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 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!

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 

LIDS’ LEADER NUTS OVER MLB CARDINALS AND THEIR NEW FURRY MASCOT

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

If you have been following the MLB playoffs at all in the last few weeks or watch any of the sports networks, you have no doubt heard about the St. Louis Squirrel. The infamous rodent now dubbed “The Rally Squirrel” by the St. Louis faithful has appeared in both of the Cardinals’ home playoff games. Well I have firsthand knowledge of this legend as he and I had a close encounter in Game 3 on October 4 in St. Louis.

I am a St. Louis Cardinals baseball “nut” you could say. I am certain that is what attracted the Rally Squirrel to me in the first place. I  have been a season ticket holder for the past 13 years and have been a Redbirds fan dating back to my childhood in the 1970s.

This 2011 season has been crazy for so many reasons. I try not to miss any Cardinals playoff games, home or away, but I made the mistake of booking some work-related business trips for early October back when the Cards were 10 ½ games out with a month to play. Oh boy, has my travel schedule been turned upside down! That is the last time I ever write-off my beloved Cardinals before they are mathematically eliminated. They overcame one of the largest deficits in history to make the playoffs on the last day of the season.

In an unbelievable five-game series, capped by one of the best pitching performances I have ever seen by Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals eliminated the Phillies in the divisional round of the playoffs. My Cards are currently tied at one game apiece with the Brewers in the NLCS. I am convinced none of this would be possible without the “Rally Squirrel.”

I was sitting in my front row seats just down the third baseline past the dugout with three buddies for Game 3 of the NLDS. The Cardinals were down 3-0, Philly clearly had the momentum, and we needed a spark. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, play was stopped as our hero came on the field. The squirrel ran from right field all the way to second base then stopped and looked around. I assume he peaked at the scoreboard and saw his team trailing. He continued in my direction and stopped as if he was telling third base coach Jose Oquendo something and then came bounding right over to me.

If you were watching that portion of the national television broadcast like my wife and kids where, you saw one of my buddies reach over the wall and point at our little furry mascot. Then you saw yours truly – donning a red Cardinals hat with my sunglasses atop the visor – reach over and try to grab him. “What would you have done if you caught that squirrel?” I have been asked countless times over the past week. As I’ve told everyone, I was caught up in the moment and all I can remember thinking in that instant was, “Getting that squirrel would surely get me on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays of the day.” Truth is, I just wanted to thank that squirrel for showing up and changing the mojo.

My Cards lost 3-2 that night but it wasn’t the squirrel’s fault. We stranded 14 base runners, nine after our furry friend came onto the field. Down two games to one, he came back during Game 4 on October 5 and darted across home plate while Skip Shumaker was batting. That squirrel clearly got inside Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt’s head and the Cardinals went on to win 5-3 and tie the series at two games apiece. Then, just when you thought the Cardinals didn’t stand a chance heading back to Philly to face their ace pitcher Doc Halliday in Game 5, Rally Squirrel magically showed up again on the field in Philadelphia before the game. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter pitched the best game of his career, the Redbirds won, and are now in line to win their 11^th World Series in franchise history.

Everyone has opinions about superstitions and curses, and baseball has its fair share of animal-related lore. Ask Chicago Cubs fans about the Billy Goat of 1945 and the black cat of 1969. I am confident the Cardinals’ “Rally Squirrel” of 2011 can change history for St. Louis in a good way.  When I sit in my seats October 12 for Game 3 of the NLCS, I’ll have a new shirt on that gives a big shout out to my furry friend. The shirt will be available in LIDS, LIDS Locker Room and the Cardinals Clubhouse stores operated by LIDS in the St. Louis area. Don’t be surprised to see that squirrel on the field. My first purchase at the ball park that night will be a cold beverage and a big bag of peanuts. Big enough to share if my friend happens to come by and visit again.

Join the LIDS Community

Are you a part of the LIDS community? Join NOW!
Now through September 22, 2011, lids.com will waive the normal $5 LIDS Club annual fee for new members (or members who let your membership expire) with any $50 online order. In addition, lids.com will hook you up with free U.S. ground shipping as long as you spend $50 or more!  Just enter discount code FREECLUB at check out.  This offer expires at 11:59pm EST on 9/22.   

Current LIDS Club members: You're already a part of the LIDS community, but lids.com wants to make you feel like a true part of the LIDS family by offering you 25% off all online orders until 11:59pm (EST) on September 22. Just enter discount code LOYALTYPAYS at check out. This offer cannot be combined with other discounts and is not valid on clearance. 

