PUMA SE, branded as PUMA, is a German multinational company that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria. The company was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler. In 1924, Rudolf and his brother Adolf Dassler had jointly formed the company Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). The relationship between the two brothers deteriorated until the two agreed to split in 1948, forming two separate entities, Adidas and PUMA. Both companies are currently based in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
PUMA has been a public company since 1986, listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Since 2007 PUMA has been part of French group Kering (formerly known as Pinault-Printemps-Redoute or PPR). Since 1 July 2013, the company has been led by former football professional Bjørn Gulden (CEO).
As of 2016, PUMA SE employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and distributes its products in more than 120 countries.
Following the split from his brother, Rudolf Dassler originally registered the new-established company as Ruda, but later changed the name to PUMA. PUMA's earliest logo consisted of a square and beast jumping through a D, which was registered, along with the company's name, in 1948. PUMA's shoe and clothing designs feature the PUMA logo and the distinctive "Formstrip" which was introduced in 1958.
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Sponsorships
PUMA offers products for Football, Running, Training and Fitness, Golf, Motorsports and LIfestyle. In the past, it sponsored a number of legendary athletes, including Pelé, Eusébio, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Clyde Frazier, Lothar Matthäus, Hristo Stoitchkov, Rudi Völler, Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Linford Christie, Colin Jackson, Heike Drechsler and Michael Schumacher among others.
Currently, international footballers Cesc Fàbregas, Sergio Agüero, Antoine Griezmann, Marco Verratti, Yaya Touré, Olivier Giroud, Gianluigi Buffon, Mario Balotelli and Marco Reus are sporting PUMA football boots.
In terms of football clubs, PUMA sponsors Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund. National football teams Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Uruguay and Olympic Handball Champion Denmark are also endorsed.
In Track & Field, PUMA sponsors the Jamaican, Cuban, and Barbados Athletic Associations. It also has the world's fastest man and Jamaican track athlete Usain Bolt under contract. The firm sponsors Indian cricketer Virat Kohli the captain of the India national team.
In order to support its women's business, PUMA endorses fashion icons Rihanna and Kylie Jenner. In December 2014, Rihanna was also named Creative Director, overseeing direction of the womenswear line in December 2014.
In 2015, Puma has also named the Korean boy group, BTS, as ambassadors of the company. The group has shot several commercials, advertising shoes and clothing for the company.
History
Background
Christoph von Wilhelm Dassler was a worker in a shoe factory, while his wife Pauline ran a small laundry in the Franconian town of Herzogenaurach, 20 km (12.4 mi) from the city of Nuremberg. After leaving school their son, Rudolf Dassler, joined his father at the shoe factory. When he returned from fighting in World War I, Rudolf was trained as a salesman at a porcelain factory, and later in a leather trading business in Nuremberg.
In 1924, Rudolf and his younger brother, Adolf, nicknamed "Adi", founded a shoe factory. They named the new business "Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik" (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) which was the only business at the time that manufactured sports shoes. The pair started their venture in their mother's laundry. At the time, electricity supplies in the town were unreliable, and the brothers sometimes had to use pedal power from a stationary bicycle to run their equipment. In 1927, they moved into a separate building.
The brothers drove from Bavaria to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with a suitcase full of spikes and persuaded United States sprinter Jesse Owens to use them, the first sponsorship for an African American. Owens won four gold medals. Business boomed; the Dasslers were selling 200,000 pairs of shoes annually before World War II.
Both brothers joined the Nazi Party, but Rudolf was slightly closer to the party. A growing rift between the brothers reached a breaking point during a 1943 Allied bomb attack. Adi and his wife climbed into a bomb shelter that Rudolf and his family were already in. "Here are the bloody bastards again," Adi remarked, apparently referring to the Allied war planes, but Rudolf, due to his apparent insecurity, was convinced his brother meant him and his family. When Rudolf was later picked up by American soldiers and accused of being a member of the Waffen SS, he was convinced that his brother had turned him in.
1948
After increasingly different views of how to run the business, the brothers split the business in 1948. Rudolf moved to the other side of the Aurach River to start his own company. Adolf started his own company using a name he formed using his nickname--Adi--and the first three letters of his last name--Das--to establish Adidas. Rudolf created a new firm that he called "Ruda", from "Ru" in Rudolf and "Da" in Dassler. A few months later, Rudolf's company changed its name to PUMA Schuhfabrik Rudolf Dassler in 1948.
