LIDS Hat Blog

Season of Giving

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

 

 

 

 

 

For seven years, Genesco and LIDS have outfitted an entire school with new shoes, hats, gloves and t-shirts through the Cold Feet, Warm Shoes and Hats initiative. This program, which was started by Nashville-based Genesco, the parent company of LIDS, seeks to empower underserved youth with the power of choice. In just one day, volunteers from both offices transform a school's gym into a full-service shoe store.  Every child is brought into the "store," sized for a new pair of shoes and allowed to select their favorite pair.  They also get a package of socks, a Colts knit hat and a tee shirt.  Even Colts players like Gary Brackett are on hand to interact with the children and help make this day one that they will remember for years to come.

This event translates into three hours of pure joy for these kids, as they have no idea what to expect until the moment they walk in the gymnasium.  Personally, the smiles on their faces do more for me and all of us there than any pair of shoes will ever do for them.   As happy as these kids are, we as a company leave the school even happier.  The holidays are about giving, especially to those who are less fortunate.  The only thing better than giving back, is giving back as a group.  When you can share it with hundreds of your co-workers it just lifts your spirits.  For me, it is the start of my holiday season and reminds me of how blessed I really am. I would like to thank all the volunteers from LIDS and Genesco for the hard work and dedication put into making this event what it is.  And most importantly, I would like to send a huge thank you to all the children who make the holidays truly special.

LIDS' Seventh Annual Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats

LIDS' Seventh Annual Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats event in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a huge success thanks to the 100 LIDS/Genesco Inc. corporate volunteers in attendance.  On Tuesday, December 6, nearly 300 children from Francis W. Parker Elementary School, IPS #56, were provided with a new pair of shoes, a new knit hat, a Converse t-shirt, and a pair of Crocs as LIDS' volunteers set up a mock shoe and hat store in the school's gym. 

In addition, the children were greated by Colts Linebacker Gary Brackett.  "I look forward to partnering with LIDS again this year for their ‘Cold Feet, Warm Shoes and Hats’ event. The event is always one of my favorites," said Brackett. "When you leave, there is always a smile on every kid’s face and that moment is PRICELESS!"  Brackett was also joined by his fellow teammates, Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, and Scott Lutrus.  

Through its Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats program, LIDS and its parent company, Genesco Inc., are able to annually provide disadvantaged children in Indianapolis, the site of LIDS' headquarters, with the power of choice, the same respect and service that they would receive at any of Genesco's 2,300 retail stores, and the practical solution of properly fitting footwear and warm hats.  Each year, the Company works with the United Way of Central Indiana and the Indianapolis Colts to host this signature event at a different Indianapolis Public School location in need. 

NOTE: This year's Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats event was made possible in part by the generosity of the following Genesco vendors: Crocs, DC Shoes, Puma, Sock and Accessory brands, Concept One, Top of the World, Levi's, Uni Hosiery, Bioworld and Huffman.

New to LIDS: LIDS MOBILE PROGRAM

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 LIDSONLINE 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 

The Campbell-Cardinals Tradition

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

In 1970, when I was five years old, my dad took me to my first St. Louis Cardinals game.  In those days Lou Brock and Bob Gibson were in their prime, coming off of three World Series appearances in six years and winning two (very reminiscent of what just took place these last six years).  I was hooked.  Little did I know though at that young age it would take my beloved Redbirds 12 long years to get back to the World Series. 

For their next appearance, I was a junior in high school and was actually able to celebrate a World Series win.  I’ll never forget it.  The Cardinals then went on to play in the World Series in ‘85 and ‘87, however the team failed to clinch the championship both times and suffered painful loses in Game 7 of each.  Again, little did I know it would be 17 more years until the Cardinals were in another World Series (2004). This time I was 38 years old, married with four children; a stark contrast to being 22 and fresh out of college in ‘87.  The great thing about ’04 was that I had the opportunity to take my dad and return the favor from 34 years earlier, when he passed his love for the Cardinals on to me.

Now I fast forward to what just happened this season.  For Cardinals fans alike it’s already been documented how crazy a month it was, from being virtually out of contention with mere weeks left in the season to winning their 11^th World Series in franchise history.  This latest victory put the team in the top spot for most championships in the National League, and second in the sport overall just behind only the New York Yankees. 

Moments like these are so unpredictable, yet I tried to take advantage of every opportunity to share this experience with my family.  This year my wife and I took our 4 kids to multiple playoff and World Series games in St. Louis, and even had the opportunity to make it to Milwaukee and Texas for games.  Hopefully years from now our kids will understand how special this October was, and they will feel the same nostalgia that I did in 1970 when my dad took me to my first game.  And so the Campbell-Cardinals tradition continues…

A Redbirds fan without an official team cap? Not if we have anything to say about it. lids.com is your headquarters for St. Louis Cardinals hats, and all your favorite MLB team hats and accessories. LIDS has a complete selection of St. Louis Cardinals hats--including Authentic Collection, Franchise and more--in all the sizes and colors you need to support your Cards.

Lessons Learned

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

A few weeks ago, I boarded a plane to Tampa for a business trip to visit some stores in the area.  While traveling is common in my line of work, on this particular flight I was seated next to a man who was enlisted in our armed services.  As the plane took off, we had a conversation that I will never forget and always be grateful for.

The man, Sgt. Matt Reddon, was headed back to Kurdistan, dubbed the “other Iraq.”  He had been in the Air Force for 30 years, and during his service had been deployed to areas like Kurdistan over a dozen times.  While he seemed eager to get there, I couldn’t help but think this was not an ideal location for him.  During our conversation, I also learned that his brother had just joined the military.  It was clear the sergeant was proud of him.  But on the subject of family, his voice grew softer as he expressed the hardest part of it all was leaving his wife and kids behind for extended periods of time.  I can only imagine how difficult that must be.  On this particular trip, he had a day’s worth of flying just to get to Kurdistan.  Who knows when he would return to his family.

