LIDS Hat Blog

LIDS Sports Group, NFL Gear Up for Super Bowl XLVII Retail Experience

-- Company to operate the 30,000 square foot NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa --
-- Pop up location will offer shop-in-shop elements as well as interactive fan activities --

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 22, 2013 – LIDS Sports Group, the Indianapolis-based operator of the North American LIDS retail chain, in collaboration with the National Football League, is pleased to announce its plans for this year’s NFL Experience Driven by GMC concessions business – the NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa. In an innovative spin on the traditional concept for this venue, the retailer has switched gears to focus on creating a fan destination for Super Bowl-goers to include the industry’s latest offerings in product customization and entertainment features. The 30,000 square foot pop up shop will be open to the public from January 25 through February 4, 2013.

“We are truly excited for this opportunity to make a statement of how our retail game plan is constantly evolving, and to showcase that we are able magnify what we do every day in our more than 1,000 LIDS and LIDS Locker Room locations to meet Super Bowl fan expectations for years to come,” said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher.

“This is another example of our determination to prove LIDS Sports Group is a major stakeholder in more than just the headwear category.” The specialty retailer and all-inclusive team sports dealer, primarily known for its headwear stores, has been recently fueling its growth through a more localized, team-specific storefront banner with product selections such as jerseys, fan apparel and team-branded novelty items.

“In looking for a world class leader to help us achieve our retail objectives for the NFL Experience in New Orleans, LIDS’ offerings and willingness to push the envelope to provide a unique fan experience stood out – as is evident in their expanding event retailing efforts,” said Leo Kane, NFL senior vice president of consumer products. “We are excited to work with LIDS to deliver to our fans more ways to celebrate their teams and Super Bowl XLVII.”

The NFL Experience shop will offer sports enthusiasts a wide variety of officially licensed Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl XLVII apparel and memorabilia, ranging from the latest fashion trends to on-field gear.

Key NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa retail elements and logistics:

- Player Appearances and Celebrity Interaction Opportunities

- Interactive Features: XBOX Gaming Area, Tailgate Toss, Fathead Photo Booth, and Fitted Test

- LIDS Custom Zone: Custom Embroidery, Custom Screen Printing on Jerseys, Special Event Patches, Personalized Key Chains and Custom Photo Souvenir Footballs

- Limited Edition Product Offerings – Limited Quantities

- Shop-in-Shop Partners: Nike, New Era, G-III and Touch by Alyssa Milano, Fathead, Tervis Tumblers, EA Sports, Mitchell & Ness and ’47 Brand

- NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa hours of operation will be: 
    Date                                                                     Hours of Operation 
    Friday, Jan. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 27             10:00 AM to 7:00 PM 
    Monday, Jan. 28 through Tuesday, Jan. 29         CLOSED
    Wednesday, Jan. 30 through Saturday, Feb.2    10:00 AM to 10:00 PM 
    Sunday, Feb. 3                                                     8:00 AM to 3:00 PM 
    Monday, Feb. 4                                                     8:00 AM  to 2:00 PM


Additionally, LIDS Sports Group will manage other prime locations under the NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by LIDS retail banner in the greater New Orleans area – the French Quarter, Riverwalk, and NFL host hotels – to satisfy customer demand throughout the city leading up to this NFL season’s championship game.


ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.


Twitter – @LIDS4Hats   @LIDSPR   #LIDSSBXLVII     
LIDS Mobile – Text LIDSSB47 to 477493 for Super Bowl XLVII Offers

LIDS Team Sports Official Uniform Supplier of East-West Shrine Game

Sporting Goods Distributor Continues Sponsorship with 88th College Football All-Star Match Up

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 17, 2013 – LIDS Team Sports, a team apparel and equipment dealer operating within all 50 states and a business unit of Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, has extended its sponsorship agreement as the official uniform supplier for the 2013 East-West Shrine Game®. The nation’s longest-running all-star football game will take place Saturday, January 19, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

LIDS Team Sports is providing uniforms as well as practice and travel gear for this year’s participants. The two team rosters include a combination of 115 premier collegiate athletes, representing more than 50 academic institutions across the country.

