North Face 2007 Annual Report Download - page 25

Like all of VF’s brands, the Majestic® brand
is known for its commitment to quality,
performance and style. But it’s the company’s
uncanny speed and responsiveness that
keep it two steps ahead of the competition.
In 2005, the venerable athletic team apparel
company beat out big-name rivals to win
one of professional sports’ most valuable
contracts to become the official provider
of uniforms and official fan apparel for all
30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.
The Majestic® brand has met the challenge
with the fervor of a fan and the poise of a pro.
At spring training each year, the company
meticulously measures every MLB player,
coach and top prospect. Within weeks, it
manufactures and delivers more than 15,000
custom-fitted game jerseys and pants before
the first pitch is hurled on Opening Day.
And that’s just for warmups. Whenever
a player is traded or free agent signed,
Majestic Athletic is among the first to get the
call. The company’s world-class manufacturing
INSIDE / RESPONSIVENESS
RUNNING
WITH THE
PITCH
MAJESTIC ATHLETIC KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES
TO COMPETE AND WIN IN ANY LEAGUE. WHO’S THAT
WEARING
NO. 42?
Just weeks before “Jackie Robinson
Day” in April 2007, Cincinnati Reds’
All-Star Ken Griffey, Jr. called MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig to ask if
he could pay tribute to Robinson
by wearing his long-retired No.
42. Selig not only liked the idea,
he encouraged other players
and coaches to do the same.
Majestic Athletic stepped up to
the plate, altering its production
schedules to meet the deadline. In
all, the company manufactured
approximately 500 custom No. 42
jerseys, fitted to each player and
coach’s measurements, before
the commemorative game.
“Our involvement in Jackie Robinson
Day highlights the privileged place
we hold in the game,” said Faust
Capobianco, IV, Vice President and
General Manager of Major League
Baseball for Majestic Athletic.
“Our team has what it takes to
make extraordinary things happen.
That’s what our brand is all about.”
Whenever a player
changes teams,
Majestic Athletic
makes sure a new
uniform beats him
to the ballpark.
team cuts, sews, decorates and delivers an
impeccable custom-tailored uniform, personalized
with the player’s name and number, in as little as 24
hours. (Yes, that’s the real deal they hold up at the
press conference, and Majestic Athletic made it.)
The company makes that exact same high quality
jersey available to fans in a matter of days—online,
at stadiums and in stores—so teams can capitalize
on the buzz of a major transaction when fans
are most engaged. Majestic Athletic also supplies
personalized jerseys, numbered t-shirts, jackets,
fleece and other apparel products for every MLB
team—and every fan—through long-term contracts.
By implementing new analytic systems pioneered
by VF’s other businesses, Majestic Athletic is
bringing this same “culture of urgency” to the retail
marketplace. By providing customers that sell MLB
apparel with detailed replenishment information
each week, they know precisely which apparel
to stock—by market, store, player and team.
Acquired in February 2007, Majestic Athletic
expands the capabilities of VF’s Imagewear
business, which has long been recognized for
its ability to produce fanwear within hours
of the conclusion of major sporting events
such as the World Series and Super Bowl.