After listening to a few of the stories he told, I thanked him for his service to our country.  That was the least I could do.  But what stuck with me the most was his response.  In that moment he said to me, “You don’t have to thank me; I do what I do, because I love my job.”  We parted ways, each headed to our own destinations as we both put on our headphones to drown out the noise of the busy airport.  However, I couldn’t help but replay his words in my head – he loves his job. WOW!  Now if he and the countless other men and women in the armed forces that risk their lives to protect our freedom feel that way about their jobs, how can I ever begin to complain about mine?  I thank you, Sgt. Reddon, for reminding me of the many blessings I have in my life, including my job.  God bless and stay safe.

-Glenn Campbell

Have a question for Glenn? You can follow him on Twitter or post your question on the LIDS Facebook wall.  Stay tuned for Glenn's next blog post on his thoughts about the World Series games against the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.  

College Nicknames, Twitter Style

College football is in the midst of another season, which begs the eternal question- Are there really Tigers in Louisiana? Or Missouri? Or Alabama? What exactly is an Aggie, anyway? And what’s the deal with the Horned Frogs?  What’s the story behind all these college nicknames anyway? Let’s take a look at the history behind these school nicknames of some of the top teams this year, Twitter-style (140 characters or less).  Don’t forget, you can find hats, apparel and accessories for all these NCAA teams and more at Lids.com.

Alabama Crimson Tide - After the Iron Bowl against Auburn, the O-Line's unis were stained red with mud a writer coined the nickname

Arkansas Razorback - Coach Bezdek likened them to "a wild band of Razorback hogs" after a win over LSU in 1909; students voted for the name

Baylor Bears - A student vote in 1914 elected "Bears" as the official mascot, with the first live bear appearing at games in the 1920's

Florida State Seminoles - To honor the Native American Tribe and Chief Osceola, who resided in Florida

LSU Tigers - From the Confederate heritage, after two NOLA brigades - the Tiger Rifles and the Washington Artillery (had a tiger logo)

Michigan State Spartans - A 1925 vote had "Staters" winning but a local sports editor went with Spartans and used that in headlines instead

Nebraska Cornhuskers - Popularized by sportswriters in 1900; beat out previous names - Bugeaters, Tree Planters, Rattlesnake Boys

Ohio State Buckeyes - After the state tree prevalent in Ohio (the tree's nut looks like a deer's eye)

Oklahoma Sooners - From the first settlers of the OK territory who entered (sometimes illegally) before the official claiming period in 1889

Oklahoma State Cowboys - Originally Aggies, a popular cowboy caricature was used for the mascot in 1924 and they took on the new name

Oregon Ducks - Originally "Webfoots" after the first fisherman settlers, writers changed it after "Puddles" (a real duck) attended games

 TCU Horned Frogs - The horned frog is actually a lizard, and refers the Texas horned lizard commonly found in the area

Texas A&M Aggies - Shortened from "Agricultural", as in Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College

Texas Longhorns - After the steer with long horns that are prominent at Texas ranches

Virginia Tech Hokies - Completely made up! Used as an attention grabber for the "Old Hokie" cheer, now means a loyal VT fan

Wisconsin Badgers - After the 1800's lead miners who lived in tunnels to survive the winter, much like the burrowing animal

 

What’s your favorite team’s story? Know of any other interesting sports nicknames? Let us know on Twitter or share with us on our Facebook page!

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!

LTD Series Facebook Page

Attention all LIDS fans!  The LIDS Taste Development Series rolled out its very own facebook page last week.  This page promises to offer exclusive information and sneak peeks to all the upcoming LTD Series releases.  We hope to share elite details about the series with our biggest fans, and also want to gain feedback about the styles being released.  So if the July 1 release, the Venom, wasn't your favorite style or you have improvements to share, let us know!  We are open to any and all suggestions. 

Our next LTD Series release is set for Septemeber 1.  Although the name and full design of the limited cap has remained a secret, we did share this view of the back of the hat on the LTD Series facebook page. 

 
Web-like, huh?  More images of the cap and the official name will be released later this week!  Check out the LTD Series facebook page for more details!

What is the LIDS Taste Development Series?

The LIDS Taste Development (LTD) Series is a new collection of limited edition, premium New Era® fitted hats exclusive to LIDS. The LTD Series is an update to the Fresh Goods Friday program which had launched in May 2004. This new version launched on July 1, 2011 and a new LTD Series hat will be available for purchase bi-monthly on the 1st day of every other month (next release is September 1).

These limited edition hats will feature unique fabrics and the latest designs. Each LTD Series hat is limited in quantity and only available at 80 of our 900+ stores and here at lids.com. Since the LTD Series hats are not available at any other retailer, once they are sold out, they are gone forever. 

NFL Films & Mark Herzlich Visit LIDS

NFL Films and Gatorade are collaborating on a new web series called “Everything to Prove,” which recently kicked off on NFL.com. The series provides an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how 14 elite NFL rookies are making the leap from college to the pros.

On July 26, NFL Films shadowed inspirational Boston College linebacker  Herzlich into the LIDS store in King of Prussia (Pa.) Mall the day he was signed as a New York Giants undrafted free agent. Herzlich purchased four Giants hats.

After earning first-team All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior for the Eagles in 2008, Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and missed the entire 2009 season. During 2009, Herzlich earned numerous honors for his courage and outreach, including the Disney Spirit Award, Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award, an honorary Lott Trophy, and the ACC Commissioner’s Cup. Herzlich was cancer free less than six months after his initial diagnosis and returned to the football field in 2010 where he won the Rudy Award and the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award after starting all 13 games.

Highlights of the NFL Films webisode series include documenting the many challenges faced by pro prospects; going behind the scenes at Senior Bowl; the Combine; Draft Day; moving to a new city; and the countless workouts, worries and weight room sessions in between. You can follow the series on NFL.com, Facebook and YouTube.

To watch the episode of “Everything to Prove” featuring Herzlich and LIDS, click here.

 
  (KING OF PRUSSIA MAL LIDS LOCATION)

Whether you're an armchair QB or a stadium superfan, lids.com is the place to scout all your top NFL hats. Check out our solid line-up of the all the latest, greatest NFL hats, NFL apparel, NFL knit caps, NFL visors and accessories.

Snippety Snap, Snap!

Do you cringe when players are compared to MJ? Still remember Reggie Miller’s eight points in nine seconds?  Remember when the Magic and Heat were expansion teams?  Then show your love of old school NBA with New Era’s NBA Hardwood Classics Snapback hats.

