Shaquille O'Neal, the legendary NBA center, has launched Shaq.com, a site dedicated to everything about Shaq and his many projects. Mary Gleason was also formerly retained to oversee management of the Shaquille O’Neal brands: Shaq and Dunkman.
Gleason marks her return to team Shaq with the development and launch of an unprecedented digital content platform: Shaq.com. The culmination of a year-long undertaking, Shaq.com will be the place for everything Shaqness: e-commerce, marketing and social media, including Shaq Product, Shaq Videos, Shaq Blog, Shaq facts and more: www.shaq.com. Gleason has a longstanding relationship with the three-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time NBA Championship winner. She oversaw the brand management of Shaq and Dunkman from 1999 – 2005, developing accessible, innovative product and ground-breaking partnerships with retailers that resulted in over 1 billion in retail sales and 75 million pairs of shoes sold to date.
O'Neal states, “I am excited to be working with Mary again. She has been central to my brand over the years and this new enterprise will allow us to reach new heights.”
He continues, “I am putting a championship team together and Mary’s leadership is key to its success.”
The launch of Shaq.com builds on O’Neal's overwhelming popularity and the public's ongoing fascination with the basketball legend ranking sixth on Sports Illustrated 2010 list of highest earning athletes.
Gleason states, “Shaquille has created one of the most enduring and endearing hero athletic brands in sports. Shaq.com the first of its kind for an athlete is the ultimate platform for expanding his reach.”
O'Neal is a social media phenomenon with over seven million followers through Twitter, Facebook and Tout a number that continues to grow daily.
Gleason adds, “Shaq's stellar social media reach is a testament to the fans passion for his charisma and success as well as his deep connection to them.”
Shaq.com is a unique media channel that engages and speaks directly to a growing fan base that extends beyond the world of sports and entertainment. Visitors can delve into Shaq's Facts, the player and personality, his social media platform, products and philanthropy. The site includes rich content from The Latest Shaqness blog, viral videos, and a digital marketing space for partners such as Toys R Us, Icy Hot and others. In keeping with Shaq's philosophy of offering great product at affordable prices, the site’s e-commerce store sells athletic apparel and baseball caps for men and boys starting at $12.50. A full line of Shaq athletic footwear will debut in February 2012 with men’s pricing $25 – $40 and boys pricing $20 – $30. To round out its world of Shaqness, the e-commerce store will also feature O'Neal's new book Shaq Uncut: My Story.
