Wed
07
Jan
2009
Do running shoes become obsolete?
Obsolete???
If you have taken a quick look at my biography you might have noticed that sports always played a main role in my life. That’s why it is no wonder that I’m interested in all industries and sectors related to sports. Since I also have a passion for marketing I finally got the idea to do something in the field of sports marketing after my studies.
In order to get some information about that branch and its trends today I was searching for nifty blogs dealing with that topic. On the website named “BrandNoise – ideas and insights for brand planners” I found an article which seemed to be very funny at first sight. But then I realized that this article - "Runner, Running Free From Marketing" - could indicate an important new trend in the sporting goods industry.
The article talks about running without shoes.
Healthy or just a gag?
That’s one of the main questions that came to my mind while reading this article. Is it healthy to run a marathon barefooted? By citing Dr. Paul Langer – an Orthopedic Specialist and clinical faculty member at the University of Minnesota Medical School – the author claims that running with shoes is not more healthy than running barefooted. Dr. Langer gets even more accusing:
"It became more about marketing and less about biomechanics".
Furthermore he argues that this is all about misinformation in the 1980s and starting a
“myth that cushioning in shoes is always better”.
But who started that myth? Maybe the sporting goods companies that benefited the most from selling running shoes to everybody. Is that another scandal Nike Inc. is involved in? Feel free to comment on that issue!!!
Reaction to the new trend
It is a fact that companies already reacted to that new trend of running barefooted through the world. Nike Inc. for example released a new product line of shoes that are reduced to a basic sole. That product line is called Nike Free.
In the picture on the right you can see an even more surprising example of how the sporting goods industry reacts to that new trend.
Would you buy this Vibram Five Fingers shoe???
Related links:
posted by Euphorion
2 Comments
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#1
Your post is excellent. First of all, without scrolling, I can understand what you are talking about. Indeed, you explain at the beginning of your post why you choose a topic about sport marketing. When I read this article, I can feel that sport plays a role in your life, and the fact is that you mix two of your passion in one article. It’s magic.
Moreover, you added one or more pictures which are entertaining and pleasant. Your references and links to websites are also helpful to understand your explanations, your point of view and allow marketing people to go deeper in the subject.
Secondly, your blog shows to the reader that you are someone creative with the sense of originality. Your post, your Photoshop-pictures and the name of your blog Euphorion are made with sensitivities and tastes. All these skills are advantages for a marketing specialist.
It might be helpful to consider that a Marketing blog targets professionals of this field, so your blog has to stay serious and comprehensive, I mean without too many colors and gadgets.
Last but not least, it is not complicated to navigate on your blog when we know Jimdo. But, my impression is that it’s not such easy to find the latest work on your blog. Indeed, there is on the right-side a part called latest blog entries, but it might be helpful to consider the possibility to obtain directly the last article.
I hope my comments will be helpful for you to reconsider your blog.
Good Work, and Good Luck for the Future of your Creativity!!!
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#2
I like it .Good.
Interesting!
http://www.autobotshop.com/vmchk/NIKE-SPORTS-SHOES/View-all-products.html 
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