Perry Ellis International, Inc. entered into an exclusive, long-term licensing agreement with Nicklaus International Brand Management to design, develop, manufacture and distribute men's and ladies' sportswear, tailored clothing and accessories under the Jack Nicklaus brand and Golden Bear icon. The licensed territories initially include the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We are thrilled to feature Jack Nicklaus in our global portfolio of lifestyle brands. Jack personifies the meaning of a golf and sports icon, as well as a first-class gentleman and sportsman, and he continues to be an outstanding role model through his commitment to family and philanthropy,” said Oscar Feldenkreis, president and chief operating officer of Perry Ellis International. “This partnership is evolving during a very exciting time in Perry Ellis International's golf history. As we take Jack's legacy to the next level, I am confident that the rich heritage associated with his brand will resonate with a broad and loyal fan base across the globe.”
The addition of Jack Nicklaus represents a diversification strategy which enables Perry Ellis International to leverage its resources and core competencies in product, marketing, and operations to drive consistent growth and profitability.
“The success of Perry Ellis International's golf division emanates from our exceptional capability to offer quality, innovative products,” commented George Feldenkreis, chairman and chief executive officer of Perry Ellis International. “We are focused on meeting customer needs across a variety of product categories, and each brand under our golf portfolio represents a unique lifestyle, directed toward a defined consumer, which diversifies our opportunities for long-term growth.”
Nicknamed the 'Golden Bear,' Jack Nicklaus is widely regarded as a sports icon and the greatest champion in the history of game of golf, winning a record total of 18 professional major-championship titles, 73 official TOUR victories and 120 total victories worldwide.
“I chose Perry Ellis International for a number of reasons,” Nicklaus said. “It's a company with an enthusiastic focus on building a lifestyle business with me. They are a company with ideas that are fresh and innovative. I have always tried to be the best I can possibly be, whether it is in golf or business, and Perry Ellis has a like-minded commitment to excellence. This is an important step for my brand as we look to expand into a variety of lifestyle categories in a quality way.”
Nicklaus, who also holds the record for senior major championships with eight and remains the only player to have won all four of golf's modern majors on both the regular and senior tours, will serve as a brand ambassador.
The legacy Jack Nicklaus has left as a champion can be rivaled by the legacy he is leaving as a golf-course designer, businessman and philanthropist. His thriving golf course design firm, Nicklaus Design, has helped grow the game worldwide with more than 380 courses in 36 countries. In addition, Nicklaus-branded products in a number of golf and lifestyle categories have been marketed worldwide since 1962. The Golden Bear is the only industry professional to have been named by Golf Inc. magazine as “The Most Powerful Person in Golf” a record six consecutive years, due to his impact on various aspects of the industry through his course design work, marketing and licensing business, his ambassadorial role in promoting and growing the game worldwide, and his involvement on a national and global level with various charitable causes.
Nicklaus was named “Golfer of the Century” or “Golfer of the Millennium” by almost every major golf media outlet in the world; he was named Individual Male Athlete of the Century by Sports Illustrated, and one of the 10 Greatest Athletes of the Century by ESPN; and in November 2005, the Golden Bear was honored at the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to any U.S. civilian. That same year, he was unanimously named by GolfWorld Magazine as its Newsmaker of the Year.
