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

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!

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!

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 

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.  

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.

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}

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. 

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.

 

 

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?!?

Texas Rangers Claw and Antler

The Texas Rangers came away with a convincing win in last night's game against the defending World Champs, the New York Yankees.  The Rangers beat the Yankees 8-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 

Cliff Lee became the first pitcher to record three 10+ strikeout games in the same postseason.  Much like Lee's dominating performance last night, the Rangers have domniated the series, despite having a poor eighth inning in Game 1.  If not for the five runs scored by the Yankees in that inning, the team might be 3-0. 

So what do you think, do the Rangers have enough Claw and Antler to keep it going?  For those of you outside of Ranger Nation, the CLAW is a gesture for power and strength  and the ANTLER is a gesture for speed and agility.  The hand signals, said to have been "invented" by Esteban German (claw) and Nelson Cruz (antlers), were quickly adopted by players as a sign of support and solidarity.  When the fans reazlied what the signals meant, they, too, wanted in on the action. 

Will there be enough Claw and Antler to make history?  With the Yankees in the oppostite dugout, you never can be too sure.  What's your vote: Claw and Antler or Hunting Season?

The Texas Rangers MLB Claw and Antler tee is availabe in blue and red and can be found at lids.com. 

LIDS Embroidery - A Stitch to Save Lives

Visit any LIDS Store that offers custom embroidery in 2010 to show your support for the American Cancer Society® Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign by having the pink ribbon embroidered on a hat.  For every purchase of the pink ribbon embroidery, $5.00 will go to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.  Your support will help the American Cancer Society save lives, and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Simply present this flyer to any store associate at one of LIDS' custom embroidery locations to put your dollars to work for this worthy cause!


 

For more information on Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or the American Cancer Society, visit cancer.org/stridesonline.

NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Hats

If you watched any football this Sunday, you probably did a double take towards the field as flashes of pink darted back and forth between the sidelines.  This Sunday was the start of a monthlong campaign where the NFL will wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The NFL, in partnership with the American Cancer Society, is calling the campaign "A Crucial Catch" which is focused on promoting annual screenings, especially for women who are forty and older.  During the month of October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game hats and apparel, pink ribbon stencils on the field, special game balls and pink coins - all to help raise awareness for this important campaign.

LIDS is proud to offer NFL Breast Cancer Awareness hats and apparel in support of this excellent cause.  The LIDS home office in Indianapolis will also hold several fundraising and awareness events during the month of October to support the campaign.  Additionally, we'll hold a series of contests during the week of October 11th in anticipation for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Indianapolis on October 16th.  Stay tuned to the LIDS Blog, LIDS Facebook and LIDS Twitter pages for additional information on how you could win a LIDS Pink Pride Prize Pack (say that five times fast) in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. 

What Color is Your Hat?

Sports fanaticism is not necessarily dominated by one gender.  Women love sports too!  And with that in mind, many manufacturers came out with pink hats and jerseys a few years ago. The thought process must have been something like “Hmm.. how can we get more women to buy new sports hats and jerseys….?  I’ve got it!  Let’s make it PINK! PINK hats! PINK Jerseys!  Pink pink pink!”

There must have been at least one woman (or man) in the room who voiced concern.  “Um.. guys?  The Red Sox don’t wear pink.  The Yankees don’t wear pink.  Even the Cowboys don’t wear pink.  Breast Cancer Awareness month is just that - one month (October). Does pink make sense?”

Regardless, they moved forward with the manufacturing of pink products. And many women bought them!  Or someone bought them - maybe men bought the pink gear for the women.  I know I’ve purchased pink Red Sox onesies for a few baby girl fans.  But when it came to purchasing my own hat, I opted for a classic navy Red Sox cap (see above).

I asked some of my female co-workers about their hat choices.  Jen R. said that she doesn’t wear hats, but that her own Red Sox hat is decidedly not pink.  Michelle C. owns a white Red Sox hat.  Katie G. has three Red Sox hats - one traditional navy, one pink, and one pale yellow.  Apparently, they make hats in “all of the pastel colors.”  In case you’re wondering why we all own Red Sox gear, we live and work in Boston, which obviously means we’re Red Sox fans (or at least most of us are, AHEM Michelle R.).

