Under Armour Failure

New market opportunities could be a way to push Under Armour forward. Expanding the product service lines by under armour could help them raise sales and increase their portfolio. Expanding into other markets could be a possibility for under armour. Forming strategic alliances and joint ventures is an opportunity for under armour to maximize profit and gain new business. Reduce prices of the products. Increase number of retail outlets.

a. UA uses synthetic, high tech fibers to create unique performance apparel that provides temperature control, comfort, and flexibility to users.

company has been in existence for a little over 15 years and has made huge strides in the textile,

a. Under Armour’s approach towards innovation is very unique, they think and plan out their projects thoroughly in order to create a one of a kind product that could be appealing to their consumers. The company has been extremely progressive throughout the years in order to stay ahead of the other competitive companies in their targeted industry. By constantly updating and coming up with different product lines, such as compression shirts and cleats, Under Armour is able to compete with other top athletic wear company’s in their market. If

Under Armour, an American based apparel company was developed by Kevin Plank in 1995. As team captain on Maryland’s football team, Plank realized that there was a need for performance wear in the world of sport and so the story goes. Plank has developed a multi-billion dollar company in the past two decades with high expectations for the future. Under Amour has signed with some of the greatest of the greats as it relates to the world of sport such as Cam Newton, Steph Curry, Tom Brady and Lindsey Vonn to name a few.

Under Armour’s business strategy towards market segmentation is broken down into three different basis; Age, Gender, Uses. The first major market segmentation is by age, different age groups demand different products and Under Armour has produced certain merchandise to appeal to each generation. The second is Gender, both male and female respectively make up roughly 50% of the market equally.To appeal to females UA produces apparel in brighter colo, as a fashion forward athletic wear. While for males they they cater toward masculine vibe of tight fitting and resistant to wear and tear. Lastly, UA segments by the range of uses for their products.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, Under Armour reports that 35% of net revenue growth to 683 million dollars compared with net revenue of 506 million dollars in 2012, driven by expanded fleece offerings and new ColdGear Infrared products (Under Armour, “2013 Under Armour Annual Report” 2014). The company kept its growth, as indicated in the fifteenth consecutive quarter that increased over-20% (Under Armour, “2013 Under Armour Annual Report” 2014). In the fourth quarter, Under Armour gained a great response from its customer over this quarter, which was presented the strength of Under Armour’s brand name with new products. In the future, the company plan to expand its markets in Asia, Europe, Australia, and Latin America, also expect to increase overall sale in global market from 6% in 2013 to 12% in 2016 (Under Armour, “2013 Under Armour Annual Report” 2014).

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

Consistency tends to be the best assets that Under Armour has to their advantage. According to Plank, he states that the success of a business, "starts with a good product," and he continued to say that after you have a good product, "use front-end hustle with back-end muscle." Due to this consistent product that Under Armour produces, it has obtained a heavy customer loyalty. Sales and revenue speak for themselves. In 1996, Under Armour had revenues of fifty thousand dollars compared to 200 million in 2004.

Since the evolution of the company, Under Armour rapidly expands their business while some internal problems still exist. For example, unprotected intellectual property right issue and supplier relationship management. Also, the current business strategy was focusing on marketing, international expansion, product differentiation, and other expenses while they have weak financial management. These will certainly pose future problems to the company.

The strength of the competitive forces vary among the Under Armour, Nike, and The Adidas Group. The buyer bargaining power of Under Armour, is somewhat weak. Under Armour’s growth strategy entails, “Securing

The rapid success of Under Armour is not a mistake. The company dominates the performance apparel category. According to Founder Kevin Plank, “The mission of Under Armour is to make technically advanced products that are engineered with superior fabric construction, to provide proven innovation available to the masses-aimed at making athletes perform better” (UnderArmour.com). Under Armour uses many marketing initiatives including athlete endorsement, product placement, and popular culture which illustrates the success of Under Armour.

Under Armour is currently one of the leading companies in the sports apparel industry whose mission is to “Make all athletes better through passion, science, and the relentless pursuit of innovation”.1 When Under Armour first broke into the sports apparel industry it was a disruptive pioneer that initially made the two giants, Nike and Adidas, a little weary. Under Armour revolutionized 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. This all-important switch to these materials resulted in a 2“shirt that provided compression and wicked perspiration off your skin rather than absorb it. A

Under Armour 's mission is to have all athletes better with passion, design and innovation.

Nike and Adidas have led the market in the athletic footwear industry but other companies are increasing their market share in the industry. Puma, Skechers, and Under Armour are a few of the companies that are trying to increase their strength in the athletic footwear industry. Each of these companies currently has significant market shares in China and most of Europe. Everyone is looking for the next country to introduce their product. Unlike some of its competitors Under Armour does not have a significant presence in all the BRIC and N11 countries. Egypt and India are two countries that Under Armour should consider expanding into. I will compare the two countries and make a recommendation on which one Under Armour will expand to.