Lids.com has your team in stock with retro logos and classic styles. These hats are sure to make you scrounge YouTube clips from the 80’s and 90’s; you might even start to miss the shorts (but probably not).

So dust off that NBA Jam cartridge, crank up the Naughty by Nature, and re-live the glory days of the NBA with the Hardwood Classic Snapbacks! Check out some of these favorites:

 

Check out the collection of Snapback hats available at Lids.  Get the latest snapbacks from Top of the World Brand, Zephyr, New Era and FORTY SEVEN BRAND and more today at Lids.com.   All the classics are back alongside the freshest new styles, and Lids has them all.

Millennials Are Ready for a Sum of Football

Below is a blog posted on July 26, 2011 by TRU, a youth research company that focuses on tweens, teens and twenty-somethings. Millennials are loosely defined as individuals born somewhere between the mid-1970s to mid-1990s, with some sources including as late as the early 2000’s.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Phew, that was close!

For a (long) while it looked like the NFL labor impasse would taint the 2011 season and force Millennials to, at least temporarily, find something else to do on Sundays. Would Millennials even care? You bet they would. Ever since Michael Jordan retired from the NBA (for the second, not the third time), the NFL has remained, bar none, young people’s favorite sports league.

With the NFL deal in the rear-view mirror now, it’s not inconceivable that, come late October, Millennials’ two favorite active sports leagues will be the NFL and their collegiate counterpart. With a just-completed World Series and a potentially unresolved NBA lockout, NCAA Football will play Robin to the NFL’s Batman, with the immensely popular videogame companions creating a seemingly impregnable Justice League of Football. Holy Madden!

Not long ago, TRU coined the theme Authenticitude™ to explain Millennials’ insatiable need for items or actions that mimic the “real thing.” Exhibit A is videogames, increasingly suitable surrogates for doing the amazing (e.g., shredding on guitar), illegal (e.g., killing strangers) or, of course, highly improbable (e.g., turning a Peyton Manning button-hook into a pick-six).

After using the internet and watching TV, Millennials spend more time playing console videogames than any other form of media, ahead of listening to MP3s, using social networking sites, and listening to the radio. In fact, among teens, playing videogames is one of the only media activities where usage time has increased every year since 2007. (The same can’t be said for using the internet and watching TV). Furthermore, among Millennial guys, sports games represent the third most popular genre (after first-person shooters and action/adventure games), and “Madden NFL 11” was the second best-selling videogame last year (after “Call of Duty: Black Ops”), with the next installment due in stores next month.

Because no NFL games were sacrificed during the impasse, Millennials will mandate no period of forgive-and-forget, or what TRU likes to call Re-Generation™. In fact, force-fitting free agency, training camp, a potential supplemental draft, fantasy-football forecasting, and the release of “Madden NFL 12” into a one-month period may whet young people’s appetite even more than usual. If there’s one thing Millennials have demonstrated, it’s that when it comes to stimuli, too much is never enough.

Whether you're an armchair QB or a stadium superfan, lids.com is the place to scout all your top NFL hats. Check out our solid line-up of the all the latest, greatest NFL hats, NFL apparel, NFL knit caps, NFL visors and accessories.

 

No Bad Ideas at LIDS

 
 

We have all heard the saying, “There is no such thing as a bad idea …” Well, we can promise you there are no bad ideas here at LIDS…literally!  LIDS is bringing you select styles from No Bad Ideas Clothing Company, the specialist for the Counter-Culture; and, with No Bad Ideas, you can never go wrong!

These hats strive to fall in line with the hottest fashion trends on the street.  Not only do these products use the most stylish fabrics and the best silhouettes, but as an added bonus ALL of their designs include a concealed stash pocket for that little extra edge!

Want to learn more about this brand? Check out lids.com for the best selection in caps and gear, including No Bad Ideas hats, or ‘like’ No Bad Ideas on Facebook! 

Check out these new styles below and let us know what you think:

_{BAMBOO MILITARY                MASH UP IVY}

 
_{TRAD RIP POP STITCH IVY     PITT IVY}

Fan Returns Jeter's 3,000th Hit Ball

 

What would you have done if you caught Derek Jeter's home-run, 3,000th hit?

Well, Christian Lopez a cellphone salesman from Highland Mills, N.Y., who was seated in Section 236, Row 1, Seat 19, found himself in that situation.  The 23-year-old scooped up New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit on Saturday, July 9, 2011.  Instead of auctioning off the piece of Major League Baseball history , Lopez stated he was just going to hand it over to one of his baseball heroes.  Even more astonishing was the fact that Lopez asked for nothing in return for the estimated $250,000 ball; however, the Yankees Organization didn't just take the ball away without any compensation to Lopez.  Sources reveal they rewarded Lopez's generosity with a pretty nice package including almost $70,000 worth of Yankees memorabilia and tickets.

Now that Derek Jeter's bid for one of baseball's most sacred milestones, the 3,000-hit club, is complete, LIDS is pulling out all the stops to commemorate this landmark event in Jeter's career with the Authentic MLB New Era® 59FIFTY®. Now, you can help honor one of the game's biggest stars and the first New York Yankee to reach this milestone.  We can't offer you the actual 3,000th hit ball, but the Authentic MLB New Era 59FIFTY can help you remember this highlight event. 

Introducing the 1st launch of the new LTD SERIES, the VENOM!

 

The LTD Series VENOM is a 2-tone New Era® 59FIFTY®. The cap features a black ballistic nylon crown with a faux snake print nylon visor. The cap also features your favorite team logo, with raised embroidery, on the front panel, contrasting MLB Logoman on the back, and contrasting New Era® Flag on the left wear side. The LTD Series VENOM is the 1st launch of the new limited edition LTD Series by LIDS.  Click here to check out what teams are available in this style. 

So, you may be asking yourself, what is the LTD Series?

The LIDS Taste Development (LTD) Series is a new collection of limited edition, premium New Era® fitted hats exclusive to LIDS. The LTD Series is an update to the Fresh Goods Friday program which had launched in May 2004. This new version launched on July 1, 2011 and a new LTD Series hat will be available for purchase bi-monthly on the 1st day of every other month (next release is September 1). 