Looks like the vote is split, but with many of my female co-workers opting for the more traditionally colored hats.  Ladies - do you own pink hats and jerseys?  Guys - do you respect sports-lovin’ girls in pink hats? 

The Rays Play with Plaid

Last month, the Tampa Bay Rays donned plaid blazers in Rays colors during a trip to the West coast.  Rays Manager, Joe Maddon has embraced the concept of creating theme road trips while the Rays travel.  So far this season, the team has dressed in all white while in Miami (thank you, P. Diddy) and has sported hockey jerseys while in Toronto. The team has also participated in Urban Cowboy and Johnny Cash themed roadtrips, just to name a few.

The plaid Rays blazers, thoughtfully named BRaysers, created quite the buzz after the Rays bullpen donned the jackets while making their way from the dugout to the bullpen. As a result of the fanfare, New Era has created a lmited edition BRayser inspired 59Fifty Cap.  The Rays will wear the BRayser hat during tonight's game in New York. 

If you're a diehard Rays fan or just a fashionista, you'll want to get your hands on one of these hats quickly.  Currently, this limited edition hat is available at both the LIDS and Sports Fan-Attic stores at the West Shore Mall in Tampa, Florida.  If you don't live in the Tampa area, no worries!  The BRayser hat and a BRayser t-shirt will be available for purchase at lids.com in the coming weeks. 

In your opinion, should teams have more freedom to change up their attire or are you an advocate for sticking to the classics?  Share your comments with us or send us a Tweet or Facebook post. 

College Colors Day...17 Days and Counting!

School is starting and summer is winding down which can only mean one thing...College Colors Day is just around the corner! 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with College Colors Day, it is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that make the college experience great by encouraging people across America to wear caps and apparel of their favorite college or university throughout the day.  Since its inception in 2005, College Colors Day has grown rapidly across the country.  Thousands of organizations and millions of individuals participate annually by donning their team colors and sharing in the college spirit with friends and colleagues.  This year, College Colors Day will be celebrated on September 3, 2010. 

Personally, I'll be flying to Florida on College Colors Day and you better believe I'll be sporting my Notre Dame gear on the flight!  Where will you be on College Colors Day and what team will you be supporting?

Celebrity Sunglasses without the Celebrity Price

Celebrities are constantly wearing sunglasses to hide their faces from the stares of onlookers and overzealous paparazzi, not to mention the sun.  As I page through the gossip magazines, watch celebrity news shows and devour sports websites, it is abundantly evident that shades are the way to look cool, calm and collected in front of prying eyes.  

This season athletes and celebrities have been spotted wearing vintage inspired sunglasses similar to the Ray-Ban wayfarer that first surfaced in the early 1950's.  This wayfarer sunglass style was a staple in the 1950's and 1960's and again in the 1980's thanks to product placement in popular movies and shows such as Risky Business, Miami Vice and The Breakfast Club.  The popular style faded during the 1990's, but made another resurgence in the new millennium.  The vintage style can now be seen gracing the faces of young Hollywood, Top 40 musicians and professional athletes alike. 

If you're like me, you refuse to pay for the brand name shades, because you know you'll lose or break them; however, I still want to be fashionable!  Thankfully, LIDS has several hot new shades for a fraction of the price, but with the same iconic wayfarer look.  So if you want to look like a celebrity, but don't have the celebrity budget to back it up, check out the latest iLIDS sunglass collection.  These sunglasses are two for $20 and up the ante on any look.   Don't be caught without your iLIDS...you never know when paparazzi will follow you to the grocery store, movie theater or while shopping at LIDS!

Justin Timberlake, Joe Jonas and Courtney Cox Arquette have all been seen sportin' vintage "nerd" wayfarer glasses.  These stars prove a little nerd goes a long way!

If you're looking for a darker lens, think about adding a funky color or pattern to a classic frame for some extra zip.  Stars like Jessica Alba, Sienna Miller, Paris Hilton, Liv Tyler and Kirsten Dunst all crank up the volume with colorful frames!  Can you imagine all the ways you could wear these wayfarer glasses?

Terrell Owens, the latest addition to the Cincinnati Bengals, manages to pair his hip wayfarer shades with another perfectly in style accessory--the straw fedora!

Budget Friendly Hats Under $20!

