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Muhummad Yunus has already produced one great breakthrough. He transformed the concept of aid by pioneering micro-lending,cheap nike tiny loans as small as $20 to poor villagers, and has lifted many millions out of poverty as a result. He won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition.
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Now he is pressing for a second. This time he’s looking to transform nothing less than capitalism itself. Not in any destructive way: “I am not asking that we sacrifice part of capitalism,” Yunus said during a visit to Australia last week. “I am asking that we add another part.”cheap nfl jerseys

And that is? Its essence, I think. Yunus wants to give capitalism a soul.china nike shoes

That’s not what he calls it. He talks about something he calls the “social business”. It’s a business in every sense, but with two differences – it’s set up to address a social problem, and its investors get back their initial capital but no more. Earnings are reinvested in the business.
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It’s not a charity. It’s not an NGO. Charities and NGOs spend half their time and energy raising funds just to keep running.

The social business starts with all the subscribed capital it should need. And it’s not a Trojan horse for government subsidies. The social business must be self-sustaining. It’s not just a concept. His Grameen group has launched four and he was in Australia to urge many more. So far, his social businesses have all been joint ventures with major corporations. Grameen joined with the French food multinational Danone to found Grameen-Danone in 2006, selling high-nutrition yoghurt to poor kids in Bangladesh for about 10¢ a serve.

Similarly, Grameen-Adidas sells shoes for $1 as a way of preventing all manner of foot disease in Bangladesh. Grameen-Veolia sells affordable drinking water, and BSF-Grameen sells cheap impregnated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

“This is just the beginning,” says Yunus. “Whatever the problem is, you can create a social business to solve it. You have a choice – if there is a problem, you can grumble about it, or you can complain to the government to do something about it, or you can start a social business and deal with it.”

As Yunus wrote in his book Creating a World Without Poverty: “It is tempting to simply dump our world’s social problems into the lap of government and say ‘here, fix this.’ But if this approach were effective, the problems would have been solved long ago.”

Need to create jobs? Want to develop more renewable energy? You can design a social business to do something about it, says Yunus.

“I have just been in Japan where everyone is talking about the problem of suicides, 100 a day. Here everyone talks about the problem of the indigenous people’s life expectancy. Well, you can create a social business to solve it.”

But why would investors put money into a venture that promises to return no more money than they started with?
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Because conventional corporations are an outgrowth of only one aspect of the human being, he argues: “The part they appeal to is selfishness. But humans also have a selfless part, and social business is an expression of that part. The two only make sense together.

“I can make my mark in the world, not just money. At the end of my life, has it been worth living? At the moment, you spend your life stacking up money and goodbye. And that’s it?”

Yunus, dubbed the “banker to the poor” for his micro-lending breakthrough, believes the social business brings material help to the poor countries but also spiritual purpose to the rich.

At the global level, Yunus challenges the single-purpose corporation-led globalisation. There are entire sections of the global economy “that ignore the poor, writing off half the world’s population”, he argues in his book. “Instead, businesses in these sectors focus on selling luxury items to people who don’t need them, because that’s where the biggest profits are.

“I believe in free markets as sources of inspiration and freedom for all, not as architects of decadence for a small elite.”

But while Yunus encourages companies to discover their souls, he doesn’t think that the future of the social business depends on corporate goodwill alone: “Anybody can start a social business. You don’t need a mega corporation. Some retired people have lots of skill and experience and many of them can create a social business.”

Dr Yunus demands to know how parents in the developed countries expect to inspire their children: “In the rich countries, young people wonder what the purpose is. Their parents have made money, the houses are there, the cars are there, all manner of gadgets are there – ’so what should I do with my life?’puma fans
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“You might be a big CEO … But at the moment you sit down to breakfast with your 17-year-old daughter or your 21-year-old son and you have hardly anything to talk to each other about.

“But the moment you start to talk about starting a social business, the moment you ask what social problem you’re going to solve – then, then you are talking about a new world, and you suddenly have something to talk to each other about. Young people are really inspired by this idea.”

