(Londonderry, New Hampshire) — Renowned Danish shoemaker ECCO announces the addition of Stuart Appleby to its roster of International Tour stars that prefer the comfort, performance and styling of its luxury market leading golf shoes.
Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Appleby will wear ECCO shoes exclusively during all on-course activities, appear at company functions and in the brand’s advertising and marketing initiatives. The 36-year-old Australian will also display the ECCO logo on his shirt collar.
"It’s great to partner with a brand that has a worldwide reputation for comfort and style," says Appleby. "I noticed the difference from the first time I put on a pair of ECCO golf shoes. They’ve got an incredibly luxurious look and feel and there was absolutely no break-in period."
Appleby has recorded 11 international wins in his stellar professional career, including eight PGA Tour victories, and has played in five President’s Cup, three Dunhill Cup and one World Cup tournament. He finished 45th on the PGA Tour money list after a 2007 season highlighted by back-to-back top-10s at the Shell Houston Open and Masters, as well as a tie for third at the AT&T Classic.
"Stuart is recognized and respected worldwide for his game and personality," says Jesper Thuen, Sponsor and Event Manager, ECCO Golf. "He’s a great fit for the ECCO brand and we’re looking forward to seeing him compete in our state-of-the-art comfort and performance technologies."
In addition to Appleby, ECCO is preferred by international Tour stars Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Aaron Baddeley, Thomas Bjorn, Thongchai Jaidee, John Bickerton, Steven Jeppesen, Juli Inkster, Carin Koch, Pat Hurst, Sophie Gustafson, Laura Davies, Meena Lee, Candie Kung, Linda Wessberg, Wendy Ward and others.
ECCO’s Spring/Summer 2008 golf collection features unequaled comfort, style and performance in several new designs, including the distinctive C-Force Hydromax for men — the first-ever golf shoe to incorporate a Carbon Force Plate to provide unequaled lightness, flexibility, strength and durability. For women, the new ACE series offers a unique system of interlocking Truss Support Elements that creates the most advanced swing platform in the women’s game.
Distinguished by advanced technologies alongside an unmatched combination of out-of-the-box comfort, high-grade leathers and attention to detail, each shoe in the 2008 collection passes through more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during a production process exclusively executed at ECCO-owned factories. This labor-intensive manufacturing guarantees the brand’s golf shoes help players excel under the most demanding conditions.
All ECCO designs blend a network of built-in technologies to create the ideal platform for the perfect swing. Principal among these is a direct-injected, PU-constructed midsole/outsole. Made from a process unique to ECCO in the golf industry, this:
* Creates a one-piece shoe construction
* Ensures unrivaled durability, flexibility, lightness and weather resistance
* Provides a superior level of cushioning and comfort that does not break down over time, unlike commonly-used materials such as air, rubber and EVA foam
Additional performance features of the Spring/Summer 2008 golf collection include:
* Ultra-soft, high-grade leathers with hydrophobic treatments for superb weather-resistance
* Internal stabilizer to reduce torque and create ideal swing stability
* Double-layer insole with cushion that absorbs heel force to reduce stress on the knees, hips and back
* Internal Air-Circulation System to maintain a fresh, dry and cool foot environment
* Dynamic Energy Return System that provides a trampoline effect during foot-strike and follow-through to reduce fatigue and restore energy with each step
* Green-friendly outsole designs featuring molded traction bars combined with Stinger cleats from Champ and the Q-Lok insert system to provide ideal traction and grip
About ECCO
The only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage the entire value chain from cow to consumer, ECCO is a global leader in city, casual and sport shoes for men, women and children. In 2006, the Danish company sold more than 14.8 million pairs, achieving net revenues of 4.5 billion DKK (approximately 645 million euros).
Founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy, ECCO has nearly 13,000 employees, direct subsidiaries in Europe, the Far East and North America, and partners worldwide. ECCO shoes are sold in more than 3,000 shops globally, including 551 mono-brand (ECCO exclusive) stores.
Following the rules of good craftsmanship to deliver genuine freedom of movement and comfort to consumers, ECCO’s aim has never been to be the biggest, but always to be the best.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226
Contact:
Tom Williams
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3322
twilliams@billycaspergolf.com