These limited edition hats will feature unique fabrics and the latest designs. Each LTD Series hat is limited in quantity and only available at 80 of our 900+ stores and here at lids.com. Since the LTD Series hats are not available at any other retailer, once they are sold out, they are gone forever. 

Check out lids.com now to get your hands on the first hat of the new LTD Series, the VENOM!

LIDS Hosts Pete Rose at College World Series

In the wake of a professional baseball career that spanned from 1963-1989, Pete Rose sits atop the Major League Baseball record book for hits (4,256), games played (3,562), and at-bats (14,053). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, a MVP, two Gold Gloves, was Rookie of the Year and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B and 1B).

As one of the pro game’s best, I wondered if “Charlie Hustle” had been among college baseball’s best and perhaps had played in the College World Series. I was surprised to learn during Rose’s appearance at the 2011 College World Series it was his first-ever trip to Omaha, home of CWS since 1950.

LIDS, conversely, is no stranger to “The Greatest Show on Dirt” having operated trailers and temporary stores at CWS every year for more than a decade. On June 20, 2011, LIDS joined forces with Omaha Baseball Village, located just outside TD Ameritrade Park—the brand new home of CWS—to host Rose for an autograph signing. Rose led off the appearance with a radio interview on Omaha’s ESPN Radio affiliate 1620AM The Zone. (Click here* to view and listen to the interview.)

Adding to the excitement for the hundreds of fans that came out to meet The Hit King was a surprise appearance at the signing by fellow Cincinnati star athlete Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco who posted a fun picture later that day on his Twitter.

On behalf of the LIDS family, a huge thanks to Pete for being so generous of your time with LIDS and the fans!

 * The station’s audio was not properly connected for the first few minutes of the interview. The error is corrected at the 9:15 mark.

  
 


 

 

One-Stop Shop for All Things Yankees!

Check out this video posted on the New York Yankees’ official website, a Yankees on Demand production, highlighting one of LIDS’ newest additions to its LIDS Clubhouse division.  Located in the heart of New York City in Times Square, this Yankees Clubhouse location is a one-stop shop for Yankees fans around the globe.

  

Don’t have plans to visit “The Big Apple” anytime soon?  Check out lids.com for the latest selection in Yankees jerseys, apparel, headwear and much more!

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! 

LIDS Team Sports Warehouse Sale!

You don't want to miss the annual LIDS Team Sports sale in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 18-20! Discontinued and overruns of shoes, sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts and dry-fit clothing — much of it Nike-branded. Screen-printed T-shirts for $2. Need we say more?

  

 
 

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! 

 

 

2011 NFL Draft and NFL Draft Hats

Although the fate of the upcoming NFL season has yet to be decided one thing is for sure - LIDS is ready for Thursday's draft kick-off!

LIDS now has this year's NFL draft hats in stock!  Experts are predicting Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton will be the number one pick tomorrow night and the QB will be wearing the below Carolina Panthers draft hat when he smiles for the cameras.

   

Will Newton be the first pick or possibly defensive tackle Marcell Dareus?  What do you think of the 2011 NFL Draft Hats?  Will you support your team by picking up one at your local LIDS store or ordering one online at lids.com?  Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment on the LIDS Blog!

Free UFC DVD at LIDS. Seriously…No ‘Choke’!

An estimated 55,000 rabid fans are expected to pack Toronto's Rogers Centre for Saturday's Ultimate Fighting Championship 129 event. All but a handful are sure to be cheering for Canada’s own and current welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre against Jake Shields in the April 30, 2011 headline match among the 11 bouts scheduled. St-Pierre is from Saint-Isidore, Quebec.

“They are going to be booing me like crazy,” said Shields at a recent press conference. “There’s no way to prepare for 55,000 people booing you.”

It is all smiles and cheers at LIDS, however, as its Toronto-area stores are brimming with the latest UFC headwear. While supplies last, visitors to Toronto-area stores can pick up a free DVD of UFC highlights with a UFC hat purchase.

Fifty-five thousand people to watch two people compete in a 750-square foot octagon – not to mention an international pay-per-view television audience – is pretty impressive. There is no denying the popularity of UFC. According to compete.com, an agency that tracks website traffic, UFC was the sixth most popular sport in the United States back in 2007, and its popularity doesn’t seem to have slowed in recent years.

No matter the sport, you can count on LIDS to have the latest and greatest officially licensed headwear.

Who is your pick to hoist the championship belt on Saturday night, St-Pierre or Sheilds and why?

 

What kind of LIDS Hat are you?

LIDS has a huge selection of hats in every size, color, brand and style to fit the biggest sports fan to the most stylish cowgirl.  But with so many styles to choose from, you might need some help! That’s why expert sales associates are available at a LIDS retail store in your neighborhood mall but in the meantime, take this personality quiz to find out which hat suits you the best.

What Kind of LIDS Hat are you? CLICK HERE and Find Out!

 
   

New MLB Styles

The MLB season is well underway and LIDS wants to make sure you have everything you need for the ball park, including a great new cap! Whether you're looking to support your favorite team or simply trying to shade yourself from the sun, LIDS has several new FORTY SEVEN BRAND easy fit styles for you this season.

You can check out the new selection of FORTY SEVEN BRAND caps below and visit your local LIDS store or lids.com to purchase today!

 

MLB Ashcroft Franchise

This cap is dark charcoal with heavy stitching.  The Team Logo is featured in the same dark charcoal color layered on top of felt in the team's color.

 

MLB Rosin Franchise

A faded, dark grey cap, the Rosin has a black embroidered logo with a dark grey outline.  This black on grey cap has a clean, classic look.

 

MLB Double Switch Franchise

The Double Switch features a natural colored logo and screen printed mascot on the front panels.  Like the logos, the cap's cool mesh back panel is a natural color.

 

MLB Cool Down Franchise

This cap is made of grey light canvas and features the team's color embroidered logo in their primary color with their secondary color outline.

