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.

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! 

About Me: Danielle Blasser - Region 7 Relationship Manager

Danielle Blasser
Alpha Factor Relationship Manager
Region 7

I can remember everything about the night I fell in love with gymnastics. I was sitting on the floor in my parents’ TV room with my eyes glued to the television. The Magnificent Seven were marching in. Dominique Moceanu became my idol in a matter of seconds. Watching her was like watching a version of myself I didn’t know existed yet. I immediately screamed to my mother “I WANT TO DO THAT.” My parents hesitated to put me in yet another sport as I hated soccer and swimming after the first few practices. They finally got sick of me flipping over the arms of the couches and using them as my own personal vault, and they signed me up at Gymnastics of York. I quickly blazed through the classes and made it onto team level. After competing for a few years I knew that if I wanted to excel at gymnastics, I needed to switch gyms. I transferred to Prestige Gymnastics in Lancaster, PA, and immediately knew it was home. I loved the coaches and my teammates; they really pushed me to be the best version of myself that I could be. Unfortunately, while I was in high school, I broke my tailbone after falling off beam (or, should I say, directly onto the beam). It took me almost nine months to fully heal and recover, and by that time, I had lost a lot of my strength and skills. I bawled my eyes out the day I knew that was the end of the road for me. I always had hopes of following in my older teammates’ footsteps and becoming a college gymnast. I played other sports in high school, but my heart never forgot its first love. I decided to join Penn State’s Club College team while I attended school there, so I did eventually fulfill my dream somewhat.

I always loved gymnastics because I felt like I could get away from the world and just do what made me happy. No matter what kind of day I was having, my floor music would start and I could get lost in the dance and tumbling and forget about all my problems. Gymnastics gave me the confidence and tough skin I needed later in life. I loved all of the relationships that the world of gymnastics brought me. I still hold tightly to those relationships today.

Working for Alpha Factor has allowed me to bring my childhood love of gymnastics into my adult career path. My goal as a Relationship Manager is to partner with gyms and help them feel and look their best. Growing up in the same town as the corporate office and manufacturing plant, I always wore Alpha Factor. I knew that part of my confidence out on the floor was due to the amazing look that I had from our warm ups and our leotards. I hope to give gyms the same type of confidence that I had when I was young.

I am excited for this season and look forward to working with you!
-Danielle Blasser

You can contact Danielle via email at dblasser@performgroupllc.com.

About Me: Shelby Prunty - Region 5 Relationship Manager

Shelby Prunty
Alpha Factor Relationship Manager
Region 5

Gymnastics has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember.  I am excited to be able to continue using my gymnastics expertise while working for such a great company. Joining the Alpha Factor family in January 2014 has been a true blessing and I am very thankful to be a part of a company that matches my love and passion for the sport.

When I stepped foot into my very first gymnastics class in 1995, I had no idea that my life path was beginning to take shape at such a young age. Gymnastics immediately became a part of me, and a few years later, it defined me. After many years of training, friendships, and memories, I was blessed to be able to earn a gymnastics scholarship to Louisiana State University. My years at LSU are a time in my life that I will remember forever.  Unfortunately, I was forced to retire following my junior year due to several unfortunate injuries and surgeries. For many gymnasts, early retirement causes a lot of emotional pain, resulting in complete removal from the sport.  However, that was not the case for me, I took on the role of team manager my senior year and remained a part of my team.  To this day, I still cherish gymnastics as much as I did the day that I fell in love with the sport. It will forever hold a home in my heart.

I graduated from LSU in May of 2013 and for the first time in my life I felt a sense of freedom that I had never felt before.  I didn’t have to wake up for morning weights at 5am.  I didn’t have a class to race to right after practice when I was sweaty and exhausted.  For the first time in my life I was free to do what I wanted.  My sister had just moved to Nashville, TN and needed a roommate.  I thought to myself, there will never be a better time than now.  So I packed up my car, floor to ceiling, and drove 9 hours to a foreign city to start a new chapter of my life.  Although my days no longer revolved around the sport of gymnastics, I was able to appreciate the determination, self-confidence and relentless need to succeed that gymnastics provided me with and apply them to my future.  