That’s certainly true in Australia, according to Cheryl Kernot, the former Australian Democrats leader who these days teaches social entrepreneurship at four business schools across Australia. “All the courses are full, and it’s the students who are driving it,” she says.

Australia already has a nascent social business sector. Prominent is Social Ventures Australia, headed by Michael Traill. He cites the standout example of ABC Goodstart, the new company formed to take over part of the failed ABC Learning childcare business. It will have an annual turnover of $600 million from 678 centres, but it’s designed not to make money but to provide affordable, quality childcare.

And there are others but, overall, Traill describes the size of the genuine social business sector in Australia as “bugger all”, with just a few tens of millions of dollars in funding. And vast potential.

Dr Yunus says that modern capitalism “has squeezed out the spiritual part of ourselves”. The social business is his mechanism to make room to bring it back.

Once a sneaker, forever a sneaker but it won’t remain to be the same old sneaker as time goes by. There are many ways to maintain a shoe line cheap adidas shoeswith original concept and later contain varying new features. Like we always see on hybrid and custom shoes, collaboration makes fame.

Following today’s trend is design firm and creative collective, 10.Deep by approaching Adidas brand. A partnership between the two made it possible for a new Adidas Originals Consortium Stan Smith Mid look. When designing the shoe, 10.Deep was motivated to implement a Grey nubuck base with 3 Stripes logo in a series of perforations on the side panel while a perforation detailing that forms the name 10.Deep appears on the inner side of the shoe which completely spells out when both heels meld.

A 10.Deep label overlaps the Adidas tongue leaf logo while another Adidas x 10.Deep logo appears on the rear. On the inside is a vividly colored insole that reveals a monster’s mouth graphic with 10.DEEP x adidas logo on the heel portion.pumas shoes

This Adidas Originals Consortium Stan Smith chinese kongfuMid x 10.Deep was granted with White rubber sole and Black shoe laces.cheap shoes

A girl was walking down Amsterdam Avenue with an old-school Adidas duffel bag and a big hankering for a soft pretzel. She was wearing a skirtcheap goggles that looked more like a T-shirt. Her glasses were big, clear and plastic; similar to something you’d see a nut-job scientist wear in a movie. The oversized gray hoodie she wore to cover her matted hair had a Yiddish saying scribbled on the back. As it turns out, that girl was me.
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This weekend I went to New York City to visit some friends from abroad. The city always seems better in warm weather. Street vendors are yelling to grab the attention of kebab-seekers, children on leashes shriek with laughter – completely unaware of the towering buildings that shadow them and the amazing outdoor markets that are alive with fresh flowers, fruits and people.
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As I walked down Amsterdam Avenue on this particularly sunny day, I noticed something was very strange. I was completely aware that I looked like crap, but I didn’t seem to care. Was it because I had gotten four hours of sleep? Possibly … but more so than that, I think that I didn’t seem to care because neither did anyone else. And yes, maybe it’s because, as often seems to be the case in NYC, people don’t care who you are or what you’re doing, as long as you don’t bother them or walk too slowly.

It was a strange feeling because I didn’t feel ignored. I felt like people were aware of me, but they simply weren’t judging me. And why should they? I think wholesale gogglesthe lack of judgment, in general, is a product of living in a big city. It seems funny to judge people by what they wear, even the girl who looks as if she woke up on the wrong side of the stable, let alone the bed.
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Riding the subway in NYC is a unique experience that helps destroy one’s impulse to judge someone based on what he or she looks like. The subway is littered with people whose personal style seems to radiate a confidence that, whether you would personally dress that way, creates an inexplicable mutual understanding of respect.
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It’s almost out of a movie because there are so many people constantly flowing in and out of the station, none of whom seem to look even remotely alike. There are people performing in various pee-ridden corners of the station that provide an amazing soundtrack to the somewhat movie-like experience of using the subway system.

With all of those things said, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would not feel comfortable wearing my Amsterdam Avenue outfit in public on the University of Richmond campus. It seems to be a rarity here at Richmond to actually find anyone looking disheveled, let alone sloppily dressed or “gross” (Note: This does not include the weekends between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.).