 

Ken Kocher hires passionate employees at LIDS - Smart Business Indianapolis

Out on newsstands this month, LIDS President Ken Kocher is featured in the Indianapolis installment of Smart Business. In the issue, which can also be viewed online, Kocher provides readers with an insight of the LIDS culture, how the Company remained on course amid a tumultuous economy, as well as tips on setting a successful standard for developing strong leadership. “My role is on the growth side … It’s to provide avenues of growth for our company, for our employees and for our shareholders that maximize profit. I’m kind of steering the ship in the direction I feel like we should go as a team to best make use of our skill set as a company,” said Kocher.  A great tribute to LIDS’ “Have Fun, Sell Hats” mindset, the article also reinforces the importance of earning employee buy-in and maintaining a competitive environment.

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!

 
 

UConn Championship Hats and Tees

The nets have been cut down and UConn was the last team dancing at this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament!

Once again the tournament proved to be a dramatic one with plenty of buzzer beaters and a couple Cinderella stories.  Who would have guessed that the championship game would not include a number one seed?  Certainly not the fans who gave up on their brackets long before the last game!

LIDS congratulates the Huskies and has all the fan gear you need to celebrate their victory.  Shop now for the hats and tees worn by the UConn Huskies players and coaches after the big win.

   
 

 

 

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!

 

St. Patty’s Day = True Boston Pride

St. Patty’s day has come and gone, but it will be one to remember (for some). South Boston always throws together a parade you can’t help but get excited for, Irish or not. Being the second largest parade in the country with close to a million people, I couldn’t help but notice my fellow Bostonians reppin’ their green Celtics jerseys and hats. Nothing better than seeing streets filled with true Celtic pride.

St. Patty’s day is a time we say goodbye to winter and I’m confident I speak for everyone in Boston when I say we whole heartedly welcome spring and embrace the warmer weather we’ve been anxiously awaiting. I love my Lids Dog Ear Hat, but I’ll be happy to store it away until next winter. With new styles coming this spring you won’t want to miss a beat. Be the first of your friends to rock your favorite team with styles fresher than Fresh Prince himself. Don’t be “that guy” and show up to a game without sporting your favorite teams’ apparel.

Boston is proud to represent their city, are you? Check out the NEW Lids.com and be sure to support your team if you’re a true fan; don’t be left out! Make sure to check in with the Lids Blog and the Lids Facebook page to take advantage of upcoming promotions for the best Lids deals.

 

Who Would Have Guessed...?

How is your bracket looking? If it's anything like mine, it's probably not looking too good.  If someone were to have told me that two #1 seeds would already be knocked out of the tournament, one region would have 3 of their 4 Sweet Sixteen teams at double digit seeds, and that Duke would get Kyrie Irving back but wouldn't make it to the Elite Eight, I would have told them that they were crazy.  I guess that's why this month is coupled with the term "Madness".  Being a senior at Butler University, I am a huge favorite of under"dawgs" and upsets, but even I couldn't have dreamed up what has unfolded so far.  Not only have two powerhouses, Duke and Pitt, been taken down, but there are still four double-digit seeds going strong, one of which will get knocked out today when VCU takes on Florida State.

Last year, Butler got a title as a "Cinderella" team with their sprint to the national title game, and many people have been talking about who will be this years Butler.  Of course, I would say that Butler is this years Butler; however, the way things are looking, we might have more than one Cinderella team on our hands as we get closer to that final game.  Which underdog team, or teams, do you think can pull out a big upset and don the term Cinderella?

One thing is for sure: Whether your team is an underdog or a top seed predicted to win it all, in the month of March, anything can happen. Some call it luck, others call it madness. But, all remaining teams have gotten there for a reason and they certainly aren't going to back down now.  Richmond guard Kevin Anderson, who plays the Kansas Jayhawks tonight, told reporters: "You don’t get to the Sweet 16 and decide that’s good enough. That’s not really a goal. I don’t want to sell our hard work short. Everyone’s saying we’re lucky to be in the Sweet 16, we’re lucky Morehead State beat Louisville. We want to prove those people wrong. What better way to do that than by beating Kansas?”

Who knows what will happen next? Could Richmond pull off a huge upset?  How many more buzzer beater shots will we see?  Who are your picks now that the field has been narrowed? Whatever happens, make sure to check in with us for all your game time headwear and get ready to cheer on your favorites!

 

Bring on the Madness!

As a college senior, I will tell you that there is no better time to be a college sports fan than in March.  March is home to passion, upsets, underdogs, last-minute shots, Cinderella teams, screaming fans, and most importantly heart. All I can say is bring on the Madness! Last year, I watched my team of Butler Bulldogs march their way to the Final Four and ultimately the National Championship.  A true Cinderella team.  As I gear up to hopefully cheer on my guys for another run this year, there are plenty of basketball teams that are looking to be must watches in the coming tournement.  Some will have to wait to see if their team made the lucky list for the tournement, while others are already making predictions on the title game.  Ohio State?  Jimmer Fredette and BYU?  Duke, again?

Whether your team is at the top of the list or whether you'll be crossing your fingers until the brackets are announced, make sure you have everything you need to support your team the right way. If you are looking to attend the games with a friend, LIDS has plenty of 2 for $25 NCAA Hats!  So, hurry and get the styles you want in order to cheer your team on to a National Championship!

Get ready to fill out those brackets because March is here and the teams are ready to make history!  Who do you think will make it to the Final Four?  What about the title game? And, of course, who is going to win it all?  Let us know your March predictions by leaving a comment on the LIDS Blog! 

 

Snippity snap, New Era Snapbacks are back!

Snap, snap, snap!  Can you hear it?  Can you hear the sound of Snapbacks in the building?!?

They've arrived.  New Era Snapback hats have arrived!  The last time we had snapback hats, we blew threw them.  They're back, but who knows how long they'll last.  If you're one of the many who have been asking for New Era Snapback hats, get your hands on them while you can. 

The latest selection of styles include MLB New Era Snapbacks, NHL New Era Snapbacks and NBA New Era Snapbacks.  We will continue to get additional teams onto the website in the coming days so stay tuned.  Also look for additional styles in the next few weeks. 

Store Spotlight

Each week we receive comments from customers that praise and recognize our store associates for the superb customer service received while at one of our many LIDS stores.  We truly appreciate those who are working so hard to help their customers and we want to share their successes.  We have so many great stories to tell, you can bet this will become a regular feature. 

Please join us in recognizing these awesome LIDS employees for their effort and dedication to customer service.  Now, without further adieu, our Store Spotlight...

