Global Sports and Refale Sign E-Commerce
GLOBAL SPORTS, INC. (NASDAQ: GSPT), an e-Tail company that operates under exclusive long-term agreements the Internet businesses of leading sporting goods retailers, including The Sports Authority, The Athlete’s Foot, Sport Chalet, and MC Sports, announced today an e-Commerce services and marketing agreement with Rodale, Inc., the global leader in ideas and information for healthy active living.
The new agreement will give customers of the multiple and unique Web sites that Global Sports plans to launch in the fourth quarter of 1999 access to valuable sports and fitness content and information from Rodale’s wide range of sports and fitness book titles. This content will cover a variety of topics, including general sports and equipment information for the novice player, as well as detailed sport-specific training information for the advanced athlete. Customers at each of Global Sports’ partners’ Web sites will also be able to access and purchase Rodale titles from the sites by clicking on merchant buttons and banner advertisements. Global Sports will promote these new content offerings, in addition to other sports and fitness titles by Rodale, through its customer outreach marketing campaigns, including on-line and off-line retailer promotions, mailers, and shopping bag and box stuffers.
Rodale will also initiate gift with purchase programs exclusively for customers of Global Sports’ partners’ Web sites. This new gift with purchase campaign will include one-of-a-kind merchandise such as customized titles and special product offerings available only to Global Sports’ on-line customers.
“This new sports and fitness content will add tremendous value to the customer experience at each of Global Sports’ partners’ Web sites,” said Michael Rubin, chairman and CEO of Global Sports, Inc. “Through this agreement with Rodale, Global Sports will be able to provide its customers with a more complete shopping experience, combining valuable sports and fitness information with an extensive selection of name-brand sporting goods merchandise. In addition, Rodale’s strong brand heritage and widely respected title roster will bring exceptional value to customers,” Mr. Rubin continued.
“Through this relationship with Global Sports, Rodale will be able to extend its ‘how to do it, you can do it’ message to a new and rapidly increasing audience,” stated Pat Corpora, president of Rodale, Inc. “Customers shopping at Global Sports’ retail partners’ Web sites will now be able to obtain the sports and fitness information they are looking for to complete their shopping experience. It’s the ideal Web experience for both sports enthusiasts and participants.”
Global Sports, Inc. (http://www.GS-Interactive.com) is an e-Tail company that operates under exclusive long-term agreements the Internet businesses of leading sporting goods retailers, including The Sports Authority, The Athlete’s Foot, Sport Chalet, and MC Sports. On July 26, 1999 SOFTBANK Capital Partners LP invested $80 million into Global Sports, Inc. Global Sports, Inc. shares are included in the Russell 2000 index.
Rodale is a global leader in healthy active living information. Its publications include such well-known magazines as Men’s Health, Prevention, New Woman, Runner’s World, Backpacker, Bicycling, Mountain Bike, Fitness Swimmer, Rodale’s Scuba Diving and Organic Gardening. Rodale Books publishes nearly 100 new books each year and maintains an active backlist of more than 300 titles.
Contact:
Media Contact:
Dana Stein
Director of Corporate Communications
(610) 768-0900
steind@globalsportsinc.com
Michael R. Conn
Senior Vice President Strategic Development
(610) 768-0900
Connm@Globalsportsinc.com
