Seems to have started with the Jenny B steal, and then the signing of a ton of new, up and coming talent. Then they took over the HS national meet and now the Boston Indoor Games.
I for one am impressed with Josh Rowe, and I am excited to see if New Balance will begin to challenge Nike in the coming years as the biggest brand in running. I think it's easy to forget, but there were a lot of other brands who dominated the game before the recent Nike takeover of the sport.
New Balance also sponsors Providence College's Men and Women
What do you do for a road racing shoe if you're sponsored by NB? They don't make any that I know of.
New Balance is getting hard. Hahaha
I have really enjoyed the 759's (coming from the Cumulus) and a friend of mine that does a lot of trail running swears by the 101's
burns 3 wrote:
Seems to have started with the Jenny B steal, and then the signing of a ton of new, up and coming talent. Then they took over the HS national meet and now the Boston Indoor Games.
I for one am impressed with Josh Rowe, and I am excited to see if New Balance will begin to challenge Nike in the coming years as the biggest brand in running. I think it's easy to forget, but there were a lot of other brands who dominated the game before the recent Nike takeover of the sport.
They have been "hard into it" since 1978. I would not exactly call "Jenny B" a steal.
Anyway, I agree the supprt is welcome.
RC 205 is one:
http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/products/RC205/
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That shoe is 7.8 oz. My training shoe is lighter. Real racing flat should be in the 4 to 5 oz range
When I was a high school runner in the early '80s, NB had some pretty serious cachet among the more serious runners in my area, along with Tiger (Asics) and Etonic. Most of the runners on my team were wearing Nike Daybreaks and Internationalists and Terra T/C's, Saucony Jazz, or Brooks something-or-others. They also made light flats and good spikes. Somehow or other, after that they seemed (to me) to market their stuff toward middle aged and older runners. Glad to see them starting to go back toward the younger market.
In terms of the elite running scene, they experienced a depression of sorts as a perennial powerhouse, in comparison to others, and what they once were. But they're coming back quick.
The reason I called Jenny B a steal is because I think the general running public was expecting her to sign with Nike, like everyone else. But New Balance gave her the best offer--and "stole" her from Nike.
Also, I forgot to mention the New Balance Boston Twilight meets, their association with the armory, and I expect them to eventually make a push forward to create an elite training group (although they are currently giving great support to a handful of sub-elites in their Boston Performance group).
Fun Fact: New Balance sponsors Bonner of the Spurs.
Johnny Rotten wrote:
When I was a high school runner in the early '80s, NB had some pretty serious cachet among the more serious runners in my area, along with Tiger (Asics) and Etonic. Most of the runners on my team were wearing Nike Daybreaks and Internationalists and Terra T/C's, Saucony Jazz, or Brooks something-or-others. They also made light flats and good spikes. Somehow or other, after that they seemed (to me) to market their stuff toward middle aged and older runners. Glad to see them starting to go back toward the younger market.
Great point.
I think this is great for the sport, because when two large companies are competing it is good for the consumer. If Nike and New Balance begin to get into regular bidding wars over athletes, meets, sponsorships, etc. that will cause the prices to rise and with money comes recognition and popularity. I think when companies start getting out of their comfort zone in terms of setting price limits and budgets, then the sport, as a whole, will begin to reap the benefits.
New Balance will also be sponsoring Willam & Mary cross country/track this year
sorry.... William & Mary
New Balance will always be behind the times overall. While I think Rowe can do great things to elevate the company with his marketing, ideas/promotions, and athlete sponsorships it will never be enough to make New Balance compete with Nike.
New Balance tries to hard to serve too many. they refuse to give up the old people market by making shoes like the 993, 883, etc and promoting their "made in usa" products.
Instead of focusing on catching up with product development and innovation they try to stay "heritage." This is mainly because back in the 1970s when most of the U.S. shoemaking factories were losing due to the inability to compete with cheap labor and production costs of overseas companies in japan, taiwan, and china. The only way New Balance could stay afloat was to keep manufacturing the exact same product and do no product development the R&D. New Balance kept this attitude for years, and is just now finally abandoning it as they found they were losing all of the very small market share they had.
