THE SOCCER POST FRANCHISE GROUP

The Soccer Post, the nation's number one specialty retailer of soccer equipment and products with 23 stores nationwide. Client’s Needs The Soccer Post was looking for a way to effectively package a retail catalog that would both expand existing sales channels and generate positive promotional exposure for the chain. The Sports Vue Program: Sports Vue created The Soccer Post Magazine, a high-quality glossy soccer magazine wrapped around The Soccer Post catalog. Sports Vue timed the debut issue to tie in with a high-profile event with strong appeal to The Soccer Post’s existing customer base: the 2003 Women’s World Cup. Sports Vue recruited some of North America’s top soccer writers to create content for a special Women’s World Cup issue including feature stories on top players such as Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, a World Cup preview and schedule, and profiles and pictures of all the players on the United States team. Photographs from Sports Vue Images completed the package. Sports Vue created the entire publication and catalog in house, brokered printing and shipping services, and sold several pages of advertising, not only for the Women’s World Cup special, but also for future issues of the magazine. In addition, Sports Vue negotiated an agreement with a national magazine distributor to place the publication in major newsstand and bookstore chains across the country. By the second issue, The Soccer Post Magazine was available in almost 500 bookstores and newsstands nationwide, giving The Soccer Post valuable brand exposure in areas of the country where it is seeking to develop franchises and retail sales.   Major advertisers in the magazine have included Nike, adidas, Fila, Kelme and Full 90 Sports.