Alpha Factor Gymnastics Unites Competitive and Training Apparel Under One Brand Name

YORK, Pa. – March 22, 2016 – Alpha Factor Gymnastics, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of gymnastics apparel, is integrating the Aerials by Alpha Factor training apparel line with the competitive apparel line under the same brand name: Alpha Factor. With this new structure, gymnasts can now compete and train with confidence. Alpha Factor Gymnastics will continue to share the best products and most reliable service to gymnasts around the globe.

“We are excited to offer competition and training apparel under one brand name,” said Tighe King, CEO, Alpha Factor. “For years, we’ve had the same quality and commitment to service in our training, as well as our competitive, apparel. So, this merger will level the playing field and unite our products. Customers can continue to expect the same great styling, prices, quality and service for both competitive and training apparel.”

King added, “This change is to reinforce the brand name for clearer recognition, which will simplify the purchasing process for all of our customers. It also allows us to further advance the Alpha Factor brand through innovative products and services.”

Alpha Factor was the exclusive designer and manufacturer for Reebok, the official apparel supplier of the 1996 women’s Olympic gymnastics team. This Olympic year marks the twentieth anniversary of the US Gold medal win, and Alpha Factor will be celebrating with its redefined brand leading up to the 2016 summer Olympics, starting with the launch of its new Spring catalogue in March. A newly designed website will debut later in the year, alongside digital media campaigns and promotions.

About Alpha Factor
For over 30 years, Alpha Factor has been one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of gymnastics apparel around the world. With a mission to integrate cutting edge style, superior quality, and reliable service, the brand has been the trusted apparel supplier for Olympic teams, national collegiate teams and gymnasts of all levels. Long recognized for innovative and unique designs, Alpha Factor creates beautiful, custom garments that not only stand out, but also stand the test of time.  To learn more visit www.alphafactor.com 

About Perform Group
Perform Group, LLC® (Perform Group) is proud to be a leader in providing high quality performance apparel primarily for the global markets of dance and gymnastics since 1969. Headquartered in York PA, Perform Group designs, markets and manufactures apparel worn by over a million athletes and performers around the globe each year and its garments have been seen worldwide in high profile events for decades. To learn more visit www.performgroupllc.com

Alpha Factor Named Official Apparel Sponsor of the DTL German Gymnastics team DEUTSCHE TURNLIGA

YORK, Pa. – Alpha Factor®, a division of Perform Group, LLC, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the DTL German Gymnastics team DEUTSCHE TURNLIGA.  Alpha Factor will outfit the team of twenty athletes, including ten male and ten female gymnasts, as well as the coaches for the 2016 and 2017 season.

Athletes and coaches will be wearing Alpha Factor apparel during the National Team Cup competition in Stuttgart, Germany this March, a competition which is considered the official start of the gymnastics season in the country.

This announcement follows Alpha Factor’s February launch of a new Global Gymnastics Collection in Europe.

“We’re proud to be a part of the performances of these twenty athletes and the journeys of their coaches. Alpha Factor is excited to build strong relationships with teams in Germany,” said Tighe King, CEO, Alpha Factor.

Alpha Factor supports the growth of gymnastics across the globe and looks forward to similar partnerships.

About Alpha Factor

For over 30 years, Alpha Factor has been one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of gymnastics apparel around the world. With a mission to integrate cutting edge style, superior quality, and reliable service, Alpha Factor has been the trusted apparel supplier for Olympic teams, national collegiate teams and gymnasts of all levels. Long recognized for innovative and unique designs, Alpha Factor creates beautiful, custom garments that not only stand out, but also stand the test of time.  To learn more visit www.alphafactor.com 

Alpha Factor and Shannon Miller Announce Exclusive Partnership

America’s Most Decorated Gymnast Launching New Fitness and Gymnastics Leotard Line This Fall

YORK, PA -- Alpha Factor, a division of Perform Group, LLC. and Shannon Miller, the most decorated gymnast in United States history, have teamed up to create a new line of gymnastics and fitness apparel. This revolutionary line combines the latest innovation in performance fabrics and construction techniques with cutting edge fashion details.  “It's time for a line of gymnastics and fitness apparel that embodies the strength and endurance we need to compete both on and off the gymnastics floor.  I am thrilled to join Alpha Factor in creating this new line.  We all need apparel that inspires us to move and provides the performance features athletes need to feel confident and dream big," says Shannon about the new collection.

