i.e. distribution, which was founded in 2004 as the footwear licensee
for World Industries, now owns the World Industries brand and its
licenses globally. i.e. acquired the business from Globe
International for $8 million in a deal that closed last week.
In an exclusive interview with Sports Executive Weekly, John Dickinson,
president of i.e. distribution, noted that, while hardgoods had been
the largest portion of World Industries business in the past, since
i.e. picked up the license, footwear had come to account for the
majority of Worlds global business, despite only being offered in
North America. The brands sales show approximately a 50/50 split
between big box retailers and core shops, with footwear predominant in
big box and hardgoods predominant in core.
In addition to the footwear business, i.e. was also the licensee for
snowboards in North America, which Dickinson notes has been successful
in its own right. “During a bad winter season for much of the
country, our sales grew 50%.” Experience here is expected to help
i.e. with now running the hardgoods side of the business globally.
For the time being, Dickinson said, the company will maintain much of
the distribution and manufacturing structures already in place, but he
hopes to both maintain and build the brands reputation amongst core
retailers as “the starter kit for young skaters that will help
introduce them to and get them excited about the sport.”