I fondly remember my college days when I only had class a few hours a week, slept way too little, and ate and drank way too much.  However, not so fond is the "I'm strapped for cash" feeling that lingered for four years.  Yes, we've all eaten ramen noodles, canned tuna and generic cereal in order to save our precious money for going out, shopping or when you finally decide to buy the book...to cram for the class...that you never attended.   

We've been there and we feel for ya!  So, in an effort to help you buy that name brand cereal without sacrificing your hat style, we've got the Z-20 Two Tone and Z-20 Night.  This is a quality stretch-fit hat that costs less than $20!  Big on style, small on price.  So go ahead, go crazy!  We've all heard the saying "you can't have your cake and eat it too," but heck with the naysayers.  With these budget friendly hats, you can have your hats and eat name brand too!

 

Monster Hats

One of the more frequent requests we receive is for Monster Energy hats.  So much so that we have a difficult time keeping them in stock.  However, we currently have two sick Monster Energy hats and a stylish tee available and wanted to share.

The Monster/Bong Fitted (shown right) is a collaboration between Billabong and Monster Energy.  It is a fitted New Era 59Fifty that features an embroidered Monster Energy logo on the front, Billabong logo patch on the back and New Era flag on the left wear side.  Billabong + Monster Energy + New Era = Gotta have it!

Monster Energy is well known among the action sports world for their sponsorship of some of today's top extreme athletes and events.  Monster Energy has sponsored everyone from Ken Block (rally car racer), Rob Dyrdek (skate and MTV reality TV personality), TJ Lavin (BMX and MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge host), Shane Dorian (surfer) and Ricky Carmichael (motocross rider turned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver). 

In addition to his MX duties, Ricky Carmichael is now driving the No. 4 Monster Energy-backed Chevrolet Silverado for the high profile Kevin Harvick All-Stars team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  Known as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), it's only fitting this this cap showcases some of the great brands of all time in the action sports realm.  Without further adieu, the Fox Racing Monster RC Replica Flex hat and Fox Racing Monster RC Replica Tee. 

So what do you think?  Will you be wearing the M-claw loud and proud?  Do you have a favorite Monster Energy sponsored athlete or perhaps a favorite Monster Energy drink? 

"The Dark Side" of the ESPYS

As one of the few people left NOT to have seen the Academy Award winning movie The Blind Side, I was a bit lost during the "The Dark Side" trailer which was shown during the ESPYS.  The parody showcased a crazed Sandra Bullock and frightened Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. 

I rarely watch movies (it's sort of an running joke around the office that I've never seen Back to the Future), but I've had The Blind Side on my list of movies to watch for quite some time.  I took full advantage of a lazy Sunday and finally rented it from Red Box.  What a great movie!  Of course, it was a bit predictable--in part because it was based on a true story, but who doesn't like an easy to follow movie that wraps up nicely and leaves you feeling triumphant on a Sunday afternoon?   

For those of you that missed the ESPYS or who refused to watch because Norm McDonald is no longer hosting, here's the clip from "The Dark Side."  If you've got some extra time, check out the goofs and the trivia on IMDB.  Having recently watched the movie, I can recognize several of these situations where aspects were inconsistent.  All in all, The Blind Side (which also won an ESPY for Best Sports Film) is definitely worth renting. 

Have you seen any great sports movies lately?  Which sports film is your favorite?  How about any good movie that's worth paying almost $20 to see in a theater?  Perhaps only rental worthy? 

FRESH Check: The Boys of Entourage Return

The HBO Hit series Entourage makes a triumphant return to TV, with Sunday nights finally regaining some excitement ahead of another long work week.  As many are anxious to see where Vince’s career has taken him or how the wedding planning is going for E and Sloan, Lids is pumped to see what fresh hats the boys will be showcasing in the much anticipated 7^th season.

At the beginning, Turtle was the main attraction, as he always sported a different fresh fitted hat to match the latest pair of Nikes he was rocking while cruising around Los Angeles with Vince.  Although Turtle still rocks the occasional New York Yankees fitted hat, he switched up his game this past season and was often seen sporting a variety of Kangol hats.

