The HMX Group, through its Bobby Jones Division, to offer a full range of Bobby Jones apparel, equipment and accessories
HAYWARD, Calif. – The family of legendary golfer Bobby Jones (through a company named Jonesheirs, Inc. ) has awarded the license to manufacture and sell Bobby Jones golf equipment to HMX Group, the New York-based clothing company who also holds the license to the Bobby Jones apparel brand.
According to Martin J. Elgison of Atlanta-based law firm Alston & Bird, who represents Jonesheirs in managing the Jones family’s licensing interests and protection of the name, image and trademarks domestically and internationally, the golf equipment license had been held by Hayward, Calif.-based The Bobby Jones Golf Company. Bobby Jones Golf was controlled by Founder and Chairman Walter J. Rosenthal and President and Chief Designer Jesse Ortiz. Earlier this year, Rosenthal, 70, announced to Elgison his desire to retire, and plans were initiated to transfer the license to HMX Group.
Ortiz, highly regarded as one of the best golf-club designers in the industry, becomes EVP of the Bobby Jones Division and Chief Designer of golf equipment for the HMX Group. The equipment business will continue to operate out of Hayward, Calif.
“From a business standpoint, this move makes sense for all the right reasons,” said Elgison. “It aligns with HMX Group’s interest in creating synergies that many major golf companies have in offering a full palette of apparel, equipment and accessories to golfers. The Jones family is very pleased.”
Rosenthal founded The Bobby Jones Golf Company in 2004 when he secured the equipment license from Jonesheirs. Ortiz has designed the family of award-winning drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and wedges since the company’s inception.
With the marriage of Bobby Jones apparel and equipment comes a unified sales force, marketing program, website and corporate infrastructure, and retailers will now deal with one entity in bringing Bobby Jones products to the marketplace.
“After joining the HMX Group in 2009, I saw the potential of the Bobby Jones brand as one of our company’s growth drivers on a global basis,” said Doug Williams, C.E.O. of HMX Group. “We have refocused our efforts to bring the Bobby Jones spirit of authenticity and integrity through all the products we offer and the relationships we have with our partners. The work that both Walter and Jesse put in place with the Bobby Jones equipment has allowed us to hit the ground running to build the Bobby Jones golf clubs as the preeminent product within the equipment space. The addition of Jesse Ortiz to the HMX Group also brings his character and enthusiasm to our team.”
Bobby Jones will soon announce its plans for new golf products and will attend the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, January 27-29, 2011.
About HMX Group, LLC
HMX is America’s leading tailored clothing company, with a diverse portfolio of brands, both owned and licensed, that are distributed through all domestic retail channels and internationally. HMX’s most prominent brands include Hickey Freeman, Coppley, Monarchy, Christopher Blue, Bobby Jones*, Jack Nicklaus*, Austin Reed*, Sansabelt and Hart Schaffner Marx, the brand worn by U.S. presidents past and present. North American tailored clothing manufacturing is based in Rochester, New York; Des Plaines, Illinois and Hamilton, Ontario.
*The referenced trademarks are licensed to and not owned by HMX Group, LLC or an affiliated company.
Contact:
Mike Hoye
Mike Hoye Public Relations
(310) 544-8800
mike@mikehoyepr.com