“We are pleased to yet again be a part of the annual East-West Shrine Game, which is a nice alignment of the nation’s best in college football and the efforts of Shriners Hospital – a cause worthy of the support generated by this association,” said LIDS Team Sports Executive Vice President Matt Geske. “For the players involved, many of whom will advance to the NFL, this game not only provides the opportunity to showcase their athleticism but a chance to truly hone in on their passion to give back.”

The game will again benefit the 22 Shriners Hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico which provide state-of-the-art medical treatment to children in need regardless of their ability to pay. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Shriners provides advanced care for youth patients with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

“This event is truly ‘More than just a game.’ It’s about creating lasting relationships that breathe new life to our philanthropic mission – be it players, coaches, spectators or suppliers,” said Executive Director of the East-West Shrine Game Harold Richardson.

The 2013 East-West Shrine Game will be broadcast on the NFL Network at 4:00 p.m. EST. Visit www.shrinegame.com for more information.

ABOUT LIDS TEAM SPORTS
LIDS Team Sports is a full service team dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods operator based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a division of Hat World, Inc. Hat World is a niche mall-based retailer of baseball caps and team fan shops operating primarily under the LIDS retail brand. LIDS Team Sports was founded in 2009 and is made up primarily of regional team dealers Anaconda Sports (Lake Katrine, New York), the former Brand Athletics (Tigard, Oregon), and the former Impact Sports (Madison, Wisconsin). What began as a modest 10-state sales territory in 2009 now spans 50 states today. The company provides all-inclusive institutional sporting goods to a broad range of customers throughout the United States, including colleges and universities, high schools, corporations, and youth organizations. The business offers a diverse selection of products – jerseys, warm-ups, fleeces, polo shirts, jackets, t-shirts, shorts, shoes and other team uniform sportswear and a complete line of sporting equipment – and services such as team fundraising support. The company also operates the Internet sites www.lidsteamsports.com and www.anacondasports.com, in addition to a LIDS Team Golf division and a catalog business. For more information, one can visit lidsteamsports.com or call (800) 644-4481.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

RELEASE: LIDS SPORTS GROUP, GENESCO HOST EIGHTH ANNUAL COLD FEET, WARM SHOES AND HATS EVENT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

-- Company to provide 450 local students with new shoes and knit hats--
-- United Way of Central Indiana and Indianapolis Colts to participate --  

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., December 3, 2012 – Volunteers from Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group and its parent company, Tennessee-based Genesco Inc., will set up a mock shoe and hat store on Tuesday, December 4, at College Park Elementary School to personally fit 450 children in need with new, properly fitting shoes and warm knit hats just in time for the holiday season.  More than 130 of the company’s corporate office employees, including LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher and co-founder Scott Molander, will be joined by United Way of Central Indiana Senior Vice President of Resource Development Angela Dabney.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers will also be in attendance, as well as fellow teammates Cory Redding, Scott Lutrus, Griff Whalen, Shawn Loiseau and Matt Overton, to interact with the children and distribute t-shirts donated by the Colts organization.  “It is exciting to be a part of such a well-established program here in Indianapolis, which helps make the holidays brighter for hundreds of children annually,” said Powers.

 “As a key player in the sporting goods industry, those employed by LIDS Sports Group know the importance of leading by example through social responsibility.  The Cold Feet, Warm Shoes and Hats program is a great model for this, as it is community collaboration for those less fortunate in the areas in which our employees live and work,” said Kocher.  Nearly 3,000 Indianapolis students from eight different public schools have benefited from this event since 2005, when it was expanded to Indianapolis shortly after Genesco acquired LIDS.