E and Johnny Drama have also been spotted trying to ‘up’ their respective hat games.  E shows his love for his native New York by sporting various New York Islanders hats, as a dedication to his beloved hometown hockey team. When Johnny Drama wasn’t wearing the infamous Viking helmet from his role as Tarvold, the star of “Viking Quest”, he has been seen in various Fedoras and other fashion hats while lounging with his mega star younger brother.

Tune into HBO this Sunday night at 10:30 PM EST for the season premiere of Entourage to see if Turtle is repping his hometown New York Knicks hat or staying classy with a Kangol Ivy. Stay up-to-date on all the current hat sightings and releases by checking in daily with the Lids Blog. Also make sure to stop by a local Lids Retail Store or online at Lids.com to pick up any of the latest styles that “Gatsby and the Funky Bunch” are seen wearing in the newest season of Entourage.

Chiddy Bang Shout Out to LIDS

At LIDS, we're constantly working to stay on top of the latest trends whether it be in fashion, music or sports.  Ultimately, it helps us provide the most fashionable headwear and...well...it's fun.

In our quest for all things cool, hip, sick and ill, we stumbled upon Chiddy Bang.  Chiddy Bang is a Philly based duo comprised of Chiddy (emcee) and Xaphoon Jones (DJ/producer) who combine elements of indie rock and electronica with some good ole fashioned spittin' (their words, not ours).  Not only do we love the fact that Chiddy is wearing a fitted hat (shown right) in their recent music video "Opposite of Adults", but LIDS also receives a shout near the 2:10 mark.  Check out the music video and let us know your thoughts about the group.  Do you have suggestions for other hot artists to watch for or perhaps you've seen or heard a LIDS mention we should know about??? If so, let us know by leaving a comment on the LIDS Blog or contact us on Twitter or Facebook.  Also, if you're interested in picking up Chiddy's hat, visit LIDS today.

According to their Facebook page, Chiddy Bang like to think of themselves as "kings of the basement party jam."  We'd rock with Chiddy Bang at a basement party any day, would you? 

Chew On This

Most Americans who watch professional sports do so on a television set rather than in person. Not surprisingly, they also use major sports events like the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals (which begin today) as an excuse to throw parties and eat like linebackers.

Well the National Basketball Association is now giving fans a chance to consume something else: team logos.

Starting next season, basketball fans ordering a pizza with their favorite toppings can also get it topped with an edible logo of their beloved team for an extra five bucks. Made of sugar, starch and food coloring, each logo is designed to melt into the cheese after the pizza has been baked and sliced. Some 1,200 pizza parlors across America will be supplied with the logos.

That's not the only logo-laden fare for fans.

The NBA is also introducing "NBA Pro Toast Toasters" this year, featuring team logos seared onto toasted sandwiches, with logo panini sandwich presses coming next year. Yes, the NBA is literally branding team logos (on bread).

Fans will find NBA team logos showing up on a wide variety of consumer items, too, due to the league's aggressive licensing strategy. With worldwide merchandise sales coming in at about $3 billion annually, licensing has become an important revenue stream for the NBA.

The NBA is hungry for more. Sal LaRocca, NBA's global merchandising head, tells USA Today, "As key licensing categories have matured, it's an ongoing goal of the NBA to expand the brand into places that may attract new customers."  So don't be surprised if you see a professional basketball team's logo on... well, just about anything.

While we don't carry logo toasters, logo pizzas (or edible hats for that matter), we are adding a wide assortment of team licensed products to lids.com.  Check out some of our newest team logo novelty items such as mugs, license plates, neck pillows, decals, patches, ties and pennants just to name a few.  Of course, we'll continue to carry the latest and greatest hats and caps around! 

Source: brandchannel.com

Jay-Z & Eminem Make Historic Concert Announcement In Fresh Lids

AND WE’RE BACK! We are back on the hunt to showcase the latest hat sightings in the world of music, movies, and TV.  We spot it and if you like it, we will point you to where you can buy it online at Lids.

Recently, hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z and Eminem announced a two concert series at Comerica Park and Yankee Stadium. The two rap titans took in the Detroit Tiger and New York Yankees baseball game at Comerica Park, in which they announced their September concerts.  They kick off their concert series in Eminem’s hometown of Detroit on September 2nd then venture to Jay-Z’s hometown of New York to perform the first rap concert ever at Yankee Stadium on September 13th. 

