Reebok move towards fitness fashion paying off

Sponsorship deals with fitness groups reviving fortunes

An opera singer and experts from a local yoga studio stage a  workout to mark the launch of a Reebok FitHub concept store  in  Covent Garden, London, last month.   Photograph: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images
An opera singer and experts from a local yoga studio stage a workout to mark the launch of a Reebok FitHub concept store in Covent Garden, London, last month. Photograph: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

Reebok is turning to sponsorship deals with prominent fitness groups to try to revive a name that has faded since it became part of Germany's Adidas sportswear group eight years ago.

Reebok now produces training shorts, shoes and shirts for CrossFit, a fitness regime imported from the US and attracting devotees in Europe, and the the move towards fitness and fashion seems to be paying off.

When Adidas warned on its profit last month, analysts were quick to note that Reebok was, for once, not cited as a problem.

“It’s confirmation that Reebok is doing better,” said Cedric Lecasble, an analyst at investment group Raymond James.

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“While it’s not really impressive yet, the strategy is more focused, and I expect Reebok will be the strongest brand in terms of sales growth in the third quarter.” – (Reuters)