Spira (footwear company)
Apparel | |
Founded | 2002[1] |
---|---|
Founder | Andy Krafsur[1] |
Fate | Bankrupted |
Headquarters | El Paso, Texas, United States[2] |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | Athletic footwear[1] |
Website | spira.com |
Spira Footwear Inc., best known as simply Spira, is an American
Spira Footwear closed in early 2016 with an undisclosed company purchasing Spira's assets, including patents, trademarks, and inventory of unsold running shoes.[5]
Marketing
A&E Networks relationship
In the spring of 2013, Spira was selected to be featured as part of the
Spira raised more than $42,000 by pre-selling more than 800 pairs of the Stinger 2 shoes to supporter and enthusiasts through the RocketHub platform. The money was used to fund the purchase the initial run of inventory for the new shoe.[1]
In August 2013, Spira announced a line of officially licensed limited edition
The relationship between A&E, RocketHub, and Spira Footwear started in the summer of 2012 when Spira used Rockethub’s service to crowdfund its line of Stinger2 shoes. With a crowdfunding project under their belt, Spira was chosen by A&E to align with after the network brainstormed the idea to launch a shoe line for Duck Dynasty. Using the crowdfunding site gives Spira the opportunity to pre-sell the shoe allowing the company to anticipate demand and to determine proper inventory levels. This gives Spira increased visibility into the demand for the shoe so this smaller company can anticipate manufacturing needs with greater accuracy.[8]
HealthWagers contest
In May 2013, Spira and HealthWagers announced a contest where a runner, who is wearing Spira shoes, completes a sanctioned chip-timed race, and the runner does not run faster than their personal record, Spira will pay them back for the price of their shoes. According to the rules of the contest, the race must be longer than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) and must completed in the foreseeable future.[9]
Research
In 2014, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology conducted a research study on the impact of the Spira shoes and technology on running efficiency. The study used 17 runners to compare treadmill performance of two Spira models, one for training and the other for racing, to their own shoes. The study measured oxygen consumption and heart rate at a pace of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) per hour to determine the energy output of each runner.[citation needed]
The study concluded the average person running a marathon could cut four minutes from their run time over the 26.2 miles (42.2 km) distance.[10][11]
Controversy
Spira claimed that their shoes were banned from races because they purportedly did not conform to
At
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Flores, Aileen B. (24 April 2013). "El Paso's Spira to be featured on A&E initiative". El Paso Times. El Paso Times and MediaNews Group. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- ^ a b "Springs in Their Steps". Runner's World. Rodale, Inc. May 2006. p. 30. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
- ^ Kolenc, Vic. "Andy Krafsur, founder of Spira Footwear and El Paso bankruptcy lawyer, dies at age 57". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ ISBN 978-0313357145. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
- ^ Kolenc, Vic (2016-03-03). "El Pasoan's big-time shoe company dream ends". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
- ^ "Real Life. Change / Project Startup Success: Spira Shoes". A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
- ^ Belzer, Jason. "Spira Footwear To Introduce Duck Dynasty Running Shoe". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ Belzer, Jason (2013-08-15). "Spira Footwear To Introduce Duck Dynasty Running Shoe". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ Rovell, Darren (2 May 2013). "Beat your record or your shoes are free". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Can Spira running shoes trim minutes off your race time?". techlife. Alberta Canada: NAIT Marketing and Communications. 2014.
- ^ "Comfortingfootwear". 30 April 2023. Saturday, 31 August 2019
- ^ David Monti: Boston Publicity Stunt is Ultimately Hollow - Shoes Are Not Banned. In: Race Results Weekly. April 17, 2007
- ^ Weldon Johnson: Spira Shoes Update: The Unbanned Banned Shoe. In: LetsRun.com. March 6, 2008
- ^ Reynolds, Gretchen (28 August 2008). "As seen on an Olympian; Physical Culture / The First Steps To the Medal Podium". The New York Times.