The rappers met with players beforehand on the field and then did various television interviews all while sporting two fresh hats.  Jay-Z wore his staple accessory, the classic New York Yankee fitted hat, further bolstering his claim that he “made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can”.  Eminem sported a Kangol Ripstop Military Cap, which he is quickly making his go-to hat, as he has worn it at recent concerts and appearances. 

Definitely be sure to scoop up your tickets early for both shows and stop by Lids to gear up before you go.

If you like these New Era 59Fifty baseball caps or Kangol hats, you can buy the authentic Yankee New Era Hat or Kangol Military Cap.  Remember – if there is a hat you spot and want, you can always let us know on the Lids Facebook page. Keep checking back with the Lids Blog to stay current on the freshest hat and cap releases.
 

Feelin' Fresh with New 59Fifty Hats

It's the first Friday of the month which can only mean one thing--Fresh Goods Friday has arrived!  This months Fresh Goods Friday is the MLB Sandstorm 59Fifty.  This hat features an all-over light tan camo with a tan raised embroidered team logo, New Era logo on the leftwear side and MLB logoman on the back. 

As part of the Fresh Goods Friday program, the MLB Sandstorm 59Fifty is only available in limited teams and at select stores.  Visit a participating store today or lids.com to get your exclusive Fresh Goods Friday New Era 59Fifty. 

Mr. Woods is in the building...

TIGER WOODS 2.0 is back and some say looking more focused than ever! 

Tiger has not played on tour since last September and there are many questions surrounding his return to golf.  Will the layoff effect his world class skills or will he be the same dominant player he has been since capturing his first Masters back in 1997?  The only certainty leading into this week's Masters is that he will be decked out in the hottest new fashions from Nike Golf. 

Lids.com is loaded with Nike Golf hats and are currently featuring two of the hottest styles on the course, the TW Tour Swoosh Flex and the Tour Perforated Cap.  Check out these two hot styles pictured below:

NIKE GOLF TW TOUR SWOOSH FLEX

NIKE GOLF TOUR PERFORATED CAP

Get all your Nike Golf head-wear only at lids.com!!

Max Out Your Style with Nike Air Max & Killer Caps

Journeys (our sister store) recently posted a picture of a their new Nike Air Max shoes on their Facebook page.  My first thought was "I gotta get to Journeys to get a pair," but my next thought immediately got me searching for hats that would compliment these sneakers.  Nothing pulls together a look like coordinating shoes and hats!  Nobody wants to look like they've tried too hard, but this is an effortless way to look 

Below are a few that we liked, but we also want to know what you would pair with these sneakers.  Do you match your shoes and hats to your look?  Feel free to upload some pics of your complimentary shoes and hats on our Facebook page or send us a Twitpic on Twitter.  We'll post the links back on the blog for others to see.

Check out the hats featured above:

1.  Kansas City Royals Authentic Collection hat from New Era
2.  New York Yankees MLB 2 Face-II hat from New Era
3.  Milwaukee Brewers Cooperstown Franchise hat from Twins
4.  Detroit Tigers MLB Pinwheel 09 hat from New Era
5.  Duke Blue Devils NCAA Sabotage hat from Top of the World
6.  Butler Bulldogs NCAA PC hat from Top of the World

LIDS Hats - Beach Bag Necessity

In the March issue of Coastal Living, the LIDS Rutgers Scarlet Knights Brushback NCAA Franchise hat (below) was pictured in the magazine's "What's in your beach bag?" feature on Bobbi Brown, makeup artist as well as Founder and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. A representative of the magazine contacted the LIDS Public Relations Department to acquire images of the hat upon hearing it made Bobbi's beach tote list. Apparently when this Jersey girl is not adding to her "no-makeup look" line or discussing beauty secrets with TV show hosts, she proudly supports the local team.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Brushback NCAA Franchise hat

New Fashion Hats for Spring and Summer

We're all tired of the cold and snow which is why we've decided to look forward to spring and summer (instead of looking outside at the inclement weather)!  New styles will soon be arriving in stores and online.  These killer fashion hats are the perfect accessory to make your new spring threads stand out! 

Below is a SNEAK PEAK at some of the latest styles to be popping up this spring.  Check them out and be sure to stop back by the Lids Blog to see when all these new styles are available.

