LIDS Inks Agreement With The Ohio State University

INDIANAPOLIS, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group has reached an agreement to acquire the rights to become the official retail partner of Ohio State University Athletics. Included in this licensing agreement are the exclusive rights to operate the official e-commerce shop (shop.ohiostatebuckeyes.com), on-campus retail locations, arena/stadium retail locations and all game-day concessions. The agreement also allows LIDS Sports Group's four Buckeye Corner locations to become official stores of The Ohio State Buckeyes.

This partnership will provide the widest assortment of officially licensed Ohio State University merchandise through all its channels and will cater to Buckeye fans around Columbus and across the country. The Buckeye Corner Club loyalty program will be honored at all locations and online as well.

"Ohio State University Athletics was looking for a true omni-channel partner that could service Buckeye fans online, in-store and at games and events," said Ken Kocher, LIDS Sports Group President. "We are excited to expand our presence in Columbus and share our retail expertise with one of the nation's leading collegiate brands."

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said, "Ohio State is excited to announce this innovative 10-year partnership with LIDS.  This will offer an opportunity for our fans to share in the University experience, both virtually and in a retail presence, to licensed apparel with a name they know."

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, www.lidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

SOURCE LIDS Sports Group