Nate DeMercurio Portfolio

Belgium triathlon apparel company endurance Junkie announced an incentive program for Ironman triathletes who could wind up with a free, branded race kit - if they're fast enough. The "Race & Cashback Offer" includes percentage rebates based on time thresholds for completing Ironman distance races. Athletes finishing under 11 hours get a 25% refund on their purchase, sub-10 hours is good for 50% back and those crossing the finish line under 9 hours "win" themselves a 100% refund. This is a interesting approach to consumer marketing, which essentially asks athletes to prove themselves for a discount. Will athletes shoot for a goal time only to get the refund? Doubtful. By tying the incentive to goal times people already aim to hit, it's merely a nice bonus; but this benefits endurance Junkie as they see athletes racing in their branded gear and the company generates good will by tying refunds and discounts to emotional accomplishments. This could also fi...

James Huang/BikeRadar It was announced last week that Pearl Izumi, and owning company Shimano, have opened an "Education Center" in Colorado as a showcase for reps. The center is located close to a bike park for easy access to demo products, allowing Pearl Izumi and Shimano to incorporate a hands on learning experience into clinics and sales meetings. The idea is to provide reps a richer and more valuable engagement with the products, as well as to use the facility in other capacities, like social events and presentations. Other outdoor brands have embraced this concept for years, such as The North Face, which has 11 showrooms around the country. It gives The North Face and their accounts the opportunity to connect with sales directors, RDD teams, marketing executives, etc., all in one place. "Our showrooms allow us to give our dealers the entire brand experience and to explain our seasonal initiatives in a much more effective way," said Aimee Hart, Specialty Sales ...