Daniel P., Assistant Manager
Store 6326 Del Amo Fashion Center – Torrance, CA
“He was very understanding of my situation, and helped in creating customized hats for the recent passing of my Grandmother.  His respect, diligence and work ethic greatly reflects the epitome of what customer service stands for! ”

Lucas G., Assistant Manager
Store 5665 Washington Square – Tigard, OR
“I am a senior citizen and I was treated excellent by Lucas.  For my age, I am very much an alternative person, but he totally made me feel at home.  Next time I need a lid, this will be the store I will go to.”

Britt C., Store Manager
Store 5830 Aventura Mall – Aventura, FL
“Britt gives myself and several of my colleagues expert service each time we visit her store.  She gives a level of competency, class and professionalism to her job as well as knowledge of product, presentation to the customer, helpful assistance, genuine personality and extreme pride in her employer.  She makes each visit an enjoyable experience for me, making me a steady and loyal customer for Lids.”

Matt S., Store Manager
Store 5232 Bangor Mall – Bangor, ME
“Matt was a great help when I needed to order a hat for my boyfriend.  He has a great sense of humor and made my experience more enjoyable than I would have expected.”

Thank you, Daniel, Lucas, Britt and Matt for taking the time to show your customers a true LIDS experience.  GREAT service really does matter!  A BIG thanks to ALL of our hard working associates who continue to make a difference.  Keep up the good work!

~~~~~~~~~~

Are you a customer who wants to praise an associate for the service you received?  Or do you have ideas on how we can better serve you?  If so, leave a comment here on the LIDS Blog or send us a message via our Contact Us page at lids.com. 

An All-Star Weekend

With football coming to a close, its time to turn our attention to basketball.  We're about to enter the month of March which is known for upsets, underdogs, heartache and happiness, but before we get too ahead of ourselves we have the NBA All-Star game!  This weekend fans can watch the best of the best as the Eastern conference All-Stars take on the Western conference in Los Angeles.  With so many talented players, it's sure to be a good show.

 
 

Who do you think is going to come away with the win: the East or the West?  Will Blake Griffin live up to the hype or will an underdog come away with the win in the dunk competition?  Do you have an old favorite when it comes to past NBA All-Star Slam Dunk performances?  Let's hear what you have to say about the NBA!

   

      
 
 

Baseball is back and we've got the hats to match!

Yesterday it was 68 degrees in Indianapolis...last week it was 1 degree.  Yes, honestly, one single degree.  I actually have hope for the first time in a very long time that spring is on it's way! 

Spring weather also means Spring Training which means BASEBALL IS BACK!!  With the start of a new season, we have lots of new styles arriving and many more scheduled to arrive soon.  Below are some of our favorites for you to check out.  More importantly though, we want to know what you think!  Which is your favorite?  Do you have ideas for future designs?  Are there any patterns or colors that you'd like to see?

Let us know your thoughts and stick around...we'll post when SNAPBACKS arrive again!

MLB 59Fifty Bois
This solid colored New Era 59Fifty features an over sized logo on the front middle panels with the team's alternate team logo over the embroidery.  This is available in both team color and black. 

MLB 59Fifty 2-Tone City
We've had soooo many requests to bring back the City Series program from several years ago.  Back by popular request, the MLB 59Fifty 2-Tone City is an updated take on this program.  Umm...can you say fresh?  We can!  You asked and we listened...now you can rep your city and your team with this hat.

MLB 59Fifty Realtree Camo
Camo is another request that we continuously hear from our fashion customers.  This Realtree camouflage cap is available in three colors: brown, camo/khaki, and black. You might be invisible to some, but you can't hide your style with this cap.

MLB Kelly Franchise
Get ready for St. Patrick's Day with this kelly green franchise hat featuring the same great fit and a festive shamrock on the back.  Get this cap before you get pinched!

          
MLB Dublin Franchise
Whether your Irish and celebrating your heritage or pretending to be Irish for the day, this is another perfect hat to celebrate the upcoming holiday.  It also features a green shamrock on the back of the cap.

          
Cleveland Indians Authentic Collection Alternate Home
This is a brand new cap for the Cleveland Indians for the 2011-12 season.  Don't let your collection get behind, add this to your own Authentic Collection today!

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!

 

Packers Take the Lombardi Trophy Home

The Lombardi Trophy is heading home!  The Green Bay Packers edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 31-25 win to claim the Super Bowl XLV title.  Aaron Rodgers was named the Super Bowl XLV MVP winning a shiny new Chevrolet Camaro.  However, Rodgers appeared to be more excited as teammate, Clay Matthews, gave him a boxing/wrestling style black and gold title belt.  Rodgers often celebrates touchdowns by making the motion of putting a championship belt on his waist.

While not all of us can take home the Lombardi trophy, a shiny new Camaro or a title belt, you can have a piece of the Super Bowl to remember the experience.  Be sure to get your Super Bowl XLV Championship gear to remember the fun--even if it was just as a spectator from the comfort of your own couch.

In the aftermath of all that partying and celebration, here is a recap in the form of stats from the NFL Network research crew. 

• The road less traveled: The Packers joined the 2005 Steelers as the only No. 6 seeds to win a Super Bowl. They’re the sixth Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl, and the third team to do so after winning three road playoff games.

• Teams with a positive turnover differential are 33-3 all-time in the Super Bowl. The Packers were +3 against the Steelers and +6 during the 2010 playoffs.

• Credit the Steelers for nearly winning a Super Bowl despite those three turnovers. The Packers failed to convert a third-down attempt (0-for-4) in the third quarter and had one first down before regaining the momentum late.

• Mike McCarthy improved to 5-2 in the playoffs and joins Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as coaches to win Super Bowl with the Packers.

• Charles Woodson is the fourth player to win a Heisman Trophy, college national title and a Super Bowl.

• Outside of two drops, Jordy Nelson had an MVP-type performance. Nelson tied a franchise playoff record with nine receptions, and his 140 receiving yards are the fourth-most in franchise history. Nelson and Jennings each had 21 receptions during the 2010 playoffs,  a new franchise record.

• With his 37-yard INT return for a TD, Nick Collins is the second player in franchise history with INT return TD in Super Bowl. He joins Herb Adderley, who had a 60-yard INT return TD vs. the Raiders in Super Bowl II.

