Running for Brooks

Brooks designs running shoes and apparel that provide the utmost comfort and support for runners. Their motto is "Run Happy!"

Brooks is an elite company for buying shoes and apparel. Especially when it comes to shoes, because they can cater to a niche market. Consumers who are near and dear to running will spend more money on a quality Brooks shoe, and for consumers who enjoy buying "green" products, Brooks appeals to them as well.

If you go on the brooks website, and are wanting to find out more information about their shoes and which one would be best for you, click on the "Brooks Running Shoe Advisor." This tool will ask you several questions about your foot, what you are using the shoes for, and what surfaces you will be using the shoe on. This quick test gives Brooks unique information on how to best supply you with an accurate shoe for you feet. I took the test and was recommended four different types of shoes: Glycerin 8, Defyance 4, Ghost 3, and Summon 2. After looking at all four options, the best shoe for me would probably be the Summon 2. This shoe is fairly affordable at $85.00 a pair and has built-in stability with smooth heel-to-toe transition. This light-weight shoe is a great choice for anyone! See below for a picture:

Summon 2 Running Shoe

After navigating the Brooks website, I was pleasantly surprised that they provide a large amount of information on their shoes, products, and running events/marathons. The Brooks website caters to their customers and gives them different interactive options when coming time to choose a shoe. This includes the "Brooks Running Shoe Advisor" that I mentioned earlier. Brooks is an overall amazing company and offers quality running shoes and apparel. Check out brooksrunning.com to learn more about the company and see what shoe is best for you!

Running, with a Local Flair

Here in the Seattle area is a company that is newer than many of the companies we have been writing on the last few weeks. Brooks is a company that exclusively focuses on running shoes, apparel, and accessories. They are based out of Bothell, Washington, a suburb that is about 20 minutes outside of Seattle. They have developed a reputation of having outstanding apparel for both men and women.






Brooks has slowly become a bigger and bigger threat to the "big boys" in the running industry. They have a staple of great shoes that are not only to compete with Nike and Adidas, but sometimes they have become more popular. As a high school kid around the running community, both Nike and Adidas were not viewed vary favorably. They were known as not having great shoes for runners. In fact, it almost appeared that running shoes were a bit of an after thought for those two companies.

Also, Brooks was very competitive with the likes of Asics, Mizuno, and Saucony. I have seen as many Brooks shoes as any of those other companies at meets and big runs, like the Seattle Marathon. There were countless runners taking the street who were wearing the Adrenaline or the Trance, two of the more popular shoes made by the company. That is a true testament to how far Brooks truly has come in the last five years.

Brooks has done a great job of creating shoes that have the customer in mind. As long as they continue to do this, Brooks will continue to make strides in the running community as a fantastic shoe to wear.

-John

Lululemon's Local Heros

As of right now, Lululemon approaches the use of athletes in a different way than all of the companies we have discussed thus far. They will not pay athletes to wear their clothes and support their company. They want people to wear their products because they truly like their products and would choose to wear them. According to their website, over 60 athletes have become what Lululemon calls "elite ambassadors".

They also encourage local athletes to be ambassadors as well. They ask people who embody the lifestyle and culture of the company to apply and you should be allowed to find these people on their website (but it looks like the link is broken right now). They hope to provide inspiration to new and future customers and attract them with their low-key status.

This company uses a "manifesto" that poses questions and uses phrases to draw people into the culture of Lululemon. The manifesto poster is pictured above and can be accessed on the firm's website as well. Keep in mind they are targeting people (mostly women) that participate in yoga and dance.

The marketing strategy used by Lululemon is definitely a different approach but it gives off the attitude that anybody can be an athlete and we should look up to the people in our own lives and neighborhoods that inspire us. How do you think this strategy compares to others in the industry like Nike, Under Armour, and New Balance?