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Mission & Vision
To become the industry’s leading manufacturer and marketer of sports and entertainment licensed sporting goods, fan-based collectibles and outdoor games.
K2LP, a division of K2 Inc. (NYSE: KTO) is an entrepreneurial organization committed to relentless innovation, superior design and quality supported by a nimble operation and responsive customer service capable of capturing opportunities at a moments notice.
Company History
Originally founded in 1986 as Fotoball USA, the company first introduced collectible soccer balls featuring player photos of the World Cup in Mexico City. Further refinement of the manufacturing process and the potential product applications evolved and in the early 90’s Fotoball secured a license with Major League Baseball Properties and the Major League Players Association to produce souvenir baseballs featured team logos and player photos.
One of the defining elements of the company’s early years was the ability to service hot market championship moments at retail. Modeled after the embroidery and silkscreen operations of the championship t-shirts and hat suppliers, Fotoball developed a domestic pad-print operation that enabled the company to enter the hot market business as a hard goods supplier. This point of differentiation created a buzz about the company and became the primary lever in developing a broad based year-round business with major retailers in almost every channel of traditional sporting goods distribution.
Since those early beginnings the company has continued to expand its licenses in both sports and entertainment building an expansive product line of licensed sporting goods and collectibles. Today the company has licenses with Major League Baseball Properties, Major League Baseball Players Association, the National Football League, NFL Players Inc., over 300 NCAA colleges and universities, Warner Brothers for “Scooby Doo”, “Batman” and “Superman”, Nickelodeon for “Blue’s Clues,” “SpongeBob Squarepants” and “Dora the Explorer,” and Marvel for “Spider-Man,” “Incredible Hulk,” and “X-Men”.
In January 2004, Fotoball USA was acquired by K2 Inc., an industry leading, billion dollar sporting goods equipment supplier. Following the acquisition, Fotoball changed the company identity to K2 Licensed Products (K2LP) to reflect the division’s role in expanding K2’s presence in the world of souvenir and collectibles, corporate premiums and promotions, and sports and entertainment licensing. K2LP is now part of the largest sporting goods equipment manufacturer in North America with sister companies such Rawlings, K2 Sports, Shakespeare, Stearns, Marker, Volkl, Brass Eagle, Adio to name a few of the 35 brands in the K2 family.
K2LP’s primary product lineup includes specialty sport balls, including commemorative, collectible and playable footballs, baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, playground balls and softee youth development products. K2LP has also developed an industry leading capabilities in novelties such as lapel pins, key chains, magnets, souvenir helmets and bobblehead dolls. The company continually expands its product offerings in the sports and entertainment marketplace and constantly evaluates new licenses and market trends to ensure the most comprehensive and competitive product portfolio in the industry today.
Company Structure
Headquartered in Carlsbad, CA. within the K2 Inc. Global Headquarters, K2LP has over 60 employees in the areas of product design, development, procurement, customer service, finance, sales and product marketing. Just 25 miles south of Carlsbad in San Diego, CA.., K2LP maintains a 75,000 square-foot manufacturing and distribution operation supporting the division’s growth and expansion.
Design – With a team of 18 graphic designers and product developers, K2LP creative capabilities are unmatched in the industry today. The on-site design team provides our customers with a tremendous custom and special make-up opportunity allowing K2LP to meet market demand by region, by team, by player, by character and by event. With years of experience in production tolerances, application techniques and licensing guidelines, the design team is able to turn product out correctly from the beginning rather than dealing with prolonged revisions and long lead times.
Production Capabilities – Manufacturing is supported by both overseas production as well as a domestic operation which includes pad print, inflate, pack and shipping operations. Direct, long standing relationships with superior overseas factories is further supported by the power of K2 Inc and the Global Sourcing Team, an extensive in-house sourcing office in Hong Kong. Years of domestic printing expertise and production capabilities have resulted in K2LP’s renowned reputation as an expert in the hot market collectible and souvenir business. In fact, when worldwide attention turns towards the World Series, Super Bowl or the NCAA Bowl Championship series, there is no other company that can match K2LP’s superiority in delivering hot market souvenirs to fans across the country.
Sales - To meet the needs of various customers in diverse distribution channels, the sales organization is divided into four divisions:
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Traditional Retail – Servicing the mass merchant retail, national and regional sporting goods chains, hobby stores, and distributors
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K2LP’s products can be found in America’s top retailers: Target, Toys R Us, Sears, Wal-Mart, The Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Big 5, Modell’s, Academy and Hibbetts to name a few…
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Specialty Retail & Attractions – a full service division catering to the entertainment destinations, tourist attractions and direct response retail outlets including The Walt Disney Company, Universal, Sea World, Hard Rock Café, ESPN Zone, Landry’s, HSN, QVC, Sports Illustrated and the Coca-cola stores.
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Premiums and Promotions – an internal team focused on developing premium and promotional programs with some of the nation's leading Fortune 500 companies including McDonald’s, Burger King, Motorola, Coor’s, Carl’s Jr., Napa Auto Parts, Kraft, Chevron, Bank of America, General Mills and Mastercard
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