On CNBC's "Market Wrap," the Wall Street Journal's
Carri Lee reported on Nike's new Shox technology: "With its
stock price falling and its dominant market share on the
decline, Nike's hoping [its new Shox technology shoes], at a
$150 a pair, will put a little spring in the step of its
sagging sales." Footwear News' Claude Solnik: "Today, for
the sneaker companies, technology is what drives a lot of
their sales. Before, the names were players, athletes, and
to an extent they still are, but today you have the names of
technology." Lee said Nike "is pushing the performance
angle" of its new Shox shoes, but "analysts say it's the
fashion element that will likely sell the shoes." Lee added
that while adidas is putting "money, marketing and effort
behind" its new shoe for Kobe Bryant, Nike is "using all
sorts of people and product to market the entire brand, and
not a particular signature shoe" ("Market Wrap," 11/14).
NASCAR: NC-based Millennium Motorsports (MM) has
created a clothing line for female NASCAR fans, which
includes tank tops, cotton t-shirts, shorts, pants, hats and
jackets. Items are priced from $15-45. MM claims to be the
first company to create apparel specifically for the female
NASCAR fan (MM)....BRANDWEEK's Mike Beirne reports that
Econo Lodge will "broaden its NASCAR tie-in next spring by
hooking with" Coca-Cola's Racing Family via a "Race In To
Win" sweeps, which will be backed by a radio effort. The
effort's budget was "pegged at" $800,000 (BRANDWEEK, 11/13
issue)....ESPN2's John Kernan reported on Kmart's effort to
sell its $40M NASCAR and CART team racing sponsorships and
said if the company "can't find buyers," it will "have to
buy-out both contracts" ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 11/14)....UPS
will hold a news conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway
to announce its sponsorship of Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford,
effective next season (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/15).
