Dick's Sporting Goods Selects Global Sports to Operate its E-Commerce Business
GLOBAL SPORTS, INC. (NASDAQ: GSPT), a leading developer and operator of e-commerce sporting goods businesses, and DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, the nation’s premier sporting goods and fitness specialty retailer, announced today the formation of an e-commerce alliance. Under the agreement, Global Sports will develop and operate the new www.dickssportinggoods.com online sporting goods store.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is the most rapidly growing and second largest full-line sporting goods retailer in the U.S., with 2000 sales of approximately $900 million and 2001 sales expected to exceed $1 billion. The company previously operated an e-commerce Web site since January 1999, utilizing internal resources as well as third party relationships, and has already established a significant online presence. Dick’s Sporting Goods will continue to promote its Web site through its substantial marketing efforts and more than 100 big-box retail locations to drive traffic to www.dickssportinggoods.com. The new www.dicksportinggoods.com store is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2001.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Chairman and CEO, Ed Stack, commented on the alliance, “We clearly believe in offering a multi-channel shopping experience to consumers and have successfully executed upon this strategy. Partnering with Global Sports to operate our e-commerce business going forward will enable us to focus on our aggressive new store growth plans, while maximizing our online opportunities.”
Michael G. Rubin, Chairman and CEO of Global Sports, said, “Through this alliance with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Global Sports is continuing with our plan of adding meaningful new partners with powerful brand names, substantial marketing outreach, and strong customer relationships. Dick’s Sporting Goods’ decision to partner with Global Sports is a strong vote of confidence in our demonstrated e-commerce sporting goods solution.”
About Global Sports
Global Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSPT) (www.globalsports.com) is a leading developer and operator of e-commerce businesses. Global Sports develops and operates the e-commerce sporting goods businesses of specialty retailers, general merchandisers, Internet companies, and media companies under exclusive agreements.
About Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods is the most rapidly growing, full-line sporting goods retailer in the country and is dedicated to redefining sports and fitness specialty retailing for all athletes and outdoor enthusiasts through quality brands, information, technology and superior service. Dick’s features a store-within-a-store design with specialized departments such as a Golf Pro Shop and The Sportsman’s Lodge, staffed by Dick’s associates who are experts in their fields and interactive displays that allow customers to try before they buy. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dick’s employs more than 8,000 sports enthusiasts in over 100 stores across 21 states.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business of Global Sports and the industry and markets in which the company operates. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors which may affect Global Sports business, financial condition and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, the stock market and the sporting goods industry generally, changes affecting the Internet and e-commerce, the ability of the company to maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers, the ability of the company to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect its technology and product and service offerings and execute operationally, the ability of the company to attract and retain qualified personnel and the ability of the company to successfully integrate its recent acquisition of Fogdog, Inc. More information about potential factors that could affect Global Sports can be found in its most recent Form 10-K and other reports and statements filed by Global Sports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Global Sports expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Dana Stein Grosser
Director of Corporate Communications
Global Sports, Inc.
(610) 491-7012
