Marimekko Corporation has started up licensing co-operation with the Finnish company ONE WAY Sport OY. The license agreement signed by the two companies pertains to the manufacture and marketing of Nordic walking poles.
The first production series, featuring Marimekko’s Unikko design, is scheduled for release on the retail market in September this year. The first countries targeted for distribution are Finland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. Later distribution will be expanded to cover countries outside Europe. Nordic pole-walking is currently one of the fastest growing keep-fit sports in the world and the popularity of this particular leisure-time activity has increased dramatically in Europe. The goal of this co-operation between Marimekko and ONE WAY Sport is to attract consumer interest to this pleasant and invigorating sport through marketing Nordic pole-walking as a Finnish life-style brand and by offering products of superior design and quality to trend-conscious sports enthusiasts.
ONE WAY Sport is a Finnish company, specialised in the development, sourcing and marketing of products in the Nordic Walking sector. The company’s management has acquired many years of experience in the field through the product development of sports equipment, and manufacturing and marketing on an international scale. The retail distribution of ONE WAY Sport’s products in Finland is handled by Delta Sports Co. Marimekko has a long tradition in licensing operations. Apart from Finland, Marimekko products are manufactured under license in the United States and Japan.
This new agreement lends support to Marimekko’s strategy for growth in licensing and allows the Marimekko brand to benefit from new market opportunities.
For more information: Kirsti Paakkanen, President, tel. +358 (0)9 758 71 Marja Korkeela, Licensing, tel. +358 (0)9 758 7238, +358 (0)50 5747 664 E-mail marja.korkeela@marimekko.fi www.marimekko.com Andreas Bennert, President ONE WAY Sport OY Tel. +358 (0)50 404 7765 E-mail andreas.bennert@onewaysport.fi |