PUMA and Adidas entered a fierce and bitter rivalry after the split. The town of Herzogenaurach was divided on the issue, leading to the nickname "the town of bent necks"--people looked down to see which shoes strangers wore.
In 1948, the first football match after World War II, several members of the West German national football team wore PUMA boots, including the scorer of West Germany's first post-war goal, Herbert Burdenski.
1952
Rudolf developed a football boot with screw-in studs, called the "SUPER ATOM" in collaboration with people, such as West Germany's national coach Sepp Herberger.
At the 1952 Summer Olympics, 1500 metres runner Josy Barthel of Luxembourg won PUMA's first Olympic gold in Helsinki, Finland.
1960
At the 1960 Summer Olympics PUMA paid German sprinter Armin Hary to wear PUMAs in the 100 metre sprint final. Hary had worn Adidas before and asked Adolf for payment, but Adidas rejected this request. The German won gold in PUMAs, but then laced up Adidas for the medals ceremony, to the shock of the two Dassler brothers. Hary hoped to cash in from both, but Adi was so enraged he banned the Olympic champion.
1986
PUMA became a public company in 1986, and thereafter was listed on the Börse München and Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
1989
In May 1989, Rudolf's sons Armin and Gerd Dassler agreed to sell their 72 percent stake in PUMA to Swiss business Cosa Liebermann SA.
2003
For the fiscal year 2003, the company had revenue of EUR1.274 billion. PUMA were the commercial sponsors for the 2002 anime series Hungry Heart: Wild Striker, with the jerseys and clothing sporting the PUMA brand. PUMA ranks as one of the top shoe brands with Adidas and Nike.
2007
In February 2007 PUMA reported that its profits had fallen by 26% to EUR32.8 million ($43 million; £22 million) during the final three months of 2006. Most of the decline in profits was due to higher costs linked to its expansion; sales rose by more than a third to EUR480.6 million.
In early April 2007 PUMA's shares rose EUR29.25 per share, or about 10.2%, at EUR315.24 per share.
On 10 April 2007 French retailer and owner of Gucci brand Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) announced that it had bought a 27% stake in PUMA, clearing the way for a full takeover. The deal values PUMA at EUR5.3 billion. PPR said that it would launch a "friendly" takeover for PUMA, worth EUR330 a share, once the acquisition of the smaller stake was completed. The board of PUMA welcomed the move, saying it was fair and in the firm's best interests.
As of July 2007 PPR owns over 60% of PUMA stock.
2011
In July 2011 the company completed a conversion from an Aktiengesellschaft (German public limited company) to a Societas Europaea, the European Union-wide equivalent, changing its name from PUMA AG Rudolf Dassler Sport to PUMA SE. At the same time, Franz Koch replaced the long-serving Jochen Zeitz as the firm's CEO, with Zeitz becoming chairman.
2013
The company has been led by former football professional Bjørn Gulden (CEO) since July 1, 2013.
PUMA is the main producer of enthusiast driving shoes and race suits. They are the primary producer for Formula One and NASCAR clothing. They won the rights to sponsor the 2006 FIFA World Cup champions, the Italian national football team, making and sponsoring the clothing worn by the team. They entered a partnership with BMW, Ducati and Ferrari to make PUMA-Ferrari, PUMA-Ducati and PUMA-BMW shoes. On 15 March 2007 PUMA launched its 2007/2008 line of uniforms for a club, and Brazilian football club Grêmio will be the first to use the laser-sewn technology, similar to that worn by Italy at the 2006 World Cup, because their season starts six months earlier than European clubs.
2014
Rihanna was named Creative Director of PUMA overseeing direction of the womenswear line in December 2014. PUMA and Arsenal Football Club entered into a long-term global partnership. As of 2014, PUMA SE employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and distributes its products in more than 120 countries.
Special editions of King football boots
In 2008, PUMA commemorated the 40th anniversary of the "King" model of boots with a special anniversary edition, the King XL (XL is 40 in Roman Numerals), a tribute to Portuguese footballer Eusébio, who scored 42 goals with King boots in 1968, winning the Golden Boot Award as Europe's leading scorer. PUMA has continued to release new versions of the King range, and released a version in 2009 to celebrate the history of Italian soccer, and in particular the PUMA King XL Italia, in honour of double World Cup winning coach Vittorio Pozzo.
