Joe Foster - The Founder of Reebok
We talk to Reebok founder Joe Foster about how he created a global sportswear brand from humble beginnings.
Joe Foster may not be a familiar name to many, but in the world of sports business, he is something of a legend. He is the founder of Reebok, a name synonymous with sports footwear and iconic brand names such as ‘Pump’ and ‘Classic’.
He has a new book out now, called Shoemaker, which is the story of Reebok and how they came to be where they are today. An amazing story for anyone interested in business, sports marketing and entrepreneurship in general.
It is a remarkable tale and one we very much enjoyed reading.
We had the chance to talk to Joe about the book, his life and times, and also put to him some questions on sport, business and marketing in general.
A fascinating guy, we spoke about;
Where Joe got his inspiration from - the scouts, his travels and the desire for a brighter future
If you want something, do something about it!
His focus on the USA as a market for Reebok in the early days and how he got there
The iconic Aztec running shoe
Growth into Aerobics and then Tennis - the tipping point of going from growing, to huge
Marketing and Influencers - why things haven’t really changed, and that moment in 1991 at the NBA Slam Dunk contest
What he would do to help make Badminton more popular (his playing passion)
I loved recording this one… a must-listen if you want to be inspired yourself!
If you want a signed hardback copy of the book, please visit https://www.jwfosterheritage.com/shop-online/shoemaker
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