I distinctly remember being blown away by how many people dressed up for my 8:15 a.m. class freshman year. Hadn’t these people heard of sweatpants? I certainly had, and was well aware of the looks I got for my messy hair and grungy attire.
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You see, I had left my Longchamp bag and Patagonia vest at home. And as distressed as I absolutely was not, I soon began to realize that this campus was judgmental, with regard to material goods and personal style. Furthermore, I began to realize that there was no such thing as personal style. There was simply Richmond Style.

Maybe we need to start considering why we judge others (and trust me, we’re all guilty) based on how they look and conclusively re-evaluate what qualities we find important in others. Because giving people the stink-eye, just because their Tory Burch knock-offs are from Payless, is rude.
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I say screw the knock-offs. I say screw the Tory Burches. You could feed a starving village with the real deal, and as for the fakes, well, I’m not sure if you like bunions, but hey … I’m not judging.

Adidas recently introduced the miCoach customizable training system for runners. By tracking heart rate, distance and pace, all while
cheap shoes/t-shirts offering personalized feedback, Adidas claims that the miCoach can improve runner’s performance.nike shox shoes

In a move to compete with Nike’s Nike+ running system, Adidas includes several essential factors to the miCoach that are not included in the Nike+ system.

The most important function in the miCoach is the heart rate monitor. The heart rate monitor straps to the runners chest, while a small pedometer clips to the runners shoes and monitors pace and distance. Both pieces then send information wirelessly back to a arm-mounted device that gives runners vocal feedback to speed up, slow down or keep a steady pace, all based on personalized goals.

By designing a Web site specifically for the miCoach,brand t-shirts users are able to program goals and review statistics. Runners can access detailed charts and graphs displaying personal statistics by syncing the miCoach with their computers.

Nike’s Nike+ system is similar to Adidas miCoach, however it lacks several key functions. Using a small device that clips to the bottom of compatible Apple iPods and a small insert for specific Nike shoes, Nike+ can track a runners time, distance, pace and calories burned. After the run, runners can sync their iPods and review statistics on a site similar to Adidas miCoach site.

One advantage of Adidas miCoach is its universality. The pedometer can clip to any shoe and the pacer can attach to any MP3 player, while the Nike+ system is only compatible with specific Nike shoes and certain Apple iPods.

While the miCoach promises to improve any runner’s lap time, the price is set at $139.99. Nike’s Nike+ system is more than $100 less at $29.99.

“[miCoach] is all about reaching your next level, whether you want to improve your personal best time, lose weight or want to train for your first marathon,” said Christian DiBenedetto, leader of the Adidas Innovation Team.bwith shoes

Depending on what runners want from a training device, Adidas’ miCoach and Nike’s Nike+ both cater to specific needs.

Portland’s Red Lizard Running Club and the Foot Traffic running store put on a fantastic googi jeansbenefit event for 20 Marshall High School track and field athletes Thursday. Through generous discounts offered by all the major running shoe brands, the proceeds from the Red Lizard Five Miler race were able to pay for new shoes for all members of the Marshall team.

“In the past, proceeds from our race were given to the school that showed up with the most supporters,” Red Lizard Five Miler race director Torrey Lindbo said. “This year, the club wanted to find a way to benefit students who really need the support and might not be able to afford to run a race to raise funds for their school. I think we have come up with a great way to do just that.”

In addition to training shoes, students were also able to help themselves to a pile of spike bags, shirts and spikes, which were generously donated by Nike, Adidas, Mizuno and the Red Lizards. “For the first year of doing this event, I think this event was a huge success,” Footca jeans Traffic owner Sean Rivers said. “We really enjoyed having the students here; they were a great group of kids.”

Sarah Scholl, a Red Lizard member who was on hand to help support the students, said: “I think everyone was so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity. They’re obviously good kids and really trying to do something good for themselves. They all look like they support each other too, which I think is really cool. There were a couple of the guys who were really choked up when I told them to have a good season. … It was more, ‘Yeah, now we can.’ ”

Brian Hansen, the Red Lizard Scholarship Fund coordinator, orchestrated the event. Between coordinating with Marshall High School coach Mollie Starr on logistics, working with Foot Traffic to make sure proceeds from the race would cover shoe costs, coming up cheap adidas shoeswith piles of giveaways for the students, and picking up a stack of pizza so the kids went home with dinner as well as new shoes, Hansen had a busy slate.

