Title: Run Happy: entrepreneurship at Brooks Sports

Authors: Siri Terjesen, Evan Argue

Addresses: Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 1309 E. 10th St., Bloomington IN 47405, USA; Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group: Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy, Kahlaische Strasse 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany. ' Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, USA

Abstract: Bothell, Washington-based Brooks Sports is an athletic footwear and apparel company with the vision |to be the brand leader in performance running and one of the most admired companies in the world|. Brooks Sports engages in a range of entrepreneurial activities in the sport marketing area and has recently garnered first place in both the brand strength and marketing strength forecasts in the specialty running industry. This case study reviews the five dimensions of entrepreneurial activity at Brooks Sports (technological innovation, distribution, advertising, sponsorship and international entrepreneurship), beginning with the corporate history.

Keywords: entrepreneurial activity; technological innovation; distribution; advertising; sponsorship; international entrepreneurship; sport marketing; performance running; Brooks Sports; athletics; athletic footwear; athletic apparel; sports footwear; sports apparel; sports clothing; sport branding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2010.029717

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2010 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.132 - 143

Published online: 01 Dec 2009 *

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