Marketplace Round-Up

Skateboarder Helping Sole Technology Develop Golf Footwear And Apparel Line

Professional skateboarder Lauren Perkins, under her endorsement deal with California-based Sole Technology, is helping to develop a golf footwear and apparel line for the company. CNBC’s Mike Hegedus said the market “has become so big and specialized,” Sole has “five brands all aimed at a different slice of the action sports or skateboarding market. But the fastest growing is the women’s segment, where fashion counts and so does function” (“On The Money,” CNBC, 3/27). Today’s N.Y. TIMES profiles 12-year-old skateboarder Alan Watts, who has sponsorships with Nike, Oakley and Burton (N.Y. TIMES, 3/30).

TEAM APPROACH: The Chargers signed a new five-year extension with Coors Brewing that gives the company multiple marketing opportunities, including outreach to San Diego’s large military and Hispanic populations. Coors also gains rights to use the Chargers’ marks for in-store promos (Chargers)....Trader Joe’s inked a one-year corporate partnership with the Mariners (Mariners).

BOSTON COMMON: The Boston Local Organizing Committee (BLOC) for the ’06 Women’s Final Four has generated over $1.5M in cash and value-in-kind contributions from more than 40 local and regional organizations. The highest-level contributors include Reebok, the Boston Celtics/Shamrock Foundation, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, CCM, the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission, the state of Massachusetts and the city of Boston. Former Reebok Chair & CEO Paul Fireman and Celtics Managing Partner Steve Pagliuca are serving as co-Chairs (BLOC).