“I think that went well,” he said.cheap adidas

The entire Marshall squad wasn’t able to make it out for this event, but Foot Traffic is keeping a roster at its store in Northeast Portland so other athletes can still get their shoes.

Low-cost Chinese shoes that have already flooded the market pose a threat to domestic investment in the footwear sector, said industry china shoes people.
Domestic investment in the sector remains under threat from cheap foreign shoes and apathy from Bangladesh Tariff Commission in formulating tough safeguard measures, they added.nba jerseys

The low-priced Chinese shoes and sandals are available not only at shopping malls across Dhaka, but also on city streets in areas like Farmgate, Gulistan, Jatrabari, Purana Paltan, Motijheel and Dilkusha.light snow
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Of 39 major footwear makers in Bangladesh, 19 are in operation now.The rest are not performing well because of declining local and international orders.
The total number of local footwear makers is close to 200.kids jordans

A pair of Chinese sandals sells at Tk 750-Tk 950 at the shopping malls in Dhaka, while the same quality local product has a price tag of Tk 1,600
-Tk 1,800, said a vendor.
Bata Shoe Company (Bangladesh) Ltd Export Manager Mojibur Rahman said growth in sales of local footwear is declining because of a glut of low-cost Chinese peers.

“It’s sometimes difficult even for leather technologists to identify whether Chinese footwear is made of leather or synthetics,” Rahman said.kappa shoes

The local vendors sell synthetic Chinese footwear, saying that those are made of leather, he said, alleging that the sellers do not pay 100 percent duty to import such low-cost products.
Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) President Saiful Islam suggested the government increase duty on footwear imports to safeguard the local makers. Currently, the import duty on footwear is 35 percent.

The Chinese footwear manufacturers hoodwink customers into buying the shoes claiming those are made of leather, Islam said. “In our country, consumer rights ceciliaprotection laws are weak, and so the customers are cheated easily.”

Abu Taher, an importer and shop-owner at Polwel Shopping Centre in Dhaka, said the low-cost Chinese shoes are made of artificial synthetic fibre although those look like made of leather.

“You can’t even imagine buying an original Puma, Adidas or Nike brand at Tk750-Tk950. But all such brands are available at these prices as the shoes are made of artificial fibre,” he added.

He said the demand for such Chinese shoes is higher compared with other local and original brands — for lower costs.

Bangladesh Tariff Commission Chairman Dr Mujibur Rahman said no individual, business house or association has lodged complaints with the commission until now although everybody knows about it.

“We are now investigating at least 13 duty related cases (of different sectors),” the chairman said, adding that the footwear industry will also come under the radar soon, and the tariff commission will recommend protective measures.
Bangladesh produces over 220 million square feet of rawhide a year, of which 80 percent come during the religious festival of Eid-ul-Azha.

Local tanners have the capacity to process more than 300 million square feet of rawhide a year, but they get only 200 million square feet.

Bangladesh is one of the lowest shoe using countries — per capita usage is at 0.8 pair a year.

Industry insiders said only 10 percent people use leather shoes, but the number is increasing every year.cheap bags The local footwear market size is of more than TK 1,600 crore.
The footwear industry is growing at 32 percent a year, while the leather industry at 20 percent and leather goods at 25 percent.

This adiPURE golf shoe from adidas Golf, featuring green stripes, will be worn by adidasfoot locker Golf staff players at the 2010 Masters. This particular color will not be available to the public, although other versions of the adiPURE line are available at retail for a suggested retail price of $250 per pair at http://love-adidas.com.

Each pair of adiPURE shoes, according to adidas Golf, features a hand-finished full-grain leather, ClimaProof waterproof protection; a FitFOAM polyurethanebrand t sock liner that provides support, cushioning and comfort from heel to toe; THiNTech low-profile technology for improved stability; and a re-engineered Powerband Chasis that wraps up higher on the lateral forefoot and medial heel to secure the foot.

