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Tag: Rahul Vira

  • Skechers signs Yastika Bhatia as its new India brand ambassador

    Skechers signs Yastika Bhatia as its new India brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Skechers, the comfort technology company, has announced Indian cricketer Yastika Bhatia as its newest brand ambassador for the performance category in India. Bhatia is the first female player to join Skechers for cricket boots, following Ishan Kishan’s addition to the team earlier this year. The boots will launch on 30 September, and Bhatia will also feature in marketing campaigns for Skechers performance and lifestyle collections, aiming to expand the brand’s presence in India’s sportswear market.

    Bhatia, a rising star in the Indian women’s national cricket team and a member of the Mumbai Indians Women’s team, debuted for the Indian women’s team in September 2021 against Australia. Known for her left-handed batting and effective wicket-keeping, she has played in various formats, including One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals. Her performance under pressure and contributions with both batting and wicket-keeping have made her a valuable asset to the team.

    Skechers Asia Pvt Ltd CEO Rahul Vira said, “We believe supporting women’s cricket is both important and essential – both as a company that cares about the sport and one that wants to build its presence in India. Yastika Bhatia is the perfect talent to add to the Skechers roster. Yastika’s partnership with Skechers is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to being a leading sportswear brand in India. As we continue to invest in and support the development of sports in the country, Yastika’s talent, dedication, and positive attitude aligns perfectly with Skechers and our ongoing mission to partner with dynamic and inspiring athletes who embody the spirit of perseverance and excellence. We believe her energy and dedication to the sport mirror our brand’s values, and together, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sportswear.”

    Indian cricketer Yastika Bhatia added, “I’m thrilled to be on board with Skechers! For the past six months, I’ve been training and playing in Skechers Cricket shoes, and the performance and comfort that the shoes provide has been incredible. They’re truly a game-changer when it comes to footwear. Skechers’ dedication to athletes is something I deeply admire, and I’m looking forward to representing a brand that’s committed to innovation in sportswear. This collaboration feels like a natural fit, and I’m eager to see where this journey takes us.”

    Bhatia joins a notable group of athletes wearing Skechers, including Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri, cricketer Ishan Kishan, and global stars such as footballers Harry Kane, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohammed Kudus, and Anthony Elanga; basketball players Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Terance Mann, and Rickea Jackson; MLB players Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Nola, and Brendan Donovan; golfers Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooke Henderson; and pickleball pros Tyson McGuffin and Catherine Parenteau. This diverse roster highlights Skechers’ broad appeal and commitment to performance across sports.

    This partnership marks another milestone for Skechers India as it continues to innovate and redefine the brand’s portfolio for sports in the country.

    Skechers cricket boots will be available for purchase starting on 30 September, along with the latest Skechers performance and lifestyle footwear for men and women available now at Skechers.in, as well as Skechers retail stores throughout India.

  • Skechers named official sports footwear partner of the Indian Olympic Association for Hangzhou Asian Games

    Skechers named official sports footwear partner of the Indian Olympic Association for Hangzhou Asian Games

    Mumbai: Skechers, the comfort technology company, announced its association with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the ‘Official Sports Footwear Partner of Indian Olympic Association for the Hangzhou Asian Games’. This partnership underscores Skechers’ unwavering dedication to supporting athletes and promoting a culture of excellence in sports. The Asian Games that will be held at Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October, are a celebration of the pinnacle of sporting prowess across the continent. As the official sports footwear partner, Skechers plays a pivotal role in empowering the Indian contingent with its innovative footwear that offers comfort and performance to all levels of athletes.

    Skechers gave the athletes specially designed branded kits and provided Skechers Performance footwear to 10 specially chosen athletes as a sign of the company’s dedication to athlete comfort and performance for the Hangzhou Asian Games. The athletes received these kits at a formal send-off ceremony, which concluded earlier today.

    Skechers Asia Pvt. Ltd. CEO Rahul Vira expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are honored to partner with the Indian Olympic Association for the Hangzhou Asian Games. At Skechers, we are committed to supporting elite athletes and enthusiasts with innovative products that help them reach for their best, and this collaboration was a natural extension of that commitment. We look forward to supporting Team India on their journey to excellence.”

    This association exemplified Skechers’ dedication to sports, highlighting the commitment to both the community and sports in India. As the excitement builds towards the Hangzhou Asian Games, Skechers is set to contribute to the success of Team India and celebrate the indomitable spirit of its athletes.

  • Skechers India names Kriti Sanon as its new brand ambassador

    Skechers India names Kriti Sanon as its new brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Skechers, a lifestyle footwear brand, on Monday announced actress Kriti Sanon as a new brand ambassador for Skechers India. Sanon will be the face of the fashion and lifestyle categories for the brand and appear in the upcoming Skechers Street campaign—the brand’s trendy line of streetwear sneakers.

