The Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), which owns Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Keds and Stride Rite, announced that it has signed new distribution agreements with partners to continue the rapid international expansion of several of its brands in markets including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Spain.
“Teaming with the right strategic partner in each targeted market is critical to the successful international expansion of our brands,” said Gregg Ribatt, CEO of the Collective Brands PLG unit. “We are thrilled today to be announcing distribution agreements with leading partners to expand the brand presence of Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider and Keds across these four key international markets.”
Through an agreement with ABC-Mart, Tokyo, the Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider brands will be reintroduced across the Japan market. A leading retailer in the Japan, ABC-Mart will position Sperry at leading pinnacle fashion retail outlets and Saucony in leading specialty running stores as well as distribute both brands in its own ABC-Mart retail stores. In Oct. the latest Saucony products will be available at retail; in early 2012 fresh new Sperry Top-Sider collections will hit stores.
For the Singapore and Malaysia markets, the company has inked a distribution deal with RSH Limited, Singapore, for the Sperry Top-Sider, Keds and Saucony brands in both countries. Products will be available at retail in early 2012 through RSH's strong wholesale channel, along with its market-leading retail stores, to powerfully position the brands in these local markets.
Through a new distribution deal with Sefonia Yourself SA, Barcelona, which also currently holds the Sperry Top-Sider distribution agreement and has been managing the introduction of Sperry in Spain for the past year, the Keds brand will be re-introduced in Spain in 2012 through a similar strategic approach targeting pinnacle retail stores well aligned with the brand's cache in the local market.
