On With The Shoe On Tour

Ecco has become the official footwear sponsor of the Canadian Tour in a deal that will see the shoemaker receive exposure through the official media guide, pairing sheets, signage and on the tour’s website.

Also, the company’s name will be applied to the Ecco Canadian Rookie of the Year Award, while that winner, along with the winner of the Tour Championship, will be outfitted in Ecco shoes.

.”Presence at these events will bring tremendous exposure for the ECCO brand, as well as the opportunity to build relationships with budding international talent,” said Ecco Canada golf sales manager Todd Davidson.

Ecco Goes For Street Style

Ecco has gone for versatility with the introduction of its Golf Street Premier, a hybrid sport-casual shoe that can be worn on and off the golf course.

The Golf Street Premier provides colour pops of marine blue, cactus green, fanta orange and chili red with metal rivet accents. Full-grain leather uppers, a sleek PU midsole and pre-molded, durable traction bars are other features.

“These shoes provide superior on-course performance regardless of conditions,” said Ecco Canada golf sales manager Todd Davidson. “Fred Couples has relied on the Golf Street while dominating the Champions Tour this year, which is testament to its traction, support and comfort.”

The Golf Street Premier comes with synthetic blend wide-flat laces in two different colors for added user customization, including a contrast option.

Marketing: On With The Shoe At Ecco

Ecco’s first go-round with the “Outfit Your Staff” concept proved to be worth a second look during the Canadian buying show season.

“We ran something similar this summer when Priddis Greens in Calgary won the Outfit Your Staff contest and Cutten Club in (Guelph) Ontario,” said Todd Davidson, golf division sales manager for Ecco.

“It’s really been word-of-mouth,” he added. “Ron Laugher (Priddis Greens) and Todd McGrath (Cutten Club) have always been good Ecco accounts, but they’ve also shared with other pros that they’ve won this contest, so now the other pros are obviously getting excited and want an opportunity to win that, as well.”

“There has definitely been some positive reaction,” said Davidson.

The concept of the latest Outfit Your Staff contest makes eligible any shop that writes a qualifying order at the fall buying shows to win one of two packages that outfits shop staff in Ecco products. Each package is worth up to $2,000.

Davidson says the contest works in a couple of ways. Not only does a shop staff get the use of product for its own use, but it also sends a message to consumers.

“There’s definitely a correlation between our most successful Ecco accounts and the professionals and assistants in the shop that are wearing the product,” said Davidson.

“I find members look up to the professionals and, if they’re wearing our brand, it usually translates into sales for both of us,” he added.

For more information on the contest, e-mail toda@ecco.com.

Ecco’s Women’s Line Aims for Fashion and Function

Crafted from high grade leathers and showcasing its comfort and performance technologies, Ecco has introduced its spring/summer women’s golf collection.

“Each collection we create draws from our unique brand heritage which starts with designs built around the human foot,” says Michael Waack, head of global golf for Ecco.

“The resulting fit and quality appeals to a great variety of women, regardless of whether their personal taste has a classic sensibility or is inspired by popular fashion.”

Ecco women’s golf shoes are worn in competition by tour players such as Juli Inkster, Carin Koch, Iben Tinning, Linda Wessberg, Johanna Westerberg and others.

The spring/summer 2010 women’s golf collection features the Ecco Four Dots logo across 27 models, including the following:

Casual Cool Hydromax

The Casual Cool Hydromax is designed to blend contemporary fashion with performance. Street leather types, including metallics, are used in combination with modern rubber detailing. Crafted from direct-injected PU, the low-profile midsole offers playability with its asymmetrical arch support, an integrated TPU heel and a swing stabilizer insert. The single-density TPU outsole showcases a sleek, feminine shape and a visible TPU foil color-matched to the upper designs.

Golf Street Premier

Designed to be funky, colourful and fun, the Golf Street Premier showcases the Ecco Four Dots logo in tasteful, metal-rivet detailing. Additional feminine accents include white midsoles topped by a coloured stripe. These styles offer versatility for use on and off the course. Sleek, semi-transparent TPU outsoles are colour-matched to the uppers and feature pre-molded traction bars that provide enhanced grip. Synthetic blend, wide-flat laces are provided in two different colours for added user customization, including an option for tone-on-tone coordination.

Fashion Life Premier

Fashion Life features distinctive uppers made from luxurious leathers with elegant finishes for a feminine look. The sleek appearance of a new, low-profile midsole with direct-injected PU, Fashion Life features top-to-bottom colour coordination. Lightweight comfort is achieved with a sleek, single-density TPU outsole matched to the distinctive upper designs. A series of pre-molded traction bars with exceptional durability ensure ideal grip throughout the swing.

For more information, see the website, www.ecco.com/golf.

Ecco Offers Style, Comfort, Versatility in 2010

Ecco is introducing its spring/summer 2010 men’s golf collection with high-grade leathers, comfort technologies and new styles, ranging from classic to casual, street-inspired designs.

“With each collection, we continue to redefine the golf footwear experience,” said Michael Waack, head of global golf at Ecco.

“Our process is completely unique, as it starts from designs built around the human foot. Comfort, performance and a complete commitment to quality are the driving forces, but style is also key.”

Ecco men’s golf shoes are worn in competition by international tour players such as Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Aaron Baddeley, Stuart Appleby, Thomas Bjorn, Arjun Atwal, Thongchai Jaidee, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and others.