New Balance's idea of R&D lately has been to jump on the popular train at the time by making shoes that fit into the current "shoe craze" this is indentified by looking at shoes like the 790 trail shoe which catered to the minimalist craze, the toning shoes (pending lawsuit against them now because of them) the trail 100 (minimalist again) and now their minimus line. It is a great idea to market product that meets what consumers are looking for but all along New Balance has turned their heads to the true issue: THEIR SHOES SIMPLY DONT FEEL GOOD. Rarely do you get a customer who steps into a New Balance shoe and says "oooo, aahh, those feel good/comfortable." They simply have no step in feel, and still are far behind in the looks category as well. new Balance is great when it comes to offering widths and all sizes, but what is the point when most people dont want to wear your shoes? The only time they really have the customer is when they need an awkward size or width, and most other shoe companies are catching up to them now by offering many different widths. So their one big selling point is now dwindling.
New Balance needs fresh blood in the development category. They need to give up on trying to stay heritage/classic and make what will sell. SOFTEN and BRIGHTEN. i'm not advocating for flourescent colors, just saying the drab white, navy, and black for men and light blue and white for women with a splash of silver wont due. It says something when a specialty running store could EASILY survive without carrying any New Balance product. Sure, the store would lose a few sales but likely their is already a New Balance store in the area if they are in a major metropolitan area. Could a specialty running store do the same with a brand like Nike, Brooks, or Saucony? highly doubtful, and likely not with Mizuno either.
Take a look at the mens running product offering:
http://www.shopnewbalance.com/category.asptype=mnftrn&page=1
Is there anything on the site that you just have to have?
a simple comparison of shoes to other companies shows the lack of quality and comfort that new balance offers.
NB 905-bad fit in the upper, hard to fit to customers, cannot rival shoes like the Nike LunarElite and Asics DS Trainer, the midsole and outsole of the NB905 wear out far too easily.
1012-Is it as soft and supportive as shoes like the Brooks Beast and Asics Evolution? No, it offers a great range of widths though...but wait, other companies do that now too. Price point is high for what it offers. If the price were 99.95 MSRP it would sell better. It does not offer what the 134.99 price tag indicates it would.
2002-get real...264.99? it better have a computer in it that does the running for the customer...have you heard the U.S is in a recession/Economic crisis New Balance?
1906-same as above only a little less rediculous price point...still highly rediculous. These shoes dont even compare to shoes like the Vomero, Nimbus, Glycerin. Too be priced above them is asinine.
1226-outrageous price tag for what you get. 144.95 but yet cant compare to shoes like the 2150, adrenaline, structure triax. Its a brick. I guess it could be used for smashing a enemies windshield or window...thats about all its good for though.
101-Not bad, I like this shoe. NB pulled away from their typical styles and made something that can sell. Problem is that a shoe like the 101 is not going to work for the typical consumer/runner that walks into a speciality running store. Their are few that can get away with using a shoe like the 101. Due to the craze you might get a fat guy that has to have it and then two weeks later he is back in the store wanting to return it because he feet hurt.
993-It'll sell to your old folk that only want American Made, and the occassional frat guy too.
883-Old people again. NB brags that it fits orthotics easily. Most shoes do these days champ!
759-Getting there. Much better than shoes of the past. Bring the pricepoint down to 85.00 MSRP like the Pegasus used to be and NB will get more people willing to take the gamble. Its still a bit hard though.
1120-not a bad shoe really, its a brick though. There is a market for it, but why do you have the 1012, 1120, and 850 that are all so similar and priced higher than most of what other companies are offering? I do actually think the 1120 is a good shoe, the problem is it just looks so pedorthic that most will go with a Beast/Ariel or Evolution over this. LOWER THE PRICE!