In its 23^rd year overall, the Cold Feet, Warm Shoes and Hats program is Genesco’s signature community outreach initiative which focuses on providing disadvantaged youth with the power of choice, the same respect and service they would receive at any of the company’s more than 2,440 retail stores nationwide, as well as the practical solution of properly fitting footwear and headwear. 

Volunteers will participate in a variety of roles ranging from greeting each child to personally fitting them with their choice of new footwear, in addition to distributing headwear.  Students will also be served a nutritional snack to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.

 

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

ABOUT GENESCO INC.
Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear, sports apparel and accessories in more than 2,440 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Underground by Journeys, Schuh, Lids, Lids Locker Room, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.shibyjourneys.com, www.undergroundbyjourneys.com, www.schuh.co.uk, www.johnstonmurphy.com,  www.lids.com,  www.lids.ca, www.lidslockerroom.com, www.lidsteamsports.com, www.lidsclubhouse.com , www.suregripfootwear.com and www.dockersshoes.com.  The Company’s Lids Sports Group division operates the Lids headwear stores and the lids.com website, the Lids Locker Room and other team sports fan shops and single team clubhouse stores, and the Lids Team Sports team dealer business.   In addition, Genesco sells wholesale footwear under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Dockers brand, SureGrip, and other brands. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.

 

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LIDS Club Video

 

Purchase your LIDS Club membership and start saving today! The LIDS Club program allows you to save on purchases made at any LIDS or LIDS Locker Room location and on lids.com for one year from date of purchase.

Benefits Include

• Discounts with every purchase*
• Earn points for even greater discounts
• Special offers, deals, and events
• Sneak peek on new merchandise
• Exclusive promotions

Learn how different levels of LIDS Club Memberships get deals such as 20% discounts on embroidery, 10% discounts on products, and VIP access to new product releases. Discover which LIDS Club membership works best for you and start saving!

New Era Video | Lids.com

 

No doubt LIDS customers have a great fashion sense, if your looking for some fresh new ideas on how to where LIDS iconic New Era hats, watch this New Era Video to see what others are doing. This New Era Video shows how various trend setters are wearing various styles of the New Era hats from 59-Fifty to snapbacks. Discover other styles and see what works for you.

RELEASE: LIDS Sports Group to Acquire Retail Stores from Fanatics, Inc.

FansEdge and Football Fanatics retail locations in Chicago, Jacksonville and Oklahoma markets to be rebranded under the Locker Room by LIDS retail banner

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., October 31, 2012 – The LIDS retail division, a multi-channel business unit of Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, has reached an agreement with Florida-based Fanatics, Inc. to purchase 12 brick-and-mortar retail stores, comprised of nine FansEdge locations in the Greater Chicago area as well as one in Oklahoma and two Football Fanatics in Jacksonville, Fla.

Through this agreement the locations will be rebranded under the Locker Room by LIDS retail banner, to include region-specific storefronts such as Chicago Locker Room and Oklahoma Locker Room.  “We continue to look for opportunities to expand the LIDS brand, and this acquisition allows us the opportunity to align these new additions – which are positioned in great sports communities – with our evolving sports apparel retail concepts,” said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

“In our mission to establish the LIDS brand as a one-stop shop for the fan, participant or both, this agreement offers LIDS Sports Group the chance to further expose the many other layers of our business to sports enthusiasts who are predominately only familiar with our headwear side,” said Kocher.

The LIDS Sports Group retail division will introduce its Custom Zone in-store customization capabilities to the recently acquired locations, which will carry an assortment of local and regional product offerings of officially licensed apparel and merchandise.  Customers will also be able to take advantage of the company’s gift card and LIDS Club loyalty card programs at each location.

LIDS Club House Video | Licensed Apparel

 

LIDS Clubhouse is a diverse, all-inclusive, industry leading team merchandising company for more than 25 professional sports team and organizations, and collegiate athletic programs. LIDS Clubhouse operates storefronts, e-commerce, and retail for game-day concessions and special events. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, as a division of LIDS Sports Group, LIDS Clubhouse properties offer officially licensed sports apparel including team-specific headwear, apparel, accessories and novelties in the latest styles and colors. Some locations also offer custom embroidery capability.

