Sporting goods retailers Global Sports and G.I. Joe’s set up e-shop

Global Sports Inc., developer and operator of e-commerce sporting goods businesses, and G.I. Joe’s, Inc., a full-line sporting goods and automotive retailer, formed of an e-commerce alliance. Under the agreement, Global Sports will develop and operate the new www.gijoes.com online sporting goods store. The new site is expected to launch this spring.

G.I. Joe`s has operated its own e-commerce web site since May 1997. But, it says, that to generate a better return on investment for e-commerce, and to expand its e-commerce offering, the best course of action was to partner with Global Sports. G.I. Joe`s is one of the 15 largest full-line sporting goods retailers in the U.S., with 2000 sales of approximately $161 million. G.I. Joe`s will also use its 17 retail stores, and its forthcoming locations in Sherwood, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, to increase awareness of the new web site.

Michael G. Rubin, chairman and CEO of Global Sports, said, "This alliance with G.I. Joe`s represents the continuation of our strategy to leverage the brick-and-mortar brand names, marketing power and in-store relationships of the country`s leading sporting goods retailers as we grow our business through the addition of complimentary new partners."