 

Linen 6 Panel Driver (Shown left in Olive)

Nothing says spring like linen!  This lightweight driving cap can turn even the blandest outfit into a well-styled look.  Perfectly preppy but easy to pull off with any outfit. 

Trilby 10 (Shown right in Black)

The trilby is by no means a new style; however, we've updated the Trilby 08 to be more in line with changing trends.  The Trilby 10 features a shorter brim and lower crown.  The update makes it very wearable!  

PL Straw Fedora w/Grosgrain Band (shown left in Natural)

Straw hats are an excellent compliment to your summer look--throw on some shades and a pair of comfy sandals and you'll be paparazzi ready!  This straw fedora, much like the trilby, has also been updated with a shorter brim and lower crown.  The grosgrain band adds a playful touch and a punch of color. 

 

PL Patterned 6 Panel Driver 10 (shown right in Brown)

Tonal patterns are great for spring.  This brown plaid driver has enough texture and pattern to make it interesting, but not overbearing.  This driving cap (or ivy cap) is very versatile--the neutral color and classic silhouette make it must have item to add to your collection.

Remember, these are SNEAK PEAKS, but all of the hats shown today will be arriving in stores and online soon...very soon!  Check back often to find out when you can get your hands on these fabulous fashion hats.  Be sure to leave us your comments and ideas for future styles on the Lids Blog, Facebook or Twitter.

Lids Daily Poll: Hat forward or backward?

FORWARD?

 
(Left) Jay-Z rocks his signature New York Yankees Authentic Collection 59Fifty. According to his song lyrics "he made the Yankee hat, more famous than a Yankee can."  (Right) Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey are spotted wearing matching outfits capped off by similar red baseball caps.

BACKWARD?

 

(Left) Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, smiles wearing a backwards MLB hat. (Right) Taylor Lautner sports a backwards red ball cap with his edgy denim.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's daily poll can be answered in just one word, but after gauging the response of several loyal customers on Facebook and Twitter, we've found that it isn't always as simple as just forward or backward.  Check out a few responses from some of our fans...

"It depends on your fit. Sometimes it looks better forward and sometimes it looks better backwards."   
                                                                                                                    -Chris M.

"George Carlin said white guys over 10 should never wear their hats backwards. Even though he is dead, I am not going to argue with him."  
                                                                                                                    -Andrew T.

"Depends on the mood, forward and low if i'm solo, and don't wanna be bother, to side or to the back if i'm feeling silly, and wild."   
                                                                                                                    -Doremus S.

"Tall crown forward, slouch caps backwards."   
                                                                                                                    -Rs. L

"Backwards. I loved Ken Griffey Jr. when I was a kid, and he wore his hats backwards, so I started and it stuck with me."
                                                                                                            -Keith D

Whether you're wearing your hat forward, backward or somewhere in between, we love the way hats have the ability to change your entire look or help express your mood.  Thanks for all the great responses thus far, keep'em coming!

Deuce Hats from Dussault Apparel, Inc.

We recently posted about Jason Dussault and Deuce, the newest designer line to hit Lids.  Well we found this cool video and thought we'd share.  It gives a little more insight into his edgy designs as well as some info about the celebs he has designed for in the past.  Enjoy!

Deuce Hats by Jason Dussault

One of the hottest new brands out of Vancouver B.C. is now available at Lids!  Deuce by Jason Dussault is the newest fashion line to hit Lids! 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Jason, he is the mastermind behind Dussault Apparel Inc.  Dussault Apparel, Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing high-end quality apparel.  Its product line includes custom designed hoodies, jewelry, t-shirts, hats and leather goods. 

Dussault Apparel has been spotted on LA's hottest and hippest celebrities including many young, edgy actors and musicians.  Experience the luxe life and live like a rock star with Deuce by Jason Dussault at Lids!

  

Neff Hats: New Releases at Lids

New to Lids for the 2009 holiday shopping season is Neff Headwear.  Neff specializes in snowboarding and skate fashion and has mainly been available in core snow/skate shops located around the world...until now!  Lids.com currently has some of the hottest new Neff hats and, if early sales are any indication, we anticipate big things out of this brand.  Here is a sampling of what we currently have:

Neff Hats: SUCKER

Neff Hats: BRAWNEE

Neff Hats: KNITS

New Kangol Hats

Beginning November 5th, Lids and Kangol will be teaming up to showcase several amazing new hats.  Kangol has worked their magic and produced three new styles that will surely be the talk of the town.  The featured styles are the Lockerbie Plaid Ivy, A.F.P. Plaid Ivy, and Basket 504 Ivy.  All Lids stores will also be loaded with the always popular Kangol Wool Ivy. Below is a sneak peak of the styles included in this promotion.

