Fleet Feet, Inc. honored Brooks Sports as the Outstanding Apparel Vendor of 2006, and recognized two of its franchisees at its annual Winter Franchise Conference January 15 17.
Champion Athleticwear introduced its Pink Ribbon Award for Retail Excellence announcing Brett Lamb, owner of Fleet Feet San Francisco, as the first annual recipient. Balega Sports also awarded its second Induna Award to Bobby Biles, owner of Fleet Feet Carrboro, North Carolina.
Franchise owners and employees from more than 60 stores around the country and 30 running apparel, shoe and accessory vendors gathered for the three-day conference that culminates in an awards dinner. Franchisees were also treated to an exclusive trade show featuring Fleet Feets key apparel vendors such as Asics, Brooks, Hind, Champion, Mizuno, Moving Comfort, New Balance, Nike and many more.
Fleet Feet President, Jeff Phillips, kicked off the awards ceremony, “We admire and appreciate all that you do to make Fleet Feet a very special place in each of your communities. Fleet Feet celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006 with more than $62 million in sales and a 17 percent comp store gain. Anyone in retail knows thats an incredible accomplishment, and you all (franchisees, employees, vendors) have a lot to celebrate.”
Brooks Sports received the annual Apparel Vendor of the Year award for its growth in sales to Fleet Feet stores, as well as its customer service, product quality, shipping and overall commitment to the Fleet Feet organization.
“Brooks offered Fleet Feet a strong retail program, excellent products and outstanding customer service last year that resulted in a 40 percent increase on an already strong base of apparel sales,” said Luke Rowe, Vice President of Business Development.
Lamb received the award from Champion for his stores significant increase in sports bra sales (250 percent over 2005), commitment to Fleet Feets Bra FIT Process, and overall customer service initiatives related to the sports bra business.
The Induna Award is presented annually to a member of the Fleet Feet community for charitable contributions. Balega CEO Russell Clark, who named Bobby Biles the 2007 Induna ambassador, said, “The spirit of an Induna in any community is how they look past differences and search for common bonds that can bring people together, work together, live together. Tonights award winner, Bobby Biles, has done an amazing job in identifying ways to bring people together who, if not for these programs, may never have had a chance to meet and interact.”
Biles was recognized for multiple community service initiatives including hosting events with various charities as beneficiaries, facilitating the purchase of track equipment for disadvantaged youth, the donation of closeout products to benefit the local school system in the Carrboro area, as well as his support of the Leadville (Colorado) Legacy Project.