Membership in the LIDS Club guarantees you year-round savings of 20% off hats and custom embroidery, and 10% off apparel and accessories. Register your LIDS Club card at lids.com/club and receive special offers and additional benefits. Get the full skinny about the LIDS Club on lids.com or call us at 1-888-564-HATS (4287).

Take your LIDS LOVE to the next level by 'liking' us on Facebook and following us on Twitter...we have been known to have some pretty good GIVEAWAYS and special fan-only offers! Check us out!

MLB's 2011 59FIFTY Stars & Stripes Caps

Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, LIDS stores, as well as lids.com and lids.ca, are stocked with MLB's 2011 59FIFTY Stars & Stripes caps - the same ones the big-leaguers will wear this coming holiday weekend! 

The 2011 59FIFTY Stars & Stripes caps features team logos with the American flag on bright white front panels and either red or blue back panels and brims.  The Toronto Blue Jays Stars and Stripes hat features the team logo with a Canadian flag, as the sole Major League Baseball team in Canada. 

     

 
Major League Baseball teams will showcase the fresh new Stars and Stripes hats not only this Memorial Day Weekend, but also on Independence Day Weekend.

For a limited time qualifying online orders will also receive FREE GROUND SHIPPING, which include 59FIFTY MLB Authentic Collection Stars and Stripes, MLB Red White and Blue Player T-Shirt, MLB Star Spangled Banner T-Shirt, and MLB I am a Star T-Shirt. Simply use offer code STARSFGS during checkout.  Offer cannot be combined with other offers or discounts, except LIDS Club discounts, and expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on 6/1/11.

 

 

So before you head to the ballpark this weekend or the neighborhood barbeque, pick up your favorite team’s Stars and Stripes hat from your local LIDS retail store or online at lids.com or lids.ca! 

25% OFF Mother's Day Special

Today, May 2^nd, ONLY receive 25% off at lids.com when you use offer code LIDS25OFF during checkout (cannot be combined with any other discount and is not valid on clearance).  In addition to 25% off, express shipping is only $4.99!  Offers expire at 11:59pm EST so shop now for mom and yourself – you both deserve it! 

 

 

FREE Ground Shipping!

If you buy it, it will come...And it won't cost nothin'!  For a limited time lids.com and lids.ca, are offering FREE ground shipping when you use code LIDSFGS at checkout.  Except for LIDS Club discounts, this offer cannot be combined with other discounts or offers and it is not valid on clearance merchandise.  The offer is only valid until April 10th at 11:59pm EST so start shopping now!

 
 

Celebrate MLB Opening Day with a new hat!

MLB Opening Day is finally here!  It's been a long winter and 151 days since the San Francisco Giants won the World Series and took home the Commissioner's Trophy.  LIDS is ready to bid farewell to winter, put away the knit hats and gloves and gear up for another great MLB season!  To celebrate Opening Day and America's favorite pastime, today ONLY at lids.com and lids.ca you can get 25% off regular priced MLB hats and fan merchandise when you use code LIDSMLB at checkout.  Shop now because this offer ends at 11:59pm EST on 3/31/2011!

 

Hats are so much better than chocolate!

Love is in the air!  Whether you're lovingly gazing into the eyes of someone special, drinking martinis with the girls to celebrate being single or buying chocolate on the cheap because VDay candy is now on sale, we've got a proposition for everyone.  Today is the day to fall in love...with a new hat!  Did we mention that we'll give you 25% off because we LOVE you!  Start falling in love today!

 

Fresh Goods Friday Gets a Face Lift + $5 OFF!

Loyal LIDS Customers, The Fresh Goods Friday series of headwear launched in 2004 on New Era's 50th Anniversary with a custom New Era 59FIFTY fitted hat made exclusively for LIDS. Month after month, a new release has been available to our most loyal fitted enthusiasts.  Now, after seven years of fresh designs, the Fresh Goods Friday program is getting a face lift! The Fresh Goods Friday program will temporarily be on hold so that it may continue to offer unique designs to those interested in high quality, limited edition New Era releases.  As the series is revamped, we will rely on our most loyal FGF customers to share their thoughts and opinions.  We want YOU to help shape the future of our new program!  Please look for future opportunities to share your ideas. This doesn't mean that Friday isn't fresh!  With thousands of New Era 59FFIFTY caps available online at lids.com and in LIDS stores nationwide, you can keep it fresh everyday.  To help make your day just a little fresher though, take an additional $5 off any online purchase at lids.com or lids.ca!  This offer can be combined with LIDS Club or BOGO discounts.  Use offer code FRESH5 at checkout.  Offer expires at 11:59pm EST on 2/5/11. Until next time, keep it fresh! Sincerely, Your Friends at LIDS

Free Shipping on NFL Purchases

FREE Ground Shipping with any regular priced NFL hat or apparel purchase!  This includes the new NFL Breast Cancer Awareness gear that NFL players, coaches and officials will wear throughout the month of October. 

