There are many options for sportswear, including Nike, Gymshark, and New Balance.
As fashion trends come and go, it can be challenging to determine if a company is reliable.
Reebok, a sportswear company that has been around since the late 1950s, originated as a running shoe company and became popular for its aerobics equipment and women’s fitness line.
It greatly expanded and by 1990 had become equally as popular as Nike for a short while before dropping behind bigger brands like Nike, Adidas, and Lululemon.
It has never been able to keep up with the expansion and cult following of competing brands, which may make consumers question its’ products’ quality.
Is Reebok A Good Brand? (10 Reasons It Is)
1. Durability
Customers state they have worn the same pair of Reeboks for years and they have minimal wear, while other shoe brands seem to disintegrate after only a short period.
This is because Reebok shoes are made with full-grain leather.
This protects the shoe from the elements, is easy to clean, and helps them last longer than a cloth or mesh shoe.
Reebok’s shoes are equipped with anti-microbial technology that helps with foot odors and keeps feet feeling fresh.
This is a necessity, as the leather exterior of the shoe has the potential to make feet feel warm.
The shoes are also known for extra comfortable padding within the tongue and collar.
Similarly, Reebok clothing offers high-quality, long-lasting materials, and features a variety of designs that never go out of style.
The brand even has its own women’s underwear collection that offers comfort and allows the skin to breathe.
The underwear is made of special material which smooths out panty lines.
The company also makes men’s briefs using similar technology.
2. Reasonable Prices
Reebok has reasonable prices compared to Nike and other big brands.
Many of their shoes fall below $100, but prices can vary depending on the shoe type.
However, it is important to note that each shoe company has a different specialty.
Reebok specializes mostly in CrossFit, running, and dance, while also providing a wide variety of lifestyle shoes.
Customers can also design their own shoes by customizing the size, color and graphic designs, sole type, tongue, and back of the shoe.
Customization does increase the price of the shoes.
Running shoes for both men and women range from $50-$130, with one of the more expensive pairs being the Reebok Zjet.
Nike and Adidas are similar in that their lower-priced running shoes begin at $50, however, their more popular running shoes are priced well into the $200 range.
Training and general fitness shoes range from $50-$180.
Nike’s shoes have a similar price range of up to $175.
Adidas’ training shoes can also be pricey, running around $250 for their weightlifting line.
Classic Reebok shoes range from $45-$130.
The Classic shoes include Classic nylon, Instapump Fury OG, the Princess, and the Pump Aerobic Lite Vintage.
3. Versatility
The brand appeals to many types of consumers.
It offers athletic shoes for professional sports like CrossFit and martial arts.
Reebok established a partnership with CrossFit and has sponsored the CrossFit games, opened CrossFit studios, and produced specialized athletic clothing for players.
Reebok focuses on developing gear for specialized fitness activities using functional and stylish innovation.
Reebok coined the term “Game Changer” to identify consumers in the fitness industry.
The company argues that fitness is a vehicle and consumers use that vehicle to explore the edges of life.
These “Game Changers” do not turn away from the unexpected.
They are continuously working on themselves and evolving their fitness levels and lives.
Reebok wants the opportunity to inspire, equip, and help them change the game.
Reebok also appeals to the average person striving to improve or establish an exercise routine by offering less intense, but still exercise-friendly running shoes.
The brand also doesn’t forget about day-to-day wear and offers casual footwear for everyday use.
Reebok strives to offer a shoe to meet the needs of all people. In their 2019 report, Reebok stated the company is “at the intersection of fitness and fashion, meeting the consumer where they are, as the consumer continues to blur boundaries.”
This category of lifestyle shoes is called the Classics.
It was inspired by Reebok’s roots in fitness and pop culture.
The brand was one of the first sportswear companies to seek out famous influencers to advertise their products.
They have established partnerships with 50 Cent, Shaquille O’Neal, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, and more.
The purpose of these celebrity partnerships was to create and market trendy, lifestyle products to attract “normal” consumers who were not sports-focused.
Shaq remains a strong business partner, working closely with the founders of Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the current owner of Reebok.
His ideas for future designs and partnerships will be instrumental in moving the company forward.
4. Innovative Practices
Reebok often receives criticism because it frequently changes the style of its popular shoes.
Some state that the lack of consistency turns consumers away.
However, this frequency of change may instead show that the company is always striving for better.
Rather than settling for contentment, they push further into the unknown by reaching out to a new audience.