    Commenting on this association, Skechers South Asia CEO Rahul Vira said, “Skechers began operating in India citing a huge potential in the footwear market ten years ago. Sanon is a fashion icon for young consumers, and her influence, paired with Skechers’ aim to increase awareness about fashion without compromising on comfort, makes this association organic and effortless. With Sanon being the face of Skechers for the fashion and lifestyle category, we aim to widen our brand appeal and increase our reach throughout India.”

    Speaking on her new partnership with Skechers, Sanon added, “Fashion, comfort, and fitness go hand in hand for me. My sense of style is an extension of my personality, and as a big sneaker enthusiast, I am really thrilled to be associated with Skechers, a brand that I genuinely love. I am all set to start this exciting journey with Skechers, and I can’t wait to share the cool campaign with all of my fans.”

    Launched in 2012 in India, Skechers offers a wide range of its 3,000 footwear styles to men, women, and children across the country, along with apparel and accessories. Skechers’ products are available at retail outlets nationwide, including more than 350 Skechers stores, and online at Skechers.in.

  • We don’t believe in online discounts: Skechers South Asia CEO

    We don’t believe in online discounts: Skechers South Asia CEO

    MUMBAI: Marathons are passé! Walkathons seem to be the new sought after activity for every health and fitness enthusiast.

    Riding on the walkathon wave, Skechers, an American performance and lifestyle footwear brand has announced its first edition of Skechers Performance Mumbai Walkathon.

    The walkathon initiated/organised by Skechers India will take place on 7 October 2018 which also happens to be the World Walking Day. The motive behind initiating the walkathon is to educate people about the benefits of walking.

    Skechers chief executive officer for South Asia Rahul Vira says, “Our dedication has always been to the enthusiasts of all levels, ranging from beginners in the sport to the elite athletes. Walking one mile a day can burn up to 100 calories. Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. By bringing in a wide range of walking shoes we want to inspire people and invoke the need to be on the move and stay fit, through which people would experience walking from a different perspective altogether.”

    Interestingly, Skechers also has a dedicated category for walking shoes and Vira thinks it’s a perfect synergy with Walkathon. “I wonder why nobody thought of doing it earlier where people would come together to just walk! Skechers has been the brand that created walking as a category and it just made perfect sense to align it with walkathon,” he said.

    The sports company does not want to partner with any other brand or association for its walkathon and wants to rather do it all by itself.

    Every brand needs a face in today’s day and age but the sports company does not believe in going through the same route. Although international singer Camila Cabello is Skechers’ global brand ambassador, the company is not looking at having an India brand ambassador anytime soon.

    “We don’t have a set target audience and want to target everyone from the age of 5 to 65. Anyone who wants to buy a comfortable shoe or apparel is our consumer,” said Vira. “Initially when we entered the market, we were heavily present in the west but now have a presence across north, south and even mini metros and rural.”

    Online  is the go-to medium for every marketer out there as it helps a brand in reaching a mass audience and increases its distribution and sale. People love to shop online as it allows them to go through a large portfolio of products, saves them time and they get deals and discounts on the products.

    However, it’s rare that you will find Skechers products on discount online. A pair of shoes that you buy online and offline will always cost you the same. Why is that you ask? Simply because the company does not believe in the online model and wants to keep out of the discounting game. Vira says, “Our presence online was limited but since we’ve made our terms clear about not wanting to discount, we have increased our presence online. That is because we don’t want price to be a deciding factor for consumers. We haven’t gone all out on e-commerce because it’s driven more towards discounting and we don’t want to do that.”

    Skechers in India faces stiff competition from international giants Nike and Adidas that are amongst the top two brands in India followed by Puma and Reebok which are lower priced. Priced at a mid-premium range, Skechers may find it difficult to carve a niche for itself. Recently D:fy was launched in India with its mid-premium range of products. But with the increasing competition and entry of newer players in the market, it sure is an interesting space to watch out for.

  • Skechers GoRun 5 associates with Tiger Shroff

    Skechers GoRun 5 associates with Tiger Shroff

    MUMBAI: Skechers Performance, an American sports lifestyle brand, recently introduced the latest version of their popular GoRun range called the GoRun 5.

    To highlight the benefits of the product, popular actor Tiger Shroff, took the Skechers Performance GoRun 5 Challenge last Friday. The actor tried to run at the speed of 16 kmph on a treadmill wearing the shoes that were designed for speed with innovative performance technologies.

    Shroff beamed said, “I enjoyed running in these shoe, they were very comfortable.”

    Skechers Performance India CEO Rahul Vira said, “The GoRun series comes with lightweight cushioning, the M-Strike technology and a parametric web outsole for better flexibility, agility and durability during a run.”

    The GoRun 5 challenge has been thrown open to all. A branded truck will be moving across the nine other cities apart from Mumbai. Consumers from Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Goa can take up the challenge.