Rykä

Rykä
Privately held
Industry Sportswear and sporting goods
Founded 1987
Headquarters Irvine, California
Products Women's athletic shoes and apparel
Parent Brown Shoe
Website www.ryka.com

Rykä is an athletic shoe brand, specifically designed for women.

History

Rykä was founded in 1987 by Sheri Poe, who wanted to design a better-fitting athletic shoe for women.[1][2] They also produce athletic apparel specially designed for women.

Rykä merged with Global Sports in 1997.[3] Global Sports sold its branded division in 1999 to American Sporting Goods Corporation.[4] The company is now owned by Brown Shoe, who bought American Sporting Goods in 2011.[5][6]

Publicity

Poe is credited with introducing Princess Diana to her shoes, through her creation of the Ryka Rose Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to stop violence against women.

Since 2008, Kelly Ripa has been the spokeswoman for Rykä shoes.[7]

The Rykä brand is an example of foreign branding.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Rifkin, Glenn (1994-07-03). "Profile; Mix and Match: A Shoe for Women, a Survivor's Tale". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Newly-Minted Billionaire Is Spinning eBay Scraps Into Gold
  4. ↑ Global Sports, Inc. Announces Agreement to Sell Branded Division
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Brown Shoe Acquires American Sporting Goods Corporation
  7. ↑ "RYKÄ ANNOUNCES BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WITH KELLY RIPA" (PDF). American Sporting Goods Corp. 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2009-12-07.

External links


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