1064-Expensive little shoe that cannot even offer the comfort of a Pegasus, Cumulus, Ghost/Defyance, Wave Rider, or Ride 2. Make this guy priced at 85-99 and you might get some people. But then what would they do with the 759?
876-POS! really New Balance? have you ever tried to make a trail shoes (aide from your 790-100-101 minimalist styles) that were not as stiff as a 2x4? If everyone else in the industry can do it, so can you. ITs just going to take a little effort, nothign to be scared of.
760-Sellable. Price point is ok and comparable to Structure Triax, 2150, Adrenaline, Inspire as it should be. Quite stiff...so softening it up could do the brand wonders.
740-really? REALLY? another shoe in the stability category. Do you remember GM competing with itself so much? TAKE A HINT! how about instead of making so many shoes in the same category you focus on making a few good shoes.
910-it couldnt be worse. enough said.
1080-improved outsole compared to the typical NB. Same hard midsole and ugly upper. Another NB high end shoe that cant compare to what other companies basic models can offer.
860-horrible outsole, material isnt bad but the tread pattern is horrendous. Looks like one of Adidas' cheap response models that had the pod shaped things in the heel (adidas reponse control i think?)
Spikes-Their spikes have been the same for years, the only good one they have offered in the past 5 years was the lds1000-1005 series. Their new spikes have the exact same plate with the more expensive 800 model containing a carbon fiber reinforced strike zone. Other than that the pin placement and materials are the same.
I cant even justify writing about NB models like the 587, 572, 7500, 738, 520, and 461. The fact that they are included in the "performance" range is astounding. Yes i know NB has their NBx line which is considered their best. NB could do themselves some good by seperating their NBx models from the rest of their models on their website.
Hey great NB has some good athletes now and is taking over rights to some events. Congrats! athletes dont mean good product. Jenny B was injured a month or so after signing with new balance and having to train in their gear...does that say something? Buying an event doesnt mean anything except that they paid for the exclusivity rights to it so they can have a booth.
New Balance has the resources to improve their product, their company, and contribute to the running community. They just seem lazy and uninterested in doing so.
Some good analysis.
What do you think of the Minimus for those that can run in it?
You're obviously an idiot with a bone to pick but how's this for softening and brightening?
http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/purposeful-design-and-the-upcoming-nb-890/
This shoe is going to kick ass.
New balance, like any other company has shoes that tend to fit a certain foot type. They have some good performance shoes, and from what I know their newer shoes and spikes are going to be marketed towards the competitive runner.
And blaming new balance shoes and gear(I bet it was a drifit tshirt) for jenny bs injury seems a bit ill informed.
Agree, can't wait until the 890 comes out. Also, NB has a brand new neutral road racing flat. The RC 1400..It's going to kick some serious bootie as well. I jumped the Mizuno ship over to New Balance after Mizuno ruined the Wave Rider. The WR 14s are terrible. I started looking for another shoe and found the NB 759...I like it better than any Mizuno I've had and then I found out they have the neutral lightweight trainer(890) and road flat(RC 1400) coming out. NB has some really talented people on board and are out to make a serious statement. They are doing a great job so far. NB has a graet heritage and it's good to see them making a comeback.
Saw the 1400 racing flat today. My shop will rally hard behind this shoe. Wish I had taken a picture to post, but I predict it will take market share from LunarGlide, T6 Racer, Speedstar, Type A4, etc. Very Very Sexy.
Also, they have the lightest neutral training shoe on the market to be released February 1...the 890. Very young, very fast, very light...definitely a far cry from their product mix over the past 5 years (with the exception for the 100 and 101, which have been fantastic).
Minimus is cool stuff, but don't know how it will do considering they're a bit late to the game. Still makes a good statement for the brand and has generated a lot of discussion. I think it will ultimately be better than the Hattori shoe that Saucony will release this Summer.
Are they owned by a parent/holding company, or are they private? I'd love to gobble up some stock before their new products hit!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any traders out there know the deal?