LIDS Clubhouse began as Sports Avenue in 1986. Sports Avenue grew to become an industry leader in overall team shop development and licensed team merchandising, and joined forces with LIDS Sports Group in 2010. LIDS Sports Group operates within Hat World, Inc. which is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

Learn how LIDS is dedicated to expanding league and team recognition and how your brand can be represented through the Lids Clubhouse.

How to Protect and Clean a Hat | Hat Care

 

There are three basic concerns when washing baseball caps:

1. Washing will change the shape of the cap.

2. Washing will wreck the brim of the cap.

3. Shrinkage of the cap.

To learn how to protect and clean your hat, while preventling the three main concerns above, check out this video! 

Start with the LIDS Water & Stain Repellent. This protective spray penetrates deeply to repel water, dirt, sweat, and other causes of hat stains. Special conditioning emollients keep fabrics and leathers soft and allow caps to breathe so your head stays dry. It contains no ozone depleting CFCs, will not discolor or stain fabric, and is odorless when dry.

We want to know...How do you keep your caps fresh? Tweet us @lids4hats and tell us your secrets to keeping your hats looking clean!

LIDS Locker Room | Video

LIDS Locker Room is the place to be for sports fans. We have an extensive selection of collectibles such as bobble heads, coozies, house flags, jewelry and much more! Whether you are looking for a fun way to show your team spirit or shopping for a crazy sports fan, shop LIDS Locker Room for all your sports collectibles. With sports memorabilia for a wide selection of teams and leagues from NBA to NFL, to name a few, where else would you go but LIDS Locker Room. LIDS provides this video to give the sports fan in you an overview of just what exactly LIDS Locker Room has to offer.

How to Store a Hat | Hat Care

 

LIDS wearers take pride in how their hats look, and part of keeping that look is knowing how to store your hat. LIDS can help! This instructional video shows not only how to store your hat, but also useful products such as the LIDS Cap Collector that will help you store them anywhere from the back of your door, to hanging from your ceiling.  Got any ideas for other "Hat-Fanatics" like yourself on how to best store cap collections?  Leave a comment below or tweet us @lids4hats with your ideas!

How to Size Hats | Lids.com

One of the questions posed to LIDS employees on a daily basis is how to size a hat. As a result, we've developed a detailed video that will finally answer all your questions. Check out the following informational video that teaches you how to size your hat...It will ensure you always get your hat size just right. Make sure you've got your measuring tape!

LIDS Foundation Video

The LIDS foundation is the official charitable organization of LIDS Sports Group.  The idea of charity is not a new one within the LIDS Sports Group family. In fact, the development of the LIDS Foundation was a natural extension of what many of the Company's employees were already doing: giving back to their local communities and helping to support those in need. Through this charitable arm of LIDS Sports Group, employees now have the ability to pool together their resources on a greater scale to create synergies that will make an even more significant impact.

The primary focus of the LIDS Foundation will be to improve the lives of young people in the communities in which LIDS Sports Group operates. This will initially be done through offering resources to non-profit organizations or events whose goals align with the LIDS Foundation - those supporting healthy and active lifestyle programs.

"We are ecstatic to be embarking on this exciting philanthropic journey," says LIDS Foundation Sr. Coordinator and Committee member, Gita Young. It is our hope that you will join us as we begin to seek opportunities that match the LIDS Foundation's mission to better our communities, one opportunity at a time!

The History of LIDS - Who is LIDS?

LIDS is one of the largest sports headwear retailers in the country. With hundreds of stores and subsidiaries like "LIDS Locker Room", LIDS is known nationwide as a leader in headwear and sports accessories. But do you know where the company got it's roots? According to Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President (also @Wear_a_lid on Twitter), "LIDS is unlike any other company out there.  It is definitely one of the best to work for.  We truly live by the motto Have fun, Sell Hats."  Check out this video to learn about LIDS' history along with fun facts and statistics about the company.

