adidas - fashion company profile for adidas on Apparel Search

For over 80 years the adidas Group has been part of the world of sports on every level, delivering state-of-the-art sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Today, the adidas Group is a global leader in the sporting goods industry and offers a broad portfolio of products. Products from the adidas Group are available in virtually every country of the world. Their strategy is simple: continuously strengthen their brands and products to improve their competitive position and financial performance. In addition to the adidas brand, the adidas Group owns Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. For each of these brands, they design and market footwear, apparel and accessories.

Activities of the company and its more than 150 subsidiaries are directed from the Group's headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Also located in Herzogenaurach are the strategic business units for Running, Soccer and Tennis as well as the Research and Development Center. Additional key corporate units are based in Portland, Oregon in the USA, the domicile of adidas America Inc. and home to the strategic business units Basketball, Adventure and Alternative Sports. Reebok Headquarters are located in Canton, Massachusetts. TaylorMade-adidas Golf is based in California. The company also operates design studios and development departments at other locations around the world, corresponding to the related business activity.

adidas Sourcing Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary headquartered in Hong Kong, is responsible for worldwide sourcing.

Here is a brief history of adidas. They have achieved many other great accomplishments, but Apparel Search can only list here a few.

1949 - adidas is registered as a company, named after its founder: 'Adi' from Adolf and 'Das' from Dassler.

1954 - The 'Miracle of Bern' Germany battle Hungary with a competitive advantage. They are wearing adidas soccer boots which for the first time feature removable studs.

1960's -Driven by a desire to help all athletes committed to performance, adidas manufactures equipment for what some consider "fringe sports". Unconventional high jumper Dick Fosbury launches himself up and over in adidas footwear.

1970's - The "adidas" team wins : Crowning moment: Franz Beckenbauer, the "Kaiser", raising the World Cup in victory salute. Germany had just beaten Holland 2-1 in the 1974 final.

1980's After Adi Dassler's death, Adi's wife Käthe, his son Horst, and his daughters carry on the business.

1990's Under the CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus, adidas is moving from being a manufacturing and sales based company to a marketing company.

1995 adidas becomes a public company. Flotation of the company on the Frankfurt and Paris Stock Exchange.

1996 The "three-stripes company" equips 6,000 Olympic athletes from 33 countries. adidas athletes win 220 medals, including 70 gold. Apparel sales increase 50%.

1997 adidas AG acquires the Salomon Group with the brands Salomon, TaylorMade, Mavic and Bonfire in December 1997. The new company is named adidas-Salomon AG.

1999 The integration of the new brands is gaining momentum. The new Taylor Made FireSole clubs boost sales. Salomon in-line skates take off with high double-digit growth during the first half of 1999.

2000 Following personnel changes, the new management initiates an ambitious Growth and Efficiency Program. Major sports events such as the European Soccer Championship EURO 2000™ and the Olympic Summer Games, where swimmer Ian Thorpe takes three gold medals, contribute to the company’s success.

2005 The Salomon Group (including Salomon, Mavic, Bonfire, Cliché and Arc’Teryx) is being sold to Amer Sports in October 2005. The new adidas Group is focusing even more on its core strength in the athletic footwear and apparel market as well as the growing golf category. The legal name of the company will change to “adidas AG” in May/June 2006.

2006 The closing of the Reebok transaction on January 31, 2006 marks a new chapter in the history of the adidas Group. By combining two of the most respected and well-known brands in the worldwide sporting goods industry, the new Group will benefit from a more competitive worldwide platform, well-defined and complementary brand identities, a wider range of products, and a stronger presence across teams, athletes, events and leagues.

Learn more and find updated information about adidas at their website.

You are welcome to shop adidas from their online apparel store.

Corporate Address:

adidas AG
Adi-Dassler-Strasse 1
91074 Herzogenaurach
Germany
Phone: +49-9132-84-0
Fax: +49-9132-84-2241

ML62409 : adidas