Effective from 3 January 2011, New Balance will restructure its Specialty Sales Organization in an effort to accelerate business results in New Balance stores, family shoe outlets and the speciality running distribution channels.
"We are confident these changes will enable us to better serve our accounts as well as provide career growth opportunities for our most important asset, our people," said Chris Quinn, Executive Vice President of North American Sales and Retail for New Balance.
"These changes are directly linked to our long-term business growth strategies, but most importantly, to enabling our sales organization to better execute in-store and to continue to be the very best sales team in the industry."
Highlights of these changes include the launch of a New Balance Store and Family Shoe Specialist organization as well as a stand-alone Running Specialty Team.
"These structural adjustments are completely linked to the spirit of what has made our sales organization successful within New Balance North America; a relentless commitment to better serving our accounts and sales representatives," added Quinn.
"Importantly, these changes also support the New Balance culture and values that make our company special. These moves are all about getting closer to the customer, growing some of our best people, and delivering better in-store execution. We value the history we have established with our retail partners and believe these moves will only enhance our ability to better leverage the exciting new pipeline of products we are producing."
The company recently completed an extensive project that included a benchmarking of best-in-class sales organisations in the footwear and apparel industry, extensive interviews of New Balance representatives, customers and associates, as well as a detailed review of territories.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, has the following mission: ‘Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host.’
New Balance employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of US$1.65 billion.