Also, In order to get the golfer’s foot and center of gravity lower, adidas Golf said it they decided to re-engineer the whole system and collaborated with Pride Sports, an industry leader in golf cleat cheap adidas shoestechnology and makers of SoftSpikes. The end result, according to adidas Golf, is a new system called PINS (Performance INsert System), which is 32 percent lower than conventional cleat systemsjordan shoes

cheap brand t-shirtsLooking at the Orlando Magic’s star center Dwight Howard, you can’t help but be taken by his presence. His physique is like someone outhandbags of DC Comics (Kal-El, perhaps?), his athleticism is world-class, and his persona is as visible as someone who wears his or her emotions on the sleeves. Never mind that the uniforms also attract some attention, too, he’s just someone who stands out. cheap eyeglassesThen you may happen to look at his feet as he rises high for a quick dunk, and his shoes are something totally different; they look almost alien in construction and they’re hard to ignore. Like ‘em, love ‘em or hate ‘em, Dwight’s adidas TS Supernatural Commander sneakers are shoes of intrigue, and with my curiosity, I went to put them to the test.wholesale adidas shoes
I  tested the most famous colorway of “Superman II”’s model, his away Commanders, which are prominently black with white and blue accents. I held them and immediately was blown away by them. Mind you, I’ve always respected and liked adidas’ products, but beyond spending my middle and high school years in three stripes running shoes when I ran cross country and track, I hadn’t had much time with Adi Dassler’s claim-to-fame footwear; getting the shoes in the mail, opening the box and then seeing them made me feel good. They’re glossy, pretty, substantial, light and just aesthetically pleasing altogether. As good as they look on No. 12, they look even better up close.cheap kappa shoes

I put them on and the first thing I felt right away was how heavily padded they are, which seemed both unusual and really positive to me. In the age of minimalism in the performance shoe realm, these seemed to bring some substance to the feet without feeling ridiculous like the shoes of 20 years ago. I proceeded to go to work in these running around, making cuts, jumping up, and making all the moves I could so I get comfortable in them and took them to their limits as much as I could and felt comfortable. The break-in was relatively easy and these ended up being legitimate court-friendly sneaks. There are a lot of positive aspects of the TS Supernatural Commander that should be highlighted and I’m not going to let them go unnoticed.

Along with the interior of the Commander being so cushy, but the soft fabric of the lining is almost felt-like in feel. It’s clear that the shoe is geared toward big men, because a lot of complaints from guys in the post is that they often have had a hard time finding shoes that are comfortable, and there’s almost nothing more comfortable than plush lining in a sneaker.

From a cushioning and in-step perspective, the Commander gets another *thumbs up*. From all of my jumping around, cutting and the like, the cushioning was so stable. It was really just right–soft enough to give to my body’s weight, but firm enough to hold its inner stance, and I could tell it was good, just from how my feet felt–they felt rested and not tired, actually. The impact protection was very solid across the entire footbase, particularly in the heel and midfoot. air jordan shoesThe forefoot cushioning isn’t at all bad, but it wasn’t very springy, but that’s a little nagging on my part. The adiprene+ in the forefoot will last, and that’s probably the most important thing; it’s resilient and reliable, due to what I believe is compression-molded dense foam that makes up the midsole. Upon observing the foot for myself, I’ve wondered whether the midsole is dual-density or not, and it’s a mystery that still lingers. There is a quasi-sidewall of EVA foam that sort of cups the heel’s sides, but it seems softer than the lower level of the blue midsole region–these details add to the strength and longevity of the shoe.

The overall transition (ride) of the Commander is really good, too. Because of the Formotion concept of the outsole, which breaks up the traditional solid sole into podular regions of the foot (a la Feet You Wear), foot flex is less tedious. It’s something that’s subtle with the shoe, but when you pay attention, the differences are easy to pick up. Toe flex is so easy and makes even walking seem like a nice idea in the
shoe, let alone running on the court. The pods are so big, but are rounded on the lower perimeter of the shoe, like the edges and balls of your feet are, so you don’t have to sacrifice stability for foot-to-ground coverage when the Commander is in use. One other thing that’s key to the feel of the shoe is how the shoe manages the stress of playing and activity. The Torsion System is barely identifiable in the arch because of the Formotion pods, but is the skeleton for the shoe’s base. It’s visible in the inside (medial) arch of the Commander, but also lines the sneaker above the midsole for additional support, and the whole frame is lightweight enough to keep from interfering with the feel.

