outdoor and running trade in August 2002, many retailers didn't know what to
make of the bold criss-cross black and grey tights that promised to provide more
support for muscles and joints. Slowly, but surely, the company grew by
maintaining its focus on what it calls Conditioning Wear.
Today, as the
Wacoal Sports Science Corp. (WSSC) celebrates its fifth anniversary in the U.S.,
CW-X is available in 780 specialty retail outlets in all 50 states, and on the
Web. WSSC has further capitalized on its U.S. success by expanding into
Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Mexico, the UK, and Canada with an additional 140
retail doors. Distribution to other countries is planned for the near
future.
From a one product company, CW-X now offers 43 styles for men and
women.
CW-X tights and tops use an integrated Conditioning Web of nylon/Lycra
panels to provide targeted support to muscles and joints, thus allowing athletes
to go beyond their normal abilities.
CW-X has expanded its product
offering every year since its inception, and sales have grown accordingly. In
October 2006 alone, sales were greater than total annual sales in 2003. In 2007,
sales are projected to grow a further 50% from 2006 levels.
Fifty
percent of CW-X apparel is sold to female consumers, and the brand's range of
sports bras accounts for 26 percent of total sales, thanks in part to the
market's acceptance of a proprietary Soft Support system used instead of
traditional compression or underwire designs.
