Joe Foster - The Founder of Reebok

Listen to our interview with legend Joe Foster - the founder of Reebok and author of 'Shoemaker'.

Joe Foster - The Founder of Reebok

We talk to Reebok founder Joe Foster about how he created a global sportswear brand from humble beginnings.

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The Sporting Blog Podcast - Interview with Reebok's founder, Joe Foster
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Joe Foster may not be a familiar name to many, but in the world of sports business, he is something of a legend.

He is the founder of Reebok, a name synonymous with sports footwear and iconic brand names such as ‘Pump’ and ‘Classic’.

He has a new book out now, called Shoemaker, which is the story of Reebok and how they came to be where they are today. An amazing story for anyone interested in business, sports marketing and entrepreneurship in general.

It is a remarkable tale and one we very much enjoyed reading.

We had the chance to talk to Joe about the book, his life and times, and also put to him some questions on sport, business and marketing in general.

Reebok promotional leaflet/poster image - header - "we're about to crack open a new market. Fitness."

A fascinating guy, we spoke about:

  • Where Joe got his inspiration from - the scouts, his travels and the desire for a brighter future
  • If you want something, do something about it!
  • His focus on the USA as a market for Reebok in the early days and how he got there
  • The iconic Aztec running shoe
  • Growth into Aerobics and then Tennis - the tipping point of going from growing to huge
  • Marketing and Influencers - why things haven’t really changed, and that moment in 1991 at the NBA Slam Dunk contest
  • What he would do to help make Badminton more popular (his playing passion)

I loved recording this one… a must-listen if you want to be inspired yourself!

Click here to purchase a signed hardback copy of Joe Foster's book.

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We also have some great articles about football and fashion and the role of fashion in sport!