The new Shannon Miller line is sold exclusively through Alpha Factor, and the initial collection will be available for sale at the end of September 2015 in time for the Holiday season.  Line preview and pre-season sales will be taken during National Congress in Indianapolis August 12 – 15, 2015.
“We are so excited to work with Shannon on this new brand. Her experience as an athlete and fitness advocate bring fresh insight and perspective to the Alpha Factor team.  Together we have developed high quality garments that will exceed the expectations of the market.” states Sara Murphy, Director of Marketing and Design at Perform Group, LLC.

The full Shannon Miller Collection is expected to be unveiled at the end of September. It’s Time.

About Alpha Factor
For over 30 years, Alpha Factor has been a leading manufacturer and supplier of gymnastics apparel around the world. With a mission to integrate cutting edge style, superior quality, and reliable fit into every leotard and warm-up, Alpha Factor has been the trusted apparel supplier for Olympic teams, national collegiate teams and gymnasts of all levels. Long recognized for, innovative and unique designs, Alpha Factor creates beautiful, custom garments that not only stand out, but also stand the test of time.  To learn more visit www.alphafactor.com

About Shannon Miller and Shannon Miller Lifestyle
Shannon Miller remains the Most Decorated American Gymnast, male or female, in history with seven Olympic medals (two gold, two silver, and three bronze) and 9 World Championship medals (over half of them gold). After retiring from Olympic competition, Shannon completed her undergraduate degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and received her law degree from Boston College Law School. Now President of Shannon Miller Lifestyle, a company focused on helping women make their health a priority, Shannon continues to inspire and motivate others. In addition to a content-based website and strategic partnerships, Shannon furthers the message of a healthy and fit lifestyle as a professional speaker, author, and host of her weekly health radio show. In addition, Shannon is the President of her foundation dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. Shannon remains involved with the sport of gymnastics through commentary and analysis most recently with Yahoo! Sports. To learn more, visit www.shannonmiller.com.

2016 Competitive Collection - NOW AVAILABLE!

2015-2016 Alpha Factor
Competitive Catalog

The wait is over! Alpha Factor’s 2015/2016 competitive line is now available, and we believe that you’ll be just as excited about it as we are. Dream big, work hard, stay focused, and rest assured that we’ve got your back. When you choose Alpha Factor, you’re choosing to surround yourself with a strong team- people that share a common desire to work together and achieve great results. We believe in you and are committed to your success.

We believe you deserve options, which is why we offer reasonably priced styles to fit every budget. We’ve added new crystal options, expanded our fabric choices, and have redesigned our price list, offering you easy to decipher Standard and Swarovski Crystal options for every style. In addition, we’re excited to announce the return of our high performance men’s special order garments! Look for our Men’s collection, available online soon!

As always, we are committed to shipping on-time, every time, and continue to offer the industry’s quickest ship dates and on-time delivery. At Alpha Factor there are no hidden fees, and we stand behind our promises so that you can stay focused on your team and compete with confidence.

The new catalog is in the mail! In the meantime, view the digital version of the 2015/2016 competitive catalog here, and contact your Relationship Manager today to get started with your order!  If you do not have a Relationship Manager in your area, please contact customer service at 800-825-7428. 

Planning Ahead for Your Summer Camp? Plan on Buying With Confidence!

Spring has arrived and if you’re like many gym owners and coaches you’re starting to gear up for summer. The sun will shine, school will be out and with that comes campers! Whether you’re planning a special week-long team event, thinking about your recreational campers, or just want to offer some new and refreshing styles to your customers, Aerials by Alpha Factor’s Buy With Confidence Program is a risk free, no money down option for you to maximize your profits this summer. You choose the styles you’d like to receive (or your Relationship Manager is more than happy to do it for you), keep the items in your pro-shop for 60 days, and send back any unsold items at the end of your term. It’s as easy as that!

Our 2015 Camp collection will be available the first week of May. In the meantime, check out our styles online and contact your regional Relationship Manager to get started today!

Region 1: Tia Orlando

(714) 887-3552

torlando@alphafactor.com

Region 5: Shelby Prunty

(615) 651-2477

sprunty@alphafactor.com

Region 7: Danielle Blasser

(717) 472-1695

dblasser@alphafactor.com

Region 8: Adrienne Putrow

(706) 224-5914

aputrow@alphafactor.com

If you don’t have a Relationship Manager in your area – don’t worry! Contact customer service today to get started at 800-825-7428!