This particular adidas shoe is made for active frontcourt and power players, so the aforementioned support also comes in the form of a tough upper. Made up of faux patent leather, weaved textiles and reinforced stitching with a bulky ankle panel, the black/white/blue colorway is sturdily made. The key feature of the shoe are those three large stripes that wrap over the foot bridge; they not only make for an appealing look, but they also have Velcro applique on the lateral and medial side of the shoe for ultra lockdown, which is a nice touch since there the straps are not of the traditional hook-and-loop variety. (In my experience, though I have slender feet, the lining is so full-feeling and plush, I re-strapped the shoe just keep my feet from feeling overly constricted.)cheap air jordans

(Speaking of the ankle panel of the Commander, it’s attached to the lower region of the shoe, which makes it a legitimate high-top. I don’t really want to compare the shoe to the Swoosh, but wearing and studying the shoe reminded me of the Air Jordan 5 Retro+ 3/4 Hi, because of how high the the shoe goes near the top eyelets and how low it dips to the Achilles’ tendon. Also, without that additional ankle component stitched to the shoe, it’s virtually a low-top, [which also reminds me of another classic sneaker that I'll keep to myself] and may add to the good feel of the sneaker.)

Though the TS Supernatural Commander is a very good shoe, it, like all other shoes, isn’t perfect. As much as I did love the cushy feeling of the inner lining, the Commander lack sufficient breathability. I would’ve enjoyed a little ClimaCool action on the bottom of the sneaker, ideally in between the Formotion pods or some medial side perforations, but the shoe doesn’t become so hot that you are egregiously uncomfortable. A remedy for this would be to wear cotton blend socks or perhaps some synthetic moisture-wicking ones (with adidas ClimaLite technology, possibly?).

Another less-than-ideal point of the Commander is not so much of a complete letdown, as it is a matter of relativity; the full Formotion technology is based off of the original Feet You Wear designs (made famous in Kobe Bryant’s rookie shoe–the adidas Top Ten 2000–and Antoine Walker’s rookie shoe–the adidas Top Ten 2010). women shoesThe official Feet You Wear tech employed a more ergonomic design of the foot, in that the balls of the foot that were segmented were actually fully rounded, whereas the Formotion outsole system is flat to the ground. My preference lies in the more rounded Feet You Wear setup, but to its credit, the Formotion’s flat surface does provide a certain familiar, stable feeling that FTW did not.

I’m a swingman when I play ball, so I normally play in shoes that are somewhat sleeker and provide more lateral support to play the perimeter, and so, if you’re a guard/forward like me, you may want to consider something else that won’t compromise your feet leaving the footbed, but overall, the TS Supernatural Commander is a very, very good shoe that will easily last a full season of play and up to a good year, I think (the insole is thick enough to do so, that’s for sure). If nothing else,wholesale adidas shoes the design is avant-garde yet humble enough to wear casually, and it’ll look good on the feet. If you get Dwight Howard’s sneaker, do like him and have a little fun with it.

PITTSBURGH — Amid the Nike swooshes and Adidas three stripes that dominate the N.C.A.A. basketball tournaments, it may be hard to spot the logo of a little-known company that is squeezing its foot in the door of the $4 billion sports-apparel industry.cheap kappa

Crons, which created its name as an acronym from the phrase “Come ready or never start,” is based in Pittsburgh and describes what it sells as “motivational apparel.” It is supplying the uniforms and practice gear for Robert Morris University, which is one of only six teams not wearing Nike or Adidas uniforms.china cheap air jordans

Robert Morris, a small, private university of 5,000 students located just outside Pittsburgh, is seeded 15th in the South Region and plays No. 2 Villanova on Thursday.cheap wholesale

The Colonials are making their second straight appearance in the N.C.A.A. tournament after again winning the Northeast Conference tournament and the automatic bid that went with it.