LIDS Inks Agreement with University of Nevada, Las Vegas

 

Clubhouse division to introduce the Rebels exclusive online shop
and stadium retail operation

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Sept. 12, 2012 – LIDS Clubhouse, a retail brand of Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, has reached a limited retail licensing agreement with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas  for the rights to operate the official stadium store, UNLV Rebels Locker Room, of the university’s Athletic Department.  Also included in the agreement is the launch of the University’s official e-commerce site, which will be powered by LIDS.

“As we continue to expand the reach of our LIDS Clubhouse division, it is a unique opportunity to partner with a university with such a rich athletic history,” said LIDS Sports Group Executive Vice President of Retail Charlie Brodt.  “In our position as a main stakeholder in the licensed retail business, we truly believe an affiliation with the LIDS brand offers our partners great value in growing their business.  We hope to soon share these results with the UNLV athletic administration.”

UNLV Director of Athletics Jim Livengood added, “The LIDS retail brand is known for offering a broad assortment of quality officially licensed merchandise, as well as their capability to react to the ever-changing hot market opportunities.  Through the resources at hand via this agreement, we look forward to building a solid UNLV retail brand for our loyal Rebels fans, on campus at the stadium as well online, for years to come.”

In addition, the LIDS retail division will add further value to UNLV Rebels fans’ shopping experiences by introducing its loyalty club program, which earns points with every purchase.

Specific terms of this retail agreement have not been disclosed.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

Avengers everywhere...even at LIDS!

We just can't get enough of the Avengers. For a few days last month, everyone was fixated on The Hunger Games' box office – but now Avengers is on everyone's mind...it also doesn't hurt that it recorded the largest ever opening weekend. The Avengers is one of those rare movies, where fans are already returning for multiple viewings. Positive buzz will also help bring in those who previously had no interest in the movie to see what all the fuss is about.

Did you see The Avengers or are you planning on seeing it?  Leave a comment or send us a Facebook or Twitter post with your response!

Check out all the Avengers caps below available on lids.com!

MARCH MADNESS - A LIDS TRADITION

 

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid

March Madness: My favorite time of the year.  At LIDS, we have been celebrating this day since the inception of our company.  We’d show up early to get started on our work, and then take the rest of the day off and head to our favorite wing joint to hold down some tables, grab some beverages and enjoy the “Madness.”

Oh…there are legendary days in the history of Hat World and LIDS when it comes to the first day of the tournament.   Over the years we’ve had some great vendor support by guys like Dane Marr, Brad Warble, Mike Bailey, Chuck Looker, Andy Moss, Tim Isaacson, Steve Heath and others whose names escape me.  Some of the best times we ever had were at Neon Johnnies (no longer in business). They had the best pizza and wings in the city, no doubt.  We’d own the place from 11am until 9pm, and run up legendary tabs that will go down in Indianapolis March Madness lore.  We’d all have our brackets filled out and argue all day long over who knew more about college basketball.   We usually agreed to disagree, but we always enjoyed the day!

March Madness is a tradition like no other, especially in the state of Indiana.   As the company has gotten bigger it is almost impossible to shut the doors and have everything come to a halt like we did in the old days.   Still, the diehards will get to work Thursday a little early and leave a little before 11am, head to the new spot, Buffalo Wild Wings or Wings and Rings, and carry on the tradition.  

For the first time in 17 years, I will not be in Indianapolis to watch the tip off of this great event because I will be traveling stores in Chicago.   To all those diehards at LIDS in Indy: save me a seat, a plate of wings and an ice cold beverage!  You never know, I just may take a detour and stop by!

JOIN LIDS MOBILE TODAY!

You 'like' LIDS on facebook, follow @Lids4hats on Twitter, and now you can TEXT LIDS straight from your mobile phone!  That's right!  You can join LIDS MOBILE today to receive instant alerts on special promotions, new products and exclusive offers. Simply text LIDSBLOG to 477493.  Message and data rates may apply. Includes 4-6 messages per month. Hurry and join for a special one-time offer!

