The Running Specialty Group (RSG) announced today a strategic agreement
with imATHLETE, a sports registration company that is changing the way
event organizers engage with athletes. In addition, RSG President Bill
Kirkendall will be appointed to the imATHLETE board of directors.
“This is an exciting alignment for RSG which will provide our team with
a new perspective of the running community and enable us to connect,
inspire and serve our customers in a new, more relevant way beyond our
store walls,” said Kirkendall.
As frontrunners in data management technology for the sporting industry,
imATHLETE boasts an impressive portfolio of clients including the
GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon, ASICS Los Angeles Marathon and the
MetroPCS Dallas Marathon. Through this agreement, RSG will be able to
meaningfully engage with athletes who share similar interests as RSG’s
core customer. Additionally, imATHLETE and RSG will jointly create new
opportunities surrounding training, event marketing and product
offerings, all with a focus on helping people maintain an active,
healthy lifestyle. In support of this agreement, RSG’s parent company,
The Finish Line, Inc., has made an undisclosed financial investment in
imATHLETE.
“The RSG partnership plays a very important role in our continuous
efforts to inspire athletes and enhance their healthy lifestyle,” said
imATHLETE CEO Jeff Matlow. “RSG’s leadership in the specialty running
industry combined with imATHLETE’s in-depth market knowledge of athletic
behavior unlocks exciting opportunities for the athlete’s overall
experience.”
About Running Specialty Group
The Running Specialty Group (RSG) is an operating segment of The Finish
Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL). This includes 68 specialty running stores in
15 states and the District of Columbia under The Running Company, Run
On!, Blue Mile, Boulder Running Company, Roncker’s Running Spot, Running
Fit, VA Runner, Capital RunWalk, Richmond RoadRunner, Garry Gribble’s
Running Sports, Run Colorado and Raleigh Running Outfitters banners.
More information is available at www.run.com
or www.boulderrunningcompany.com.
Follow RSG on Twitter at twitter.com/Run_Dot_Com
and “like” RSG on Facebook at facebook.com/Run.com.
About imATHLETE
imATHLETE blends registration, fundraising and e-commerce technology
with the social networking and gamefication inherent in running,
triathlon, cycling and all participatory sports. Recognized as a leading
force in the sporting world with its industry-changing registration
technology, imATHLETE is one of the fastest growing companies in the
market. With clients and partners that include ASICS Los Angeles
Marathon, 500 Festival Mini Marathon, GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon,
MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Twin Cities in Motion, American Trail Running
Association, and thousands of others. imATHLETE technology is
transforming the relationship between event organizers and their
participants. To learn more about imATHLETE, visit www.imATHLETE.com.
imATHLETE also can be found on Twitter by following @IAmAthlete
and by liking the imATHLETE Facebook page.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes statements that are or may be considered
“forward-looking” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use
of words or phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipate,”
“intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “estimates,”
“outlook,” “potential,” “optimistic,” “confidence,” “continue,”
“evolve,” “expand,” “growth” or words and phrases of similar meaning.
Statements that describe objectives, plans or goals also are
forward-looking statements.
All of these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, management
assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking
statements. The principal risk factors that could cause actual
performance and future actions to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the
company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its
merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key
vendor); the availability and timely receipt of products; the ability to
timely fulfill and ship products to customers; fluctuations in oil
prices causing changes in gasoline and energy prices, resulting in
changes in consumer spending as well as increases in utility, freight
and product costs; product demand and market acceptance risks;
deterioration of macro-economic and business conditions; the inability
to locate and obtain or retain acceptable lease terms for the company’s
stores; the effect of competitive products and pricing; loss of key
employees; execution of strategic growth initiatives (including actual
and potential mergers and acquisitions and other components of the
company’s capital allocation strategy); cybersecurity risks, including
breach of customer data; and the other risks detailed in the company’s
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are urged to
consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only
as of the date of this report and Finish Line undertakes no obligation
to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
Copyright Business Wire 2015