Crons’s founder and owner is Pat Cavanaugh, 42, who played in the N.C.A.A. tournament three times as a walk-on starter at Pittsburgh in the late 1980s. He points out that Robert Morris’s run of success under Coach Mike Rice coincides with their relationship.cheap nike

“All I know is they’ve been making the tournament wearing our uniforms for the past two years,” Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh may have a hard time proving a direct correlation between new uniforms and a team’s on-court success.

But the surprising thing is that Crons — whose name Cavanaugh came up with 15 years ago — is supplying the uniforms and practice gear at all.

Two years ago, the university went looking to buy new uniforms. It found that the bigger companies were not willing to do much more than give it different-colored models of uniforms they were already providing to larger programs — and wanted to charge Robert Morris about 30 percent more than Crons.

“We get the booklets these other companies produce, and when you look for a new uniform, it’s usually a Syracuse or Kentucky style, and if you choose it, you’re basically wearing their uniform,” Rice said.

It also did not hurt that in the intertwined world of college basketball, Rice had a tie to Cavanaugh. Rice was an assistant coach at Pittsburgh before going to Robert Morris three years ago, and had met Cavanaugh there and seen the line of clothing his company made for local Amateur Athletic Union teams.

So when Rice asked him what he could do for Robert Morris, Cavanaugh offered a custom look that completely revamped the team’s red, white and blue tops and bottoms, and added red, white and blue horizontal stripes down the sides — a look the team’s players instantly liked.

“The guys liked it and people have talked about it, so, yeah, it’s gotten some buzz,” said Rice, who points out that the team still wears Nike sneakers. All but 12 of the other 64 teams in the N.C.A.A. tournament are wearing sneakers from Nike or its Jordan division.

And while it may be only anecdotal, other smaller programs also describe similar situations that demonstrate why companies like Crons — beyond its founder’s kinetic personality — are making inroads with teams that previously would have never considered going with anyone but Nike, Adidas, Russell Athletic or even Under Armour.

“The landscape of uniforms and shoes is changing,” said Ryan Marks, the coach of Texas-Pan American, which last year became Crons’s second Division I basketball client. “Major schools are bound by the shoe contract of whether the coach is a Nike guy or an Adidas guy, and we never were. But schools like ours also don’t get the shoe allotments or discounts we used to on uniforms.”

Rice said, “It’s kind of the haves and have-nots these days, and Crons is taking advantage of that, making quality apparel that’s affordable.”

Both Nike and the universities peg that to the economy. In recent years, as the economy has constricted and budgets have become tighter at smaller places in particular, programs have started to look to save wherever they can. At the same time, companies like Nike are putting more emphasis on larger, more visible programs, while giving fewer free goods and smaller discounts to the smaller guys.

“With the economy, we’re not immune to it like everyone else,” said Kejuan Wilkins, a Nike spokesman.

That is red meat to career salesmen and entrepreneurs like Cavanaugh, who started his first company when he was 21 while he was at Pitt, and has built the Cavanaugh Marketing Network into a $10-million-a-year company.

He created Crons in 1996, and thought initially he would go straight into retail, so he offered his line to Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is based in a Pittsburgh suburb.

“They said: ‘Pat, great product. But come back when you have a track record,’ ” Cavanaugh said.

So, over the last four years, Cavanaugh has ignored retail sales and focused on selling to high schools, athletic organizations, then small colleges, smaller professional teams and now bigger colleges and conferences. Last fall, he secured a contract to provide league gear — though not individual team uniforms — for all of the teams in the Big South conference.

In all, the company has gone from about 20 clients in 2006 to more than 400. It had revenue of more than $2 million last year, which Cavanaugh believes will grow to nearly $8 million this year.

Should Nike ($19 billion in revenue last year) and Adidas ($15 billion) be worried?

“Oh, no,” said Jim Hartford, chief executive of SportSourceOne, which publishes the trade journal SGB Update. “But then, Nike wasn’t worried about Under Armour until it was too late.”