Will you be donning one of the new Kangol hats?  Which one is your favorite?  What other designs would you like to see on your ivy cap?

LOCKERBIE PLAID IVY

A.F.P. PLAID IVY

BASKET 504 IVY

WOOL IVY

Sneak Peak: New Era Fresh Goods Friday

It's November and the start of a new month which can only mean one thing...a new Fresh Goods Friday release is just around the corner.  And while it may be around the corner for most people, we've got a special sneak peak for all of our Lids Blog readers.  Hey, it's nice to know people -- we take care of our VIP Blog customers!

Without further ado...here's your first look at the November Fresh Goods Friday release, the MLB Trapper.  Not only is this the sickest winter look, but it's super warm too.  Whether you're wearing it for style or warmth (or both), this cap is sure to trap some hotties.   Even Jay-Z rocked a similar style in his music video Empire State of Mind (snapshot below).  And, of course, if it's good enough for the guy who "made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can," it's good enough for me.

The MLB Trapper is a solid black New Era trapper hat that originated from New Era's EK premium headwear line.  The cap features faux fur on the dogear flaps and on the flip-up front.  The New Era cap has a solid black, raised embroidery team logo on the front panel, MLB logoman on the back, and two metal New Era flags on the left-wear side.  This is a limited edition hat and will only be available at select stores in the following teams: New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. 

**Use the team links above to purchase your MLB Trapper before they're available to the general public!

Scarves and Celebs

Scarves continue to be everywhere.  In fact, there's an entire blurb on celebrities and scarves on whosdatedwho.com which demonstrates not only all the different celebs who are rocking fashion scarves but also the numerous ways to wear them. 

Scarves can be knotted in a number of different ways:

Wrapped around the neck:

Draped around the neck:

Or worn in a bandana fashion:

It really doesn't matter how you wear a scarf just don't be caught in the cold without one.  Check out lids.com for our latest fashion addition...the scarf! 

So Lids Readers, how do you wear your scarves? 

Knit hats...fashion or function?

We're beginning to feel some crisp fall air here in Indianapolis.  While I know in just a matter of weeks I'll be wishing for spring, fall is always anxiously awaited.  The break from the humid 90 degree weather is always appreciated and of course I look forward to fall clothes and true "football weather". 

Speaking of football, the roof was open in Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday (Colts 4-0!!!).  Although it was only in the 60s, the sun was blazing and it was hot!  As I was sitting there sweating and the denim of my jeans was burning my legs, I couldn't help but notice the people wearing knits.  I even saw a guy donning a Flap like the hat pictured below: 

So my question to you loyal Lids-blog readers is, do you rock a knit hat to keep your dome warm or as a fashion statement?

Trend Watch: Top Ten Best-Selling Hat Styles at Lids

Welcome to a new feature on the Lids Blog, where we report to you on the Top Ten Best-Selling Hats and Hat Styles at lids.com.  Today, we'll present the top sellers by Hat Style. 

For the week of September 20th, Lids customers were feeling nostalgic, making our MLB Coop collection the best-selling style.  As we told you last week on the blog, we just brought these hats back and added additional styles.  It proved a popular move.

1.  New Era MLB Coop

     

 

2.  59Fifty MLB C-Dub

         

 

3.  New Era MLB Authentic Collection

        

 

4.  New Era MLB Twisted

      

 

5.  New Era NCAA 2-Tone 59Fifty

      

 

6.  Twins NCAA Franchise

        

 

7.  Twins MLB Franchise

     

 

8.  New Era MLB Black & White

     

 

9.  Nike MLB Wool Classic

      

 

10.  New Era NCAA AC 59Fifty

        

Remember to check back and find out what individual hats Lids.com customers are buying the most.  Will your hat or team make the best seller list?  What's your favorite cap style and what do you think will rule the charts next time?  Give us your feedback below.