In 2010, a PUMA King model was released commemorating the 50th birthday of Diego Maradona, with a model called the PUMA King Diego Finale football boot. This edition was created in the colours of La Albiceleste, the Argentina National football team.
Employment practices
Organizations that were promoting fair trade and worker's rights did not criticize PUMA's employment practices in their developing world factories, predominantly relating to workers in China, Turkey, El Salvador, and Indonesia.
The company has made some steps towards greater transparency. In 2000 PUMA began auditing all of its suppliers on a yearly basis, and makes the results available in its sustainability reports. Since 2005 it has publicly provided a list of its suppliers.
PUMA has made a strong commitment to respecting workers rights in some areas. For example, PUMA has obtained the Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation for its Australian-made products. This labour-friendly accreditation applies to only a tiny percentage of PUMA's total production.
Environmental practices
In May 2011, The Guardian released an article saying that PUMA was "world's first major company to put a value on its environmental impact". According to the article the company "has made a commitment that within four years, half its international collections will be manufactured according to its internal sustainability standard, by using more sustainable materials such as recycled polyester, as well as ensuring its suppliers develop more sustainable materials and products."
Timeline
- 1920: Rudolf Dassler and his brother Adolf start making sports shoes.
- 1924: Foundation of Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, Herzogenaurach, Germany.
- 1948: After increasingly different views of how to run the business, the brothers split in 1948. Rudolf moved to the other side of the Aurach River to start his own company. Adolf started his own company using a name he formed using his nickname--Adi--and the first three letters of his last name--Das--to establish Adidas. Rudolf created a new firm that he called "Ruda", from "Ru" in Rudolf and "Da" in Dassler. A few months later, Rudolf's company changed its name to PUMA Schuhfabrik Rudolf Dassler. In the same year, PUMA's first football boot, the "ATOM", was launched.
PUMA and Adidas entered a fierce and bitter rivalry after the split. The town of Herzogenaurach was divided on the issue, leading to the nickname "the town of bent necks"--people looked down to see which shoes strangers wore. Even the town's two football clubs were divided: ASV Herzogenaurach club supported Adidas, while 1 FC Herzogenaurach endorsed Rudolf's footwear. When handymen were called to Rudolf's home, they would deliberately wear Adidas shoes. Rudolf would tell them to go to the basement and pick out a pair of free PUMAs. The two brothers never officially reconciled.
- 1949: Rudolf Dassler has the idea of football shoes with removable studs. He begins working on their development and production.
- 1952: Rudolf Dassler developed the "SUPER ATOM", a football boot with screw-in studs.
- 1953: Development of ATOM's successor: the BRASIL.
- 1958: PUMA introduced its trademark formstrip logo.
- 1959: The company is transformed into a limited partnership named PUMA-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler KG.
- 1960: PUMA is the first sports shoe manufacturer to use vulcanization.
- 1970: A few months prior to the 1970 FIFA World Cup, Armin Dassler (Rudolf's son) and his cousin, Horst Dassler (Adi's son), sealed an agreement which was dubbed "The Pelé pact". This agreement dictated that soccer player Pelé would be out of bounds for both Adidas and PUMA. However, Pelé complied with a request by PUMA's representative Hans Henningsen to increase the awareness and profile of PUMA after he received $120,000 to wear the Formstrips. At the opening whistle of a 1970 World Cup finals match, Pelé stopped the referee with a last-second request to tie his shoelaces before kneeling down to give millions of television viewers a close-up of his PUMA shoes. This outraged Horst, and future peace agreements were called off.
- 1972: Two years later, during the 1972 Summer Olympics, PUMA provided shoes for the Ugandan 400 metres hurdles champion, John Akii-Bua. After Akii-Bua was forced out of Uganda by its military government, PUMA employed him in Germany. Eventually Akii-Bua returned to Uganda.
- 1974: Rudolf Dassler died on October 27. Both his sons Armin and Gerd inherited the company and after a legal dispute between the two, Armin Dassler took over the company.
- 1976: Introduction of the S.P.A.-Technology.
