The Competitive Forces Confronting Under Armour Essay

Companies like Under Armour, Nike and Adidas/Reebok have high threats of substitute´s products. These companies share the sport apparel industry and are vulnerable to competitive pressure from the actions of buyers whenever they view that their products can be substituted for others. The availability of substitutes invites the costumer to compare performance, features, and ease of use as well as price. Under Armour’s major competitors are Nike and Adidas/Reebok because they have a similar or competing product offerings. The top sport apparel brands offer similar products and that is why each one of them needs to keep a high standard and produce good quality products in order for customers to keep buying their product.

The also place a big emphasizes on the Under Armour logo and pushed for brand recognition. Under Armour became the official uniform sponsor for many colleges and sport teams. Under Armour’s strategy was to design and make varies styles of sports apparel with their moisture-wicking fabrics to satisfy the needs of athletes of all levels and all sports. Their growth strategy was to continue to expand on the products they offered their consumers. They wanted to create more products that encompassed several sports and activities. By doing this they would be targeting additional consumers with their new performance products. Part of the growth strategy was to expand sales in foreign countries, become a global competitor in sports apparel and strengthening the appeal of their products and brand

1. How strong are the competitive forces confronting lululemon in the market for performance-based yoga and fitness apparel? Do a five-forces analysis to support your answer.

There is a high threat of substitutes in the athletic gear industry especially when competing with companies such as Nike and Adidas who have been around much longer, have the funds to continuously innovate their products and already hold a large market share. Under Armour has used “authenticity” as it’s guiding principle to grow the company and advertise their products, but if they wish to be the number one brand of athletic gear they will have to appeal to people who are also concerned with the look of the product and not just performance. According to research done by NPD Group, almost 80 percent of activewear is used for non-sports activities. “Under Armour will need to find a

In 1996, Under Armour,Inc. (UA) was founded by Kevin Plank as a former University of Maryland football player. Kevin Plank started his business with the idea of alteration athlete’s T-shirt. The shirt uses moisture-wicking fabrics to keep athletes cool and dry, and worked in a body to regulate temperature for enhancing athlete performance (Under Aumour, “About Under Armour” n.d.). Under Armour’s mission statement is to make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation (Under Aumour, “Brand Mission”n.d.). Under Armour has developed different product for athletes to use in different seasons for men, women, and youth such as HeatGear that is designed to be worn in high temperatures,

At some point in one’s life, he or she gets introduced to sports which have become a staple in society around the world. For example, most countries have a national team for different sports such as soccer, volleyball, and baseball. There are many companies like Addis, Reebok, and Asics that produce sportswear for every sport imaginable. Two of the biggest sportswear companies are Nike and Under Armour. Athletes and non-athletes all over the world use Nike and Under Armour products every day.

Under Armour's mission was '' to make all athletes better through passion, design and relentless pursuit of innovation''.

In today’s athletic market world, being the number one is what many athletes strive for—that is what sets the standards for many sport clothing companies, to deliver products that allow athletes increase their performance while striving to take the number “one” spot. Under Armour works to deliver products that do that and more. Under Armour is currently one of the leading companies in the sports apparel industry whose mission is to “Make all athletes better through passion, design, and the relentless pursuit of innovation” (Under Armour, Inc). Baltimore, Maryland-based Under Armour, founded in 1996 by ex-football player Kevin Plank, who transformed the sports apparel industry by creating apparel that used synthetic materials as an alternative to natural fibers, such as cotton, or other materials, such as polyester. Plank’s mission was to develop a shirt using synthetic materials that handled perspiration most efficiently than was previously expected. Under Armour’s ability to target their products to a wide range of potential clients has enhanced their ability to continue to grow within the athletic marketplace. Under Armour, it is classified as a high-end fitness clothing supplier that appeals to a diverse income audience. This audience has been reached by the outstanding advertising strategies and that include men, women and children. Under Armour currently uses a mixture of pull marketing and different campaigns for its diverse product lines. The overall goal for Under

Under Armour has several large competitors; the largest being Nike, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear. These companies are similar in that they all stress product innovation, advertising and sponsorships. Adidas is broadly focused in all sporting categories but fails to stand out. Columbia is known almost solely by its winter gear, limiting its growth potential and creating strong seasonality trends. Nike strives to be the best in every segment while Under Armour’s goal is to be a leader in each process of its product development, concentrating on quality over quantity. An advantage for Under Armour is that it is focused more on improving its brand and unique products, licensing other items and accessories through independent manufacturers.

When deciding between us and our competitors, when choosing which performance apparel producer you want to invest into, we know the marketplace for performance apparel, footwear and accessories is highly competitive and includes many new competitors as well as increased completion from established companies expanding their production and marketing of performance products (pg. 6, 10k). We believe we have been successful in competing with others for limited retailer floor space because of the relationships we have developed as a direct result of the strong sales of our products. Under Armour is the official sponsor of the National Football League Combine. They are also the official footwear supplier of Major League Baseball (5 Things You Didn’t

Under Armour is a company started by Kevin Plank in 1996 in a basement. The company went public in 2006 raising a total of $153 million as equity. From a small private company to a multi-billion generating organisation, Under Armour had to overcome numerous challenges including financial difficulties and sales growth. The founder started with premium quality sports clothes and today the company specialises in diverse sportswear and apparel. Through the development of new hi-tech gears, Under Armour, Inc. has been able to penetrate and establish itself in the sports apparel market. It is constantly coming up with new products and adopting innovative strategies to meet the growing needs of its customers as well as to stay ahead of its rivals. A brand which was hardly known a decade ago is today worn by elite athletes in virtually every sports – for instance, Michael Phelps, the Rio Olympic gold medallist, promotes the brand.

Under Armour is in the Textile- Apparel Clothing industry, in the consumer goods sector. The market has been driven by economic recovery, new product offerings and a

Under Amour, An athletic apparel company based out of Baltimore, Maryland, had an amazing opportunity to showcase their brand nationally at the 2014 Olympic Speed skating games. McCarthy (2014) explains that Under Armour sponsored the US American speed skating teams and provided them with, what was said to be, the most aerodynamic speed skating skin. However, The US skating

Under Armour is an existing firm that has taken large steps to become a major disrupter in the athletic apparel and footwear market. As this will primarily focus on the footwear segment of this company, it is vital to understand that the entire makeup and beginnings were due to the apparel aspect of their venture.

As shown in Figure 2 of the Appendix, a Porter Five Force Analysis makes it clear that the overall rivalry within the athletic apparel industry is medium to high. Because Nike and Adidas already have a substantial amount of capital resources and other assets, Under Armour struggles against them to gain market share. 8Also, private labels of retailers and newer sports apparel companies could potentially pose a threat to Under Armour, but mostly due to the fact that Under Armour does not hold any fabric or process patents. This makes it extremely easy for any competitor to duplicate a product or process with no consequence. However, the threat of new entrants is not too troublesome within the industry because of the great capital cost required for branding, advertising, and meeting product demand. Furthermore, the sports apparel industry is in the maturity phase of the industry life cycle. This means that each company included in the oligopoly must