In Baltimore, Childs Walker notes U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps is using the Mesa Arena Pro Swim Series meet, which begins today, "to unveil the new line of swimwear" he and his longtime coach Bob Bowman "helped design with Aqua Sphere." Both Phelps and Bowman yesterday arrived at the pool "in T-shirts bearing the line’s MP logo." After a career spent swimming in Speedo gear, Phelps this week "will race in his new Aqua Sphere XPRESSO suit." The men’s suit "will be available to the public in May and the women’s version later in the summer" (Baltimore SUN, 4/16). USA TODAY's Nicole Auerbach notes Phelps "repeatedly used the word 'engaged' to describe the difference in his feelings" following his September '14 DUI arrest, whether it be "at swimming practices or even while launching his own 'MP' brand" (USA TODAY, 4/16).
SAFE ENDORSER: In S.F., Ron Leuty reports MLB Giants C Buster Posey "will help roll out BodyArmor sports drink to Safeway supermarkets starting June 1." Posey, who has been a BodyArmor investor and endorser since '13, "will be featured in in-store advertising in Northern California Safeway stores," though there will not be any in-store appearances. BodyArmor "also has endorsement deals" with Angels CF Mike Trout and Warriors G Klay Thompson (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/15).
PUTTING A DENT IN DENIM: BUSINESS INSIDER's Ashley Lutz cited data by investment bank Piper Jaffray in noting Nike "was the top preferred clothing retailer among teens" and also "topped the footwear category, with 46% of the vote." Teens increasingly are buying Nike gear "over denim classics from brands like Abercrombie," and activewear is now "more popular than jeans among upper-income females, a sign that other consumers will follow." Seventy-two percent of teens surveyed said that Nike "was their favorite activewear label," which is "great news for Nike's future because it is likely that young people will grow up and continue buying the brand" (BUSINESSINSIDER.com, 4/15).