• The Steelers extended their streak to 17 consecutive playoff games without allowing a 100-yard rusher (tied with Redskins for longest active streak in NFL). The Packers ran the ball 13 times, which tied a Super Bowl record for fewest attempts. 

• Here’s a sign of the longevity and production of Hines Ward: He now has 88 receptions, 1,181 yards and 10 TDs in his playoff career, all ranking in the top five in NFL playoff history. He has 17 consecutive playoff games with a reception.

• LaMarr Woodley recorded a sack, his NFL record seventh straight game with a sack. His 11 career postseason sacks ties Charles Haley for fourth all-time.

Only 363 days until the next Super Bowl in Indianapolis (assuming a CBA is reached and there is a next season).  Let the countdown begin!

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

Super Bowl Sunday Parties Ramp Up

Are you hosting a Super Bowl party this weekend? Well, if so, you're not alone.  According to Hallmark Cards Inc., the Super Bowl represents the No. 1 at home party event of the year.  It even beats out New Year's Eve.  Whether you love the game and can't wait to see all the action or whether you love the commercials, the Super Bowl is a huge party night in America. According to Yahoo news, at least $55 million will be spent on food and drinks for The Big Game by at home party hosts.  I guess there is one thing that is recession proof in this economy and that's football.

Not everyone stays in for the big game, however.  Plenty of people pack sports bars and other venues for a bigger Super Bowl events.  For instance, Micheal Vick plans on hosting a Super Bowl party in which there is an actual "movie trailer." How many of you can say you attended a party with an actual trailer? I'll bet not many.  If you want to party with Vick though, you can.  Vick is throwing a massive party in Dallas where there will be off-duty SWAT team members patrolling the area to ensure the party doesn't get too out of control. 

 

Are you a stay at home Super Bowl party person or are you like Vick and enjoy a more public venue?  Do you tune in for the game, the commercials, the half time show, or do you just like everything Super Bowl?  Whatever you do, make sure you grab all you fan gear to get ready for the big game.  We'll also have Super Bowl Champ gear available for the winning team at lids.com immediately after the game.

The stage for Super Bowl XLV has been set

The stage for Super Bowl XLV has been set.  On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers were able to take down the Chicago Bears and solidify their place in this year’s Super Bowl, where they will take on the Pittsburg Steelers.  Green Bay fans aren't wasting any time by making sure they have their championship gear and their tickets in hand.  According to the Houston Chronicle, Green Bay fans started buying up their championship t-shirts and hats within hours of the game having concluded.  There are also fans scrambling to get their tickets for the big game with one man saying that he will go to Texas with or without a ticket in hopes of purchasing one once in Texas.   Green Bay fans have not gone to a Super Bowl since 1998 and fans sure are getting ready for this one.  If you're a Green Bay fan or a Steelers fan make sure that you get your championship gear whether you will be heading to the game or watching on your TV at home.   The Packer fans are ready to take home the title, but it won't be easy to take down Roethlisberger and the Steelers.  

Do you think that Green Bay can pull out a win, winning their first Super Bowl in over a decade?  Any predictions on the final score outcome?  
 

   

Fans enjoy playoffs with potential lockout looming

Fans are taking in all the football they can during this year's playoffs. According to the lastest television ratings, NFL fans are viewing in record numbers this playoff season.  While the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game is a huge rivalry game, others fans are tuning in because they aren't sure the next time they'll get their football fix.  With talks of a lockout still looming after this NFL season wraps up, football lovers are soaking it all in. 

The league's collective bargaining agreement will expire on March 4 and many believe that a strike will follow.  With a relatively short amount of time remaining to mend the broken bridge, fans and players are concerned that there may not be a 2011-2012 NFL season. While it remains to be seen whether or not the issues will be resolved before next season, at least we have two great games that are heading our way this weekend. So instead of worrying about next year, gear up in full force and cheer on your favorite remaining team while you still can!

From one concerned fan to another, do you think next year's season will play out as scheduled?  If the NFL season is interrupted, what will you do or watch to occupy your time?

Big Sport's Week for Fans

    
This week has been a big week for sport fans everywhere.  With the start of the NFL postseason playoffs last weekend and the BCS national football championship, fans have had plenty to cheer about.   Auburn finished its perfect 14-0 season on Monday with a win against Oregon, winning the school's first national title in over 50 years.  With a national win under their belts, two Auburn players may be looking  to skip their senior year and enter the NFL draft.  Cam Newton, Auburn's star quarterback, already announced his decision to enter the draft. Lombardi Award winner Nick Fairley will announce his decision regarding the draft today.  If Fairley chooses to skip his senior year, it has been speculated that he could be the NFL draft's top overall pick.  If you are an Auburn fan and haven't had a chance yet to get your hands on a championship hat, stop by lids.com to score yours today!

Auburn fans weren't the only fans with something to cheer about this week.  With NFL wildcard games last weekend, it was the underdog and his fans who prevailed.  Seattle Seahawks beat out last year's Super Bowl Champs last Saturday in their win over the Saints.  Not only were the Saints a huge favorite to win, but the Seahawks were the only team ever to make the playoffs with a losing record.  That losing record came out with a big win on Saturday, and Seahawk fans have their eyes set on the next obstacle, the Chicago Bears. Many have said that Seattle has one of the loudest venues in the NFL.  Without the help of their loud fans at home, will Seattle be able to pull out another huge upset against da Bears?

NFL Playoff Time!

The quest for Super Bowl XLV will kickoff this weekend with the first games of the NFL postseason.  On Saturday, fans will gear up for the first postseason game when the defending Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints, take on the Seattle Seahawks. Fans were ecstatic when the Saints beat the Colts in last year's Super Bowl to win New Orleans their first league championship. With New Orleans as the heavy favorites going into the game, Drew Brees and the Saints hope to give fans a second showing of last year's postseason.  Saturday's second game has the New York Jets looking for a rematch of last year's AFC Championship when they take on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis.  Indianapolis fans hope to provide all the noise they can to give Manning a winning edge at home.  Who do you think will pull out the win?  Will it be the Saints or the Seahawks? The Colts or the Jets?  As for the bigger picture, who are your picks for the NFC and AFC championships? And most importantly, who is going to walk away with Super Bowl XLV?

