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Tag: Skechers walkathon

  • Skechers Walkathon 2024 unites thousands for fitness and sports growth

    Skechers Walkathon 2024 unites thousands for fitness and sports growth

    Mumbai: On 18 November 2024, Skechers concluded the fifth edition of its highly anticipated ‘Skechers Walkathon’ at Inorbit Mall, Malad, Mumbai. This year’s event brought together thousands of fitness enthusiasts and reinforced Skechers’ dedication to sports advancement by donating a portion of registration proceeds to the GoSports Foundation, supporting young Indian athletes.

    Bollywood star Ananya Panday and football legend Sunil Chhetri joined the event, alongside influencers like actress-veejay Gaelyn Mendonca and content creators Viraj Ghelani and Karan Sonwane. Their presence energised participants and underscored the spirit of community and fitness.

    Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd., CEO, Rahul Vira stated, “The Skechers Walkathon is not just an event; it’s a celebration of health, wellness, and community. This year’s incredible turnout highlights the growing enthusiasm for an active lifestyle. Partnering with GoSports Foundation, we are proud to support young athletes and contribute to the future of Indian sports. This initiative perfectly aligns with our vision of a fitter and more active India.”

    Chhetri shared his experience: “It was truly inspiring to see such a huge turnout of fitness enthusiasts at the Skechers Walkathon. Being part of this event made me feel the incredible energy and passion people have for health and community. Skechers’ promise to encourage the next generation of athletes through initiatives like this is truly commendable, and I am glad to be a part of this journey to make fitness a way of life for more people in India.”

    Panday added, “Joining the Skechers Walkathon this year was a beautiful experience. Seeing people of all ages come together for a day of fitness, fun, and purpose was both uplifting and motivating. Skechers has created a unique platform that not only promotes active lifestyles but also supports emerging athletes, which is something I am proud to be part of. It was a day filled with positivity, community spirit, and a strong sense of togetherness.”

    The event, in collaboration with GoSports Foundation, reaffirms Skechers’ commitment to nurturing India’s sports talent. GoSports Foundation, CEO, Deepthi Bopaiah commented, “Our partnership with Skechers plays a vital role in our mission to empower young athletes. This sustained support ensures that aspiring athletes receive the guidance and resources they need to pursue their dreams on an international stage.”

    The Skechers Walkathon featured three fitness categories: the 10 km-timed walk for seasoned participants, a five km-timed walk for those new to the sport, and a three km fun walk for families. The scenic route around Inorbit Mall included entertainment zones, enhancing the event’s atmosphere. Since its inception, the Skechers Walkathon has engaged an expanding community of fitness enthusiasts, cementing its place as a landmark event for health and community spirit in India, and promoting sportsmanship and empowerment for future athletes.

  • 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.