Rykä

Rykä
Company typePrivately held
IndustrySportswear and sporting goods
Founded1987
HeadquartersIrvine, California
ProductsWomen's athletic shoes and apparel
ParentCaleres
Websitewww.ryka.com

Rykä is an athletic shoe brand for women.

History

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Rykä was founded in 1987 by Sheri Poe, who wanted to design a better-fitting athletic shoe for women.[1][2] The company also produces athletic apparel for women.[citation needed]

Rykä merged with Global Sports in 1997.[3] Global Sports sold its branded division in 1999 to American Sporting Goods Corporation.[4] The company is now owned by Caleres Inc., who bought American Sporting Goods in 2011.[5][6]

Publicity

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Poe is credited with introducing Princess Diana to her shoes, through her creation of the Ryka Rose Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to stop violence against women.[citation needed]

Since 2008, Kelly Ripa has been the spokeswoman for Rykä shoes.[7]

The Rykä brand is an example of foreign branding.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us | Rykä".
  2. ^ Rifkin, Glenn (1994-07-03). "Profile; Mix and Match: A Shoe for Women, a Survivor's Tale". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Newly-Minted Billionaire Is Spinning eBay Scraps Into Gold
  4. ^ Global Sports, Inc. Announces Agreement to Sell Branded Division
  5. ^ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brown-shoe-company-announces-time-for-fourth-quarter-2011-earnings-call-2012-02-24 [dead link]
  6. ^ Brown Shoe Acquires American Sporting Goods Corporation
  7. ^ "RYKÄ ANNOUNCES BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WITH KELLY RIPA" (PDF). American Sporting Goods Corp. 2008-01-16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
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