Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,650
Registered: ‎10-09-2012

Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

[ Edited ]

 

Interesting trivia, [that has little to do with the 10/24 TSV boot]. Smiley Happy

 

I'm always interested in background company news.  Again, this has nothing to do with the TSV.

 

Last year, October 2023, Vionic was sold to Caleres, Inc.

 

Caleres owns Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Vince, Franco Sarto, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, LifeStride, Via Spiga, Diane von Furstenberg, Blowfish Malibu, Bzees, Carlos by Carlos Santana, Fergie and Ryka.

 

The Vionic CEO at the time, Chris Gallagher, left Vionic after the acquisition, and subsequently took Liam Bourke with him.  They have now formed their new company, PB5Star, a pickleball apparel and footwear company this year. 

 

QVC has recently become very involved in pickleball as well.  They've partnered with USA Pickleball to sponsor the supply of equipment, apparel, and more.  Also, QVC+ & HSN+ is the exclusive broadcast partner for the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championship.

 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,956
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

Well we just might be seeing Liam again in the near future, I think!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,992
Registered: ‎04-28-2010

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

@Caaareful Shopper   Thanks for sharing.  Always liked Liam.  Good he has a new endeavor.  Hope we see him on the Q.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 74,984
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

@Caaareful Shopper.  Very interesting.  I just wish I was MRS. Caleres with my pick of my choice of all those brands of shoes.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,650
Registered: ‎10-09-2012

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

@Kachina624   Smiley Very Happy Smiley LOL

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,951
Registered: ‎08-19-2011

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

Thanks for this interesting piece of business news.  It did seem odd that Liam was no longer the rep since he was clearly very good at his job

Valued Contributor
Posts: 857
Registered: ‎07-17-2019

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

@Caaareful Shopper 

 

If you remember cute host Elise Ivy . She left QVC a few years ago, came to Miami, got married, and started a picketball racket company. Rockne Picketball!

Picketball is the rage here!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,384
Registered: ‎03-30-2014

Re: Vionic / Liam Bourke / Pickleball

Thanks for the update on Liam.  He was a well spoken presenter.  Good to know he has another job.

 

But had to chuckle about the Biofreeze sponsorship.