The company states they are committed to encouraging creativity and challenging the status quo.
Their mission is to “Always Challenge and Lead through Creativity.”
This dedication to innovation drives the company to invest in new technology and styles.
One example of innovation is the Zig shoe, which features a one-of-a-kind technology that gives the shoe a zig-zag-shaped midsole.
This was created to disburse energy throughout the shoe for a more comfortable run.
Another example is Forever Floatride Grow.
This plant-based running shoe is created with castor beans, algae, eucalyptus trees, and natural rubber.
It is part of the company’s Cotton + Corn lifestyle collection.
Until March 2022, Reebok was owned by Adidas, whose trend and cultural insights team analyzes current trends, documenting cultural and societal shifts to form future trend analyses.
This team works to continuously develop a portfolio of materials, production processes, and research to guide future development.
This reflects Reebok’s Open-Source mindset, which states that the company seeks to build value and relationships with people including athletes, consumers, universities, innovation companies, research organizations, and national or international governments.
Reebok uses these sources to obtain feedback and input.
In March 2022, Reebok was sold to Authentic Brands Group (ABG).
ABG has stated that designs will continue to come from Reebok. ABG will not (at this time) influence those decisions.
They do not want to alter the DNA, or vision, of Reebok.
The innovative processes that Reebok is known for will not disappear.
One thing that will be different for Reebok is that ABG’s resources will allow them to receive input from international partners and receive feedback specific to those regions’ interests and cultures.
5. Establishing Repeatable Product Lines
Another area of criticism of the company is that it seems to continuously change its products.
This keeps consumers on their toes, but also establishes frustration among consumers who had a preference for a select style and design.
In their 2019 report, Reebok reported that they were leveraging their fitness identity by focusing on repeatable designs.
This means that they intended to reproduce the designs they knew their consumers repeatedly purchased.
This is a tactic the company has seen other sportswear icons, like Nike’s Jordan line and Puma, utilize to improve consumer perception and enhance brand consideration.
Reebok intends to grow its iconic models, such as the Nano CrossFit and Forever FloatRide Energy running shoes.
The Nano CrossFit was designed with feedback from the CrossFit community.
Their Forever FloatRide Energy running shoe has won four consecutive Runner’s World “Gear of the Year” awards.
Reebok is also leveraging its Classic Leather and the Club C styles, both items that are considered to comprise Reebok’s unique fitness DNA.
Additionally, Reebok’s new owners have stated that they also aspire to work on the heritage of Reebok.
Meaning that the products which have historically done well, like Club C and Classic Leather, are here to stay.
ABG stresses that repeat customers will return if they use the right marketing tactics.
6. Mindful, Ethical Manufacturing Practices
Reebok has pledged to reduce its overall impact on the environment.
They primarily utilize recycled, synthetic materials in their products like rubber and polyester.
Reebok has also set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from factories.
Another point of pride is that they source their leather from the Leather Working Group.
The Leather Working Group (LWG) is a non-profit organization of community members across the globe who have a shared dedication to ensuring sustainable leather production.
The company also attempts to minimize animal suffering by not using fur, exotic skins or hair, or angora, although it does use wool in some products.
Good On You Rating
Good On You, a company devoted to driving sustainability practices, rates fashion and sportswear companies on their sustainability practices.
Most recently, they rated Reebok as “It’s a Start.”
They see progress in the areas of animal welfare, labor conditions, and environmental impact.
However, they would like to see official policies relating to their greenhouse gas emissions, animal products, and audits and remediation processes.
7. Youth Empowerment Across The Globe
Reebok states that one of its primary purposes is to empower youth to fulfill their utmost potential.
A. Global Corporate Citizenship Platform
The company has created a Global Corporate Citizenship platform that strives to help youth who are underprivileged and underserved.
They encourage all youth to fulfill their potential and to create an active lifestyle they can sustain for life.
B. Build Our Kids’ Success Program
The BOKS Team, initiated by the Reebok Foundation, is a free physical activity program designed for youth of all ages and ability levels.
This program was created due to the company’s belief that today’s youth are not physically active enough.
This belief is confirmed by the World Health Organization, which states that 81% of youth are not receiving sufficient physical activity.
The goal of the BOKS Team program is to:
- Prevent or manage non-communicable diseases
- Improve physical health
- Increase mental health resilience
- Improve academics
The BOKS program is comprised of:
- 4- and 8-week running plans for individuals, families, and groups or classes
- Lesson plans containing 45-minute physical activity plans, movement breaks, and games
- Training for BOKS trainers
In 2020, BOKS awarded more than 100 underserved schools and nonprofit organizations $200,000 to encourage student physical activity and improve their communities.