- 1985: Boris Becker helps develop the shoe that bears his name. Martina Navrátilová is under contract with PUMA from 1984 to 1987.
- 1986: Transformation into a stock corporation. The company went public as "PUMA AG" was listed on the Munich and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
- 1989: Launch of the TRINOMIC sport shoe system.
- 1989: Rudolf's sons Armin and Gerd Dassler agreed to sell their 72 percent stake in PUMA to Swiss business Cosa Liebermann SA.
- 1990: Introduction of INSPECTOR, a growth control system for children's shoes.
- 1991: Launch of the DISC SYSTEM sports shoe.
- 1992: Capital increase by DM 20 million, share capital reaches DM 70 million.
- 1993: Jochen Zeitz was appointed CEO.
- 1994: The first profit since the company's IPO in 1986 is registered.
- 1996: PUMA is listed in the German M-DAX index; introduction of the CELL technology, the first foam-free midsole.
- 1997: Launch of the CELLERATOR.
- 1998: PUMA signs Serena Williams.
- 1999: PUMA becomes an official on-field supplier of the NFL, a legacy reflected in the numeral font of the Tennessee Titans jersey which still uses the original PUMA design. PUMA is the uniform manufacturer for both Super Bowl teams that year.
- 2000: Production of fireproof footwear in partnership with Porsche and Sparco.
- 2001: Acquisition of the Scandinavian Tretorn Group. The PUMA Speedcat is launched.
- 2002: PUMA ends tenure as an on-field supplier for the NFL, when Reebok is announced as the league's sole official uniform and apparel sponsor for 10 years (2002-2011). PUMA and Serena Williams unveiled the "Serena Williams Tennis Collection".
- 2003: Majority shareholder Monarchy/Regency sells its shareholdings to a broad base of institutional investors.
- 2004: Collaborative partnership with designer Philippe Starck.
- 2005: Mayfair Vermögensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbh acquires a total of 16.91% shareholding.
- 2006: The company is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index; Introduction of the S.A.F.E. concept, a specific tool developed to continuously improve social and environmental standards. Shoe collection in cooperation with Alexander McQueen.
- 2007: On 10 April, French retailer and owner of Gucci brand Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) announced that it had bought a 27% stake in PUMA, clearing the way for a full takeover. The deal valued PUMA at EUR5.3 billion. PPR said that it would launch a "friendly" takeover for PUMA, worth EUR330 a share, once the acquisition of the smaller stake was completed. The board of PUMA welcomed the move, saying it was fair and in the firm's best interests. Prolongation of the contract with Jochen Zeitz by five years.
- 2008: Melody Harris-Jensbach is appointed Deputy CEO; Designer and artist Hussein Chalayan becomes Creative Director, PUMA also acquires a majority stake in Chalayan's business and Hussein Chalayan.
- 2010: PUMA acquired the Cobra Golf, which was renamed as COBRA PUMA GOLF. PUMA became a carbon neutral company.
- 2011 PUMA becomes a European corporation under the name of PUMA SE. Franz Koch is named Chief Executive Officer. PUMA took over Bodywear and Socks company Dobotex. The company released the first Environmental Profit and Loss Account which valued PUMA's environmental impact at 145 million Euros.
- 2012: Signs an eight-year deal to make kits for Borussia Dortmund, starting from the 2012-13 season.
- 2013: Bjørn Gulden is named as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
- 2014: PUMA and Arsenal Football Club entered a long-term merchandising partnership. The commercial partnership represents the biggest deal in PUMA and Arsenal's history.
- 2015: Rihanna became PUMA's global ambassador for Women's Training as well as serving as the PUMA Women's Creative Director. As Women's Creative Director, she also directly influences product collections, designs and customizes classic PUMA styles as well as creates new product lines.
- 2016: PUMA became the Official Licensed Partner and Official Supplier of Team and Racewear to Red Bull Racing. PUMA partnered with The Weeknd as a new Global Brand ambassador and creative collaborator.
- 2016: PUMA endores it's casual wear deal with Virat Kohli as a new Cricket Brand ambassador and creative collaborator in india of worth Rs.110 crores.
- 2017: Puma released sneakers known as "Money in the Bank", in relation to WWE's annual pay-per view, of the same name.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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