 

*For a full lus of terms and conditions visit http://www.lids.com/HelpDesk/security/Terms#SMS 

LINSANITY at LIDS!

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid

LINSANITY. You can say I witnessed the movement firsthand last week when I was visiting the NBA offices in NYC. After a few days of meetings, we were treated to a game at the famed “Garden.” I have to admit I wasn’t too excited about going to a Knicks game. But, we happened to be there for his 7th start, and by then the hype was unbelievable!

The Knicks took on the Sacramento Kings and beat them handily 100-85. It was Lin’s worst scoring output (10 points), but he did what a point guard is supposed to do and dropped 13 dimes. Up to that point, it was his all-time high for assists in a game. The Knicks, who were 8-15 before Lin sparked the recent run, now enter the second half of the season with a 17-18 record.

We were all “Tebowing” this past NFL season, and now the Jeremy Lin phenomenon has spread all over the country. My question is who will be the next athlete to catch our attention in the MLB this season? I have a feeling there will be another great story. Until then, let’s all enjoy the LINSANITY. It will only remain if this young man can sustain this momentum for the rest of the year. After watching him several times on tv and once in person, my money says he is here to stay! I only wish I had thought of the nickname first. GLENNSANITY…has a nice ring, doesn’t it?

THE TRUE Super Bowl Experience

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid

WOW!   No other words come to mind to describe what Indianapolis and LIDS did during the Super Bowl this past week.  Well, actually I do have a few…

The city rolled out the red carpet and put itself on the map as a TRUE player as a Super Bowl host city.   I know Miami, Arizona and San Diego are sexy because of the weather, but Indianapolis raised the bar for future Super Bowl’s to come.   I have been fortunate enough to attend nine Super Bowls, and this one was by far the best I have been to.   Downtown Indianapolis  was turned into a weeklong fan zone, not only catering to the fans but for families as well.  The interactive Super Bowl Village was complete with free concerts, autograph sessions, celebrity sightings, food and drinks, countless parties, and temporary makeshift nightclubs.   Maybe the most unique was the Zip line, something that is  sure to be copied by future host cities.   All in all, what can’t be copied was the “Hoosier Hospitality!”   The atmosphere and  friendliness you felt as you walked around downtown with 100,000 of your closest friends cannot be duplicated.   If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I was in downtown Mayberry. 

To make the experience complete for fans, the Super Bowl host committee picked Lids Locker Room as the official retailer.   We outfitted all the volunteers with Nike gear and brought a retail presence that has never been seen or done before.  The 2^nd floor of the old Nordstrom building, all 30,000 feet, was turned into the greatest Super Bowl store ever put together (See photos below).   It wasn’t just a store, it was truly an experience!   When a retailer can turn an everyday trip to buy a product into an engaging experience, they’ve set themselves apart from everyone else…and that is exactly what we did last week in Indianapolis.  With over 300 LIDS employees and volunteers and months of behind the scenes planning from all departments within the company, LIDS put their mark on Super Bowl XLVI.

After all that was said and done, all I can do is stand back and tip my cap to the thousands of hours put in by so many to make this Super Bowl way more than just a three hour football game.  YOU turned it into an experience; a memory that the 70,000 who had tickets and the hundreds of thousands who just walked the streets, will never forget!  I know I’ll never forget it.

Thank you Indianapolis and thank you LIDS employees!  I am proud to be part of the best retail team around!

-Glenn

LIDS Super Bowl Rally Time

 

This past week was a memorable one for all of the LIDS employees who came to INDY to help celebrate the Super Bowl!  Check out the video above of co-founder, Glenn Campbell, as he rallies up the troops before a big day at one of the stores!

Make sure you check out Glenn on twitter @Wear_a_lid, for daily updates on all things LIDS!