ROAS) during high-traffic times.

The playbook emphasizes the importance of a full-funnel strategy on TikTok, engaging consumers at every stage from awareness to conversion, which helps brands sustain momentum beyond peak periods. TikTok's ability to attract new customers makes it ideal for product discovery, with a significant percentage of purchases coming from first-time buyers.

Creative optimization is crucial on TikTok, with the need for platform-native, trend-driven content that resonates with the audience and stands out during fierce competition for attention in peak seasons.

As brands prepare for upcoming high-traffic events, how can they develop a comprehensive TikTok strategy that leverages the platform's unique ecosystem to maximize both short-term sales and long-term brand engagement?

Snapchat introduces new ad products, including an enhanced Lead Gen suite, First Lens Unlimited, and AR Extensions. The platform's Q2 2024 report shows a 16% revenue increase and a 243% rise in adjusted EBITDA. New features target app advertisers and leverage ML and AI for improved ad performance.

Gen Z is increasingly using Pinterest for shopping inspiration, making it a crucial platform for brands targeting this demographic. Pinterest's user base is growing, with Gen Z being the fastest-growing segment. Brands like American Freight and Bis are leveraging Pinterest's features to boost engagement and sales.

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