January 26, 2010
Easton-Bell buys Talon Lacrosse
by PR Wire Report/
Talon Lacrosse, the California-based equipment company founded by Brown University graduate Doug Appleton and brothers Cort and Blake Kim has been sold to Easton-Bell Sports, a leading manufacturer of sporting goods equipment based in Van Nuys, Calif.
The acquisition led to the development of a new Easton Lacrosse division.
With the acquisition of Talon, Easton intends to incorporate Talon’s products with its own innovative design, materials and technology to gain a foothold in America’s fastest growing field sport. Appleton and the Kim brothers will have strategic roles in the new division, with Appleton serving as general manager.
“We are thrilled to be joining forces with a market leader like Easton,” said Doug Appleton. “There are great synergies here with Talon Lacrosse and Easton’s presence and brand positioning. Both Talon and Easton believe in technical innovation, superb quality and exceeding the expectation of our customers. As Talon becomes fully integrated into the Easton-Bell Sports family in the coming months, we will refine and communicate our product line introduction and go to market strategies to our consumers and retail partners.”
Added Paul Harrington, president and chief executive officer of Easton-Bell Sports. “Talon’s lacrosse product knowledge and passion for the game combined with Easton’s R&D resources and distribution channels provide a solid foundation for Easton’s entrance into a growth market for sporting goods equipment.”
The addition of Easton-Bell into the lacrosse world is not just a sign of the sport's popularity, but also of its growth and the increasingly intense competition among manufacturers and retailers. Sporting goods giants like Reebok and adidas have joined the fray by developing their products, while companies like New Balance have entered the business by acquiring established manufacturers like Warrior and Brine. Talon is one of a growing number of small, design-focused companies that entered the market in recent years — the company was founded in 2005 — and that grew a devoted following among players familiar with the specialized products; industry observers believe that those niche companies, like Talon, could be the springboard for the big companies that are late to the lacrosse game to use in order to gain a foothold and build a business.
Talon has successfully developed and marketed authentic products for player use at all levels, starting with its innovative lacrosse shafts, then moving to the development of heads. The company will now expand into a full line of innovative lacrosse products developed, manufactured and sold under the Easton brand. Easton's new lacrosse division will be located in Scotts Valley, Calif.