   

Gymnastics has made me the person I am today and I can’t picture my life without it.  It has taught me many lessons; including commitment, responsibility, and teamwork.  I have gratefully been able to take those lessons and transition into my role at Alpha Factor.  As your Relationship Manager, my goal is to use my love and passion for gymnastics to connect with you and your team.  I want to help make your team’s vision come to life so they can feel confident while they compete.  

I can't wait for the opportunity to work with you!

-Shelby Prunty

You can contact Shelby via email at sprunty@alphafactor.com. 

About Me: Samantha Engle - Region 3 Alpha Factor Relationship Manager

Samantha Engle
Alpha Factor Relationship Manager
Region 3

I have been involved with the sport of gymnastics since before I was born.  My mother was a gymnast, a gymnastics coach, and has been judging the sport for over 25 years.  Gymnastics is the only sports I have ever done.  The sport is in my blood and it is a true passion of mine.  I started competing at the age of 6 at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano, TX, home of two Olympic champions, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin.  I had lost my love of the sport around the age of 14, and made the difficult decision to leave my current gym to join a new club.  This decision turned out to be the best decision of my club gymnastics career.  My new coaches helped me find my love for the sport.  My gymnastics improved, my confidence grew, and soon I was on my way up the level 10 USAG ladder.  In 2005 I became the Junior D All-Around and Beam national champion.  It was at that moment that I realized just how far I had come in my sport.  Shortly after my victory in 2005, I began to receive recruiting letters from NCAA colleges.  After speaking with over 20 colleges I accepted a full athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University.  I competed my full four years with LSU (2008-2011).  During this time, our team qualified to two Super Six Championships and I achieved All-American status on the uneven bars.

Like stated earlier, gymnastics is my passion.  Gymnastics taught me confidence, strength, time management, and responsibility…just to name a few!  The sport has brought me to life time mentors and friends.  Every influential person in my life as come from this sport.  Gymnastics is an extremely tight-knit community and I feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful sport.

Alpha Factor has allowed me to stay involved with the sport I love.  I not only work with the best staff and the most supportive company, but I get to work with the most amazing and loyal customers of any industry!  Many of my customers are those I have known from my previous gymnastics career including teammates and coaches.  My goal as an Alpha Factor Relationship Manager is to reach out to as many gyms as I can and help them look and feel their best.  A gymnast can perform well in any leotard, but a gymnast will perform her best when she is feeling her best!  I strive to have each customer feeling confident going into every competition and give them that extra boost of confidence before each competition. 

I can't wait to help outfit your team!
-Sam Engle

You can contact Sam via email at sengle@alphafactor.com.

The New Alpha Factor®

We are so excited to announce that our new 2015 Competitive Catalog is now available! This season, we’re

2014-2015
Competitive Catalog

feeling more confident than ever. You can still expect the same honesty, integrity and confidence you are used to, but we are introducing some exciting new features for the 2014-2015 season that we think you’re going to love.

Our new, exclusive performance lace is a glamorous, sophisticated fabric for the most refined gymnasts and will be a showstopper on the floor! Lace is available in 4 colors and offered on 14 stunning styles. Additionally, we now have a sparkle mystique fabric that will keep all eyes on you.

We are so excited that our Platinum Collection now features sparkling Swarovski crystals for ultimate brilliance. Our basics, are anything but basic! These styles can now be embellished with 25 new, exclusive glitz options, available in a variety of colors.

Alpha Factor is proud to be the official distributor of adidas® gymnastics in the U.S.A. and Canada. We’re delighted to now offer adidas Men’s in our new catalog. adidas men’s newest jerseys contain the highest-performing climalite mesh fabrics. The ultra-thin, super lightweight and breathable fabric pulls sweat away from the skin to the outer fabric surface for quick evaporation, thus enhancing the body’s natural temperature regulation.

Need a leotard or warm-up fast? Our Quick Ship® line has expanded to offer a large variety of styles in a variety of colors to fit any team’s apparel needs.  

For over 30 years, teams worldwide have been putting their trust in Alpha Factor to provide great fitting, quality gymnastics apparel, exceptional customer service, and the reliability of on-time delivery. Our commitment to our customers is enhanced by our growing Relationship Manager team who are excited to provide our customers with the level of service they deserve!

It’s time for a change. Discover your confidence with Alpha Factor. Browse our new 2015 Competitive Catalog.