KARHU and CRAFT Send One Lucky Sweepstakes Winner to Race in Helsinki

Beverly, MA (July 29, 2009) – Today, two leading specialty brands, KARHU and CRAFT in conjunction with 3point5.com, an interactive retail-training program for sales associates, announce Sarah Bowden, sales associate at Fleet Feet in Huntsville, AL, as their Helsinki Grand Prize Sweepstakes Winner.

Bowden, who participated in the online training program to learn more about the KARHU and CRAFT brands, will be journeying to Helsinki, Finland, birthplace of KARHU, with her mother to experience first-hand Finnish culture and also participate in the Helsinki City Marathon. While there, Bowden will also have the opportunity to tour Finland’s famed national sports museum where KARHU’s original discuses, javelins and track spikes are on display.

The sweepstakes focused on using 3point5.com’s training materials to educate sales clerks at a variety of retailers to learn more about the specialty sports brands and become experts on products. The easy, convenient and interactive program promotes game-like programs to engage, excite and educate clerks on brands retailers may or may not carry.

“What a great promotion and incentive to train on 3point5.com. Their training allowed me to learn about the KARHU and CRAFT brands and product technology in a fun and interesting way,” said Bowden. “Thank you KARHU and CRAFT for recognizing the value of the sales associate in promoting your brands. I am more than excited for this opportunity to visit your birthplace and run in the Helsinki Marathon in my KARHU’s! I can’t wait!”

Rewarding those who are interested in learning about the KARHU and CRAFT brands was the main goal in creating the program, according to Jay Duke, president, KARHU. “We can’t stress enough the importance of retailers learning about our brands inside and out. This sweepstakes provided the perfect opportunity to engage retail clerks with the KARHU and CRAFT brands and give one winner the opportunity to experience our history and participate in an event that means a great deal to us,” said Duke.

Created on the track in Finland back in 1916, KARHU (meaning “bear” in Finnish) has been a leader in developing innovative running technology for almost 100 years. KARHU’s Fulcrum technology creates a true collaboration between shoe and foot resulting in a Natural Ride and Feelâ„¢. After receiving the coveted “Best Debut” award from Runner’s World magazine, KARHU drew a strong following from grassroots initiatives including ‘Explorer Days’ – in-store events that encourage consumers to visit local retailers to learn more about the brand.

Also a Scandinavian brand, born out of Sweden in 1977, CRAFT was created for athletes who perform in the most extreme conditions. Today, the CRAFT brand is built to regulate body temperature in every climate for the critical moment when the endurance athlete meets the challenges of heat, cold, water and wind. Designed to act as a second skin, enhancing the body’s natural heating and cooling system, the athlete’s body is better regulated with CRAFT, conserving energy to enhance performance by adjusting airflow to align the body temperature to where it needs to be.

About KARHU
Born in 1916, KARHU is Finland’s legendary running brand. Meaning “bear” in Finnish, KARHU has an authentic heritage in running and a deep connection to the outdoors. KARHU follows the Finnish principles of design simplicity and running purity in providing technical running and outdoor gear for nearly 100 years. KARHU shoes have been worn on the feet of some of the greatest Finnish runners, including Boston Marathon champion Olavi Suomalainen, and Paavo Nurmi, giving rise to the Flying Finns. Engineering innovative product that promotes a “Natural Ride and Feel”™ through the patented Fulcrumâ„¢ technology, KARHU footwear products are sold globally by specialty retailers. KARHU is owned by KARHU Holding B.V. and designs, markets and distributes KARHU branded products. For more information about KARHU, visit www.karhu.com

About CRAFT
Karhu North America L.L.C. – North American licensee for CRAFT Performance Apparel. CRAFT is a registered trademark of CRAFT of Scandinavia AB, Since 1977, CRAFT has devoted itself to developing innovative clothing built to withstand extreme requirements in all conditions. Constantly working on the optimization of innovative fibers and construction technologies, CRAFT’s products are the ideal training and competition garments for all activities year-round. www.craftsports.us

About 3point5.com
3point5.com is an online campus that represents over 149,000 registered pros and sales professionals, 120 manufacturers and over 16,900 retailers in an increasing number of industries, including Outdoor, Snow, Bike, Action Sports, Golf, Tennis and Hunt/Fish. 3point5.com offers a fun and secure place for retail sales professionals to train, access information and interact within their industry. www.3point5.com

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