The Spring/Summer 2010 men’s golf collection features the ECCO Four Dots logo across 31 models. The collection includes:

New Classic GTX

A fusion of traditional style and modern technology, the New Classic GTX features uppers of patterned “Lizard” and “Pinnacle” leathers. Outsoles are engineered for enhanced stability feature and feature soft TPU areas in the grip and traction zones. This works in tandem with a direct-injected midsole, integrated swing stabilizer and three-component insole unit to provide support during all phases of the swing.

Casual Cool II Hydromax

The Casual Cool II Hydromax offers a sporty-meets-trendy look. Available in striking colour combinations, the style combines Ecco’s “Lexi” street leather, textile ribbons and modern rubber detailing with all the benefits of the brand’s technology. A sleek, single-density, transparent TPU outsole features a visible TPU foil that is colour-matched to the upper. Along with a low-profile, direct-injected midsole, a two-component leather and microfibre top layer inlay sole on fibre foam provides extra-soft cushioning and grip.

Golf Street Premier

Taking its cues from modern men’s fashion, Golf Street is a truly versatile sport hybrid casual shoe as much at home on the course as it is for après golf. Luxurious, full-grain leather uppers sit atop a new, low-profile, direct-injected PU midsole. A vulcanized street shoe look is enhanced by a thin, colored strip detail on the midsole and metal rivet accents. The sleek, semi-transparent TPU outsole showcases bright, funky colors, as well as pre-molded traction bars that are designed to be durable and provide enhanced grip. Synthetic blend wide-flat laces are provided in two different colours for added use customization, including a contrast color option to stand out.

For more information, see the website, www.ecco.com/golf.

Ecco Unveils Ultra Performance Shoe

Ecco has introduced it men’s Ultra Performance golf shoe that features its patent-pending Direct-Injected stability system, one-piece construction and an outsole design for support, comfort, flexibility and traction throughout the swing.

Ultra Performance is designed to work in tandem with natural features of the human foot. Its stability system is centred around an anatomical last that works with a lightweight, wrap-around support structure that is fused into the midsole and upper.

“Our Direct-Injection technology creates a flexible, holistic support system that cradles the foot from below and continues up and around the shoe to optimize stability and increase power,” said Stefan Guest, the lead designer for Ecco’s golf division.

Ultra Performance features an internal anatomical nylon/steel stabilizer and an external Visible Carbon Fibre Reinforced TPU Stabilizer. These elements are designed to work in conjunction to cradle the arch and outside of the foot for support and prevent excessive torsion flex during the swing.

Midfoot stabilization is enhanced by a 20 per cent lighter, direct-injected polyurethane that is used to create a one-piece, wrap-around Swing Stability System to cradle the foot, provide support and stabilize the heel.

Independent flex between the toes is created through distinct inner and outer flex zones to provide better feel and stability and allow the sole to maintain better ground contact during the swing.

A lightweight, triple-density outsole is designed to provide walking comfort through the use of stability islands that feature soft TPU in the flex areas and hard TPU in areas where grip and traction are required.

Three New Ecco Models for ‘09

Ecco has introduced three new models to its shoe collection for ’09 that are designed to provide comfort along with a stable swing platform. For more information, see the website, www.ecco.com/golf.

Ultra Performance

The Ultra Performance comes with two-coloured Champ Stinger 3 cleats with Q-Lok receptacle system and other traction elements.Ecco has gone for stability and flexibility in the Ultra Performance shoe with its anatomical last designed to provide a stable swing platform.

Features of the Ultra Performance include a triple-density, multi-coloured TPU outsole with stability islands, a carbon fibre-reinforced TPU shank and anatomical nylon/steel shank, direct-injected PU midsole and stability system and Hydromax leather upper.

Casual Cool II

The Ecco Casual Cool II comes in waterproof Gore-Tex, weather-resistant Hydromax or Premier models and street leather types, such as Lexi, with modern rubber detailing.

Features include a single-density, hard-wearing transparent TPU outsole, a two-component inlay sole with leather in the heel and a Cambrelle forefoot, combined with a red comfort fibre system foam.

The Casual Cool II comes with the Q-Lok receptacle system and other traction elements.

Ladies Casual Cool

Features of the Ecco Ladies Casual Cool shoe include a single-density, TPU outsole that showcases the colour-matched TPU foil, an Aero mesh lining with microfibre heel grip and an inlay sole with Cambrelle forefoot and leather in the heel with red comfort fibre system foam.

With its fashion features and sleek profile for a more feminine look, the Ladies Casual Cool comes with two-coloured ladies Stinger 3 cleats with Q-Lok receptacle system and other traction elements to promote stability, flexibility and performance.

Ecco Introduces New Logo

Ecco shoes has introduced a new logo that will premier in its spring/summer golf shoe collection.  The “Four Dots” concept is based on the four circular letters in the company’s logo.  According to the company, the Four Dots represent quality, comfort, technology and style and will come in a variety of forms across the uppers and outsoles of each shoe.

“The 2009 collection contains an exceptional array of new designs, making this the ideal time to launch the Four Dots concept,” said Michael Waack, head of Global Golf for Ecco.

“Seen throughout the entire collection, this logo is a consistent branding element.  It serves as an ideal representation of those characteristics unique to Ecco in the global footwear marketplace and helps further distinguish the look of our golf shoes,” he added.

For more information, see the website, www.ecco.com/golf.