Use code LIDSNFL at checkout to receive free ground shipping when you purchase any full price NFL product.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount and is not valid on clearance merchandise.  Promotion code expires at 11:59pm EST on 10/6/2010.

Happy shopping NFL fans!

NHL Hats and Free Canadian Shipping Offer

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are well underway and lids.ca has a great selection of new NHL hats!

 

For a limited time our Canadian customers can receive FREE ground shipping on any regular priced NHL hat or apparel order from lids.ca.  Just enter sales code LIDSNHL during checkout.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts and expires at 11:59pm EST on the 26^th.

Check out all the NHL hats and apparel now and support your favorite team as they play for the cup!

NFL Draft Hats

The much anticipated 2010 NFL Draft kicks-off tonight!  Are you as excited as we are to see which new NFL pro will be sporting the St. Louis Rams draft hat?

Lids.com is currently running a FREE ground shipping promotion on NFL merchandise now through Monday!  If you order any regular priced NFL hat or apparel, including the 2010 NFL draft hat, you can receive FREE ground shipping in the U.S.  Just enter sales code LIDSNFL during checkout.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts and expires at 11:59pm EST on Monday, April 26th, so start shop at lids.com now!

Got the blues?

 
LIDS has got the blues...and recommends you get them, too. Egh?

Blues as in the (blue) LIDS Club card.

Now through April 25, 2010 lids.com will waive the normal $5 LIDS Club annual fee for new members or slackers who let your membership expire. In addition, lids.com will hook you up with free ground shipping when you spend $50 or more through April 25. Just enter discount code FREECLUB at check out.

Current LIDS Club members: You've already got the blues but lids.com wants to make you feel even more blue by offering you 25% off orders through April 25. Just enter discount code LOYALTYPAYS at check out. This discount cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Membership in the LIDS Club guarantees you year-round savings of 20% off hats and custom embroidery, and 10% off apparel and accessories. Register your LIDS Club card at lids.com/club and receive special offers and additional benefits. Get the full skinny about the LIDS Club on lids.com or call us at 1-888-564-HATS (4287).

LIDS Club discounts apply year-round on lids.com and the following stores:

       

  
 
 
 

LIDS Now Offers International Shipping

We are continually trying to improve our selection and services by listening to your suggestions.  One of the most frequent comments we receive is that we should ship to other countries.  As a result, we recently enhanced our online shopping experience for Canadian shoppers by launching lids.ca.  In addition, we are pleased to announce that we have taken another step to offer awesome hats around the globe! 

Introducing...(drum roll, please)...International Shipping at LIDS!  We have partnered with a trusted third-party company to fulfill orders for our international customers. The items in your cart will automatically be transferred into an iShopUSA cart where you may pay with international credit cards, PayPal and bank wire transfers. iShopUSA will process your payment and guarantee delivery.

Check out the steps below to find out how you can get your hands on hats--no matter where you're at!

Step 1: Shop lids.com and find your killer hat!  Select your size and add it to your cart. 

Step 2:  When you're ready to checkout, select the gray International Checkout button (just below the red Secure Checkout button).

Step 3:  After clicking the green Proceed to iShopUSA button, the items in your cart will be transferred to your iShopUSA cart.  Upon clicking this button, you will be leaving lids.com.

Step 4: Continue checking out through iShopUSA.  You will be given the option to select your currency and add in your shipping information.

 

Save Big with a New Lids Promo Code

Yep, that's right.  Another Lids promo code to help YOU save money!  Enjoy this Lids discount code and get your hats today!  Save 20% off any purchase of $65 or more.  This Lids offer code is redeemable at lids.com and lids.ca.  Offer expires Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 11:59pm.  Use code LIDS20 at checkout to receive killer caps for less!

Canadian hat-lovers should click HERE.

New Lids Promo Code

Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone, but that doesn't mean that the money-saving deals are over.  In addition to offering great everyday values, for a limited time only, we want you to save an additional 15% off any purchase of $30 or more.  Use the Lids promo code 15OFFLIDS at checkout to save even more.  This promo code is available until 12/2/09 at 11:59pm.  Use this discount code to load up on awesome baseball hats and caps for the holiday season.  If you're looking for the perfect gift idea, stop by lids.com (or lids.ca) and take advantage of this great Lids promo code.  Happy HoLIDays!