In 2021, Reebok announced that BOKS would give 10 underserved schools or nonprofit youth organizations a $10,000 award.
The organizations chosen were already using BOKS resources to increase youth physical activity within their communities.
C. Community Building Commitment
Reebok has collaborated with other organizations and foundations to supply underserved communities with resources.
Specifically, they have a history of working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, alongside Reebok and the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA), refurbished the basketball court at the James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club in Marietta, Georgia.
Reebok has also completed several other basketball court refurbishment projects for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson, California and Conyers, Georgia.
8. First Female Dedicated Fitness Company
Reebok was one of the first sportswear companies to push female consumers to the forefront of their brand.
Upon Reebok’s original formation, Nike and other brands were already established, however, they did not design their products with women in mind.
Reebok changed that game when they established their shoe line for women who did aerobic workouts.
Reebok has stated that female consumers are still a dedicated focus of the company.
Their content strategy, marketing tactics, and product design all keep women at the forefront.
In 2019, they also rolled out an extended sizing plan and released a maternity collection to the public.
This began the start of fitness and lifestyle clothing-inspired lines.
The PureMove Bra and LuxTight 2.0 have won awards, and Reebok has not stopped there.
They continuously work to design apparel that will appeal to women at any stage of their health and fitness goals.
9. Workplace Environment
Comparably is a company that gathers and analyzes employee and customer reviews.
The survey asked employees from a variety of sportswear companies for feedback on questions related to the environment and culture.
The survey was offered to employees of Nike, Adidas, PUMA, Reebok, Under Armour, and Hanesbrands.
- Employee Net Promoter Score
Reebok achieved the second-highest Employee Net Promoter Score with a score of 23.
It followed closely behind Nike’s score of 27.
An Employee Net Promoter Score is a tool used among many organizations to determine how likely it is that a product, company, event, or another measurable item would be recommended to a friend.
Comparably asked, “On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend working at Reebok to a friend?”
- Gender Score
Additionally, Reebok ranked third highest in Gender Score, which tracks positive experiences had by women at the companies being evaluated.
Reebok scored 69 out of 100 points, following very closely behind Adidas (70) and Nike (71).
- Diversity Score
With a score of 75/100, Reebok ranked second in the Diversity Score.
Hanesbrands achieved the first rank, with a score of 86/100.
The Diversity Score examines the diversity of employees and surveys how those employees rate their experience in the workplace.
- Overall Culture Score
Reebok achieved the 4th rank in Overall Culture, with a score of 69 out of 100.
This follows the lead of Nike (73), PUMA (72), and Adidas (70).
This score is an overall analysis of the culture at a company and considers all other scores above.
Glassdoor is another website that allows employees to review their workplace.
Reebok employees, ranging from footwear designers, salesmen, marketing staff, and sales associates all have access to the site.
Overall, the company has received very positive feedback.
There are multiple reports of a welcoming, nice, energetic, inviting, and healthy work environment.
Employees mention free classes at the company’s gym as well as support and flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reebok not only cares about the health and fitness of their consumers but also of their staff members.
The company has a health initiative and encourages its workers to partake in healthy meal options.
It has even limited soda, candy, fried foods, pasta, and white bread available in their headquarters’ vending machines and cafeteria.
The company believes that by “practicing what they preach” in their workplace, they can influence their consumers’ healthy habits.
10. Frequent Sales And Discounts
Last but not least, another reason why Reebok is a good brand is that it offers frequent sales and discounts on its products.
In an economy that seems to continuously raise the prices of common goods, this may be the most important aspect that will indicate whether or not a customer will return to a company repeatedly.
Reebok offers monthly and yearly sales that can be shopped on their website and in stores.
However, you don’t need to wait for a monthly sale to benefit.
Customers can take advantage of regular coupons and discounts that are frequently offered on the website.
Additionally, the website occasionally offers flash sales that last for a few hours or days.
These sales and discounts, when paired with the already reasonable prices of the brand, make it convenient when purchasing multiple pairs of shoes.
This is particularly beneficial for families that have multiple young children who frequently outgrow their shoes and clothing.
However, that’s not all the brand offers.
Members receive $10 birthday coupons and early access to new products.
The company also offers easy free shipping and returns.
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