In addition to giving your pro-shop a boost this summer, Alpha Factor’s Gym ID line is a great way to give summer camp participants customized apparel. Whether its tank tops or leotards, our new glitz options and color choices are sure to be a hit! Look for the 2015/2016 catalog which will be available early May.

A Compelling Vision with Focus on Community, “In the Spotlight” with Discover Gymnastics of Houston, TX

Opened in 1999, Discover Gymnastics currently serves over 2,000 students each week in their 22,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility located in Houston, TX. With classes for children 6 weeks to 18 years of age, Discover offers programs for the beginner gymnast through level 10 competitive, as well as a homeschool program for their competitive athletes. Carly Markesich, the owner of Discover emphasizes that their main focus is to offer a quality experience to all those they serve. Built on a foundation of quality driven organization, each program is designed to enhance the lives of their employees, students, customers, and the community.

The most notable of Discover’s community endeavors is their “Discover Fitness Foundation” or DFF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that awards athletic scholarships to children with special needs, children fighting obesity, and families with financial struggles. The scholarships awarded allow children to experience both recreational and competitive gymnastics, and currently provides over 200 athletes in 7 locations a fulfilling, character building activity they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. In addition to DFF, Discover takes pride in hosting the Texas Classic and the Svetlana Boginskaya Invitational each year.

When asked what sets them apart, Carly emphasized that Discover has the most incredible staff, and by investing in their professional development they are able to provide them with meaningful, engaging work. Discover offers a compelling vision for the future, and everyone involved works towards the common goal of providing quality in everything they do. Space is currently their largest challenge, but they are designing a brand new dream facility, and are looking forward to its opening in 2018!

To learn more about Discover Gymnastics, visit their website at http://www.discovergymnastics.com/.



Photo courtesy of Discover Gymnastics

Merchandising at Your Events: Revenue Without the Risk!

The 2015 competition season is in full swing, and if you’re like many gyms across the country you’re hosting at least one event this year. Don’t overlook the opportunity to offer gymnasts and their families the convenience and value of quality, affordable leotards and apparel, as well as bring in some additional revenue for your gym! Meets are an excellent time to have products available for guests to purchase, and during the down times they’ll appreciate having interesting and innovative items to browse through. Not to mention, smaller gift items can provide an excellent opportunity for friends and family to quickly select a gift as a way to say “great job!” to the gymnast they came to support.

The key to having a successful sale is to not only provide a wide range of attractive items for customers to choose from, but to also display them effectively. It doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or expense to showcase the items you have for sale in an attractive and easy-to-access manner. Consider some of the following “dos and don’ts” we’ve learned over the years:

• Do use inexpensive clothing racks and hangers to make it easy for visitors to see and browse through the items you have for sale. 
• Don’t leave sale or clearance items in a box for visitors to browse through. This requires too much effort for shoppers and it doesn’t showcase items to their full potential.
• Do consider special pricing to encourage purchases: “Buy one item, get the second for ½ off,” or “Buy a leotard and get a free hair twist” are great ways to increase sales.
• Don’t try and cram too much into a space that’s too small! It shouldn’t be difficult for multiple browsers to access the items at the same time. Think about creating a logical traffic flow with ample room for your customers to move and interact with the items you have for sale.
• Do pair items together to maximize your profits. If a leotard has a matching pair of colorful shorts, or a sweatshirt has a matching pair of yoga pants, make sure to showcase both items together for your customers to see.
• Don’t hide the prices! “How much does it cost?” is often a shopper’s first question.
• Do let them try before they buy. Locker rooms and bathrooms can serve as fitting rooms; make sure visitors know where they are and that they’re welcome to use them to check out fit and function.
• Don’t worry that your products won’t sell! Alpha Factor’s “Buy With Confidence” event package program takes the risk out of offering a wide array of merchandise to entice your visitors. If the products you offer don’t sell, simply return them to us at no additional cost, there’s no risk to you! It’s a great way to find out what most appeals to your customers—and to add some additional revenue to your bottom line.

As you gear up and prepare for the 2015 season, make sure to think about the kinds of merchandise you might want to offer at the events you’ll be hosting, and consider our Aerials by Alpha Factor and adidas Gymnastics lines. Both offer stylish, trendy designs, a superior quality and fit, our exclusive 4-way stretch fabrics, and are sure to be a hit at your next event!