NFL postseason requires a lot of preparation from players, coaches, and of course all of the fans who will be looking to cheer on their team to Super Bowl XLV.  An interesting video clip, however, shows that it isn't just the teams that have to put in a lot of work for a game.  Turns out that Wilson, the official manufacturer for all official NFL game footballs, puts in a lot of work as well.  The clip shows Wilson's in depth process of making NFL game footballs.

  

No Bad Ideas Clothing Company

Just hitting stores are some new creations from the fashion headwear brand, No Bad Ideas Clothing Company. All of No Bad Ideas hats feature a concealment pocket and are always on point in terms of the latest fashion trends.  Check out the new styles below:

Morph Plaid Flex

Benjamin Castro

Pop Stitch Ivy

LIDS and DeAngelo Hall support Caps for Kids

Earlier this week, Store Manager Will R. from Store 5462 was assisting with coverage of Store 5826 in Dulles Town Center in Dulles, Virginia, when he came across yet another special LIDS shopper — Washington Redskins' playmaker DeAngelo Hall.  During his visit, the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback gladly signed a hat for Caps for Kids.  You might recognize Will R. as the manager responsible for acquiring a signature from LeBron James earlier this fall.  Kudos again, Will and thank you Mr. Hall!  

LIDS is a proud supporter of Caps for Kids, but we couldn't do it without the help of our amazing employees, customers and celebrity customers.  If you'd like to learn more about Caps for Kids and how you can help, please visit http://www.capsforkids.org.     

 

Warm Knits, New Shoes Help Make the Holiday Season Brighter for Students in Need

LIDS' Sixth Annual Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats event in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a huge success thanks to the 100 LIDS/Genesco Inc. corporate volunteers in attendance.  On Tuesday, November 30, more than 400 children from Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, IPS #69, were provided with a new pair of shoes, a new hat, a Converse t-shirt, and a pair of Crocs as LIDS' volunteers set up a mock shoe and hat store in the school's gym.  In addition, the children were treated with a special t-shirt from the Indianapolis Colts distributed by Colts Linebackers Gary Brackett, Cody Glenn, Pat Angerer, Running Back Mike Hart and Colts Mascot Blue.

 

Through its Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats program, LIDS and its parent company, Genesco Inc., are able to annually provide disadvantaged children in Indianapolis, the site of LIDS' headquarters, with the power of choice, the same respect and service that they would receive at any of Genesco's 2,300 retail stores, and the practical solution of properly fitting footwear and warm hats.  Each year, the Company works with the United Way of Central Indiana and the Indianapolis Colts to host this signature event at a different Indianapolis Public School location in need.  The initiative is supported by LIDS' Community Assistance Program (C.A.P.), which operates with the motto, "The Greatest Gift You Can Give Yourself May Come From Helping Someone Else."

 
Photo: IndyStar.com

NOTE: This year's Cold Feet, Warm Shoes & Hats event was made possible in part by the generosity of the following Genesco vendors: Converse, Vans, DC, Huffman, Puma, Crocs, Concept One, Top of the World, Bioworld, and NIKE.

Where my dogs at?

Winter is a’comin’, and it’s a’comin’ fast!  No need to worry though, Lids has you covered, literally.  I’m referring to the new MLB dog ears caps, yes I said DOG EARS.  Wearing your favorite baseball cap has never been so cool…I mean warm. 

Listen, everyone loves dogs, everyone loves hats, it’s like a match made in heaven - fusing the two! This year, you can still rock out by supporting your favorite MLB team while keeping warm through the frigid winter weather.  Wear the cap with the flaps up or flap down, whatever you fancy. They’ll be sure to keep you warm when you need them.  Let your summer hats hibernate for the winter, it’s dog ears time. 

Be sure to check out Lids.com.  Did I mention there’s free shipping on orders over $50?  Holidays are creeping up, so it’s a great time to grab one now for that special someone! Don’t wait and get caught up in the hectic, last minute holiday shopping. 

Check in daily with the Lids Blog to see what’s good, and what’s really good.  More great winter hats to come, including the MLB Trapper...take a look at our Sneak Peak pictures below. 

 

New Era Celebrates 90 Years

New Era celebrated 90 years as a leader in the headwear industry by teaming up with 90 graduate artists from some of Europe's most prestigious design schools.  The artists were given a blank canvas (a blank 59FIFTY) and asked to unleash their creativity.  The winner was awarded £10,000 with the intent of assisting their launch into their chosen artistic career.  Throughout the month of November, all 90 works of art are touring Europe with stops in London, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona and Paris. 

While some pieces are very wearable, others designs take a more creative approach.  Would you wear any of the designs or do you prefer to stick with the MLB 59FIFTY Authentic Collection or a New Era Snapback?  If you could design your own blank 59FIFTY, what would it look like?

A blank 59FIFTY served as the canvas for ninety talented young artists.

The winning design

Ninety 59FIFTY caps decorate the white exhibit space

An interesting exhibit, wearable art or both?

Below are the ninety 59FIFTY caps created to celebrate New Era's 90th anniversary.  Click on an image for more information about the artist or design.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Hat World!

November 3, 1995 - On a gray, overcast day with temperatures in the 30's and blustery 15 mile per hour winds, the newest tenant of Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette, Indiana, turned on its lights and raised the gate for the first time. 

Hat World was born. 

Thanks to all of our amazing employees and customers who have made the past 15 years possible.  Here's to the next 15!  Happy Birthday, Hat World!

 

New Era Snapbacks Are in the Building!

Ladies and gentleman, the long awaited and much anticipated New Era Snapbacks have arrived!  We ventured out back to our warehouse and ripped open a few boxes because, like you, we couldn't stand the wait any longer. Believe us when we say, they are worth the wait!

Look for these New Era Snapbakcs to hit lids.com very soon!  The New Era Snapbacks will also be available in select stores.  If your local store isn't carrying them though, you can always order from lids.com and have them shipped to the nearest store at no charge!  Just choose the Ship-to-Store option at checkout.  The best part is, no need to worry about sizing issues with these New Era Snapbacks!

Check out some of our behind the scene pics below.  Are you as excited as we are?!?