Hat World Growth Taking Shape7.21.11

INSIDE INDIANA BUSINESS

INDIANAPOLIS - Hat World, Inc., (dba LIDS Sports Group) has added 150,000 square feet of warehouse space at its second facility, doubling the square footage at that location. The retailer and manufacturer of hats and sports apparel now leases 500,000 total square feet from two buildings owned by Duke Realty in Park 100 on the city's northwest side that serve as LIDS' corporate headquarters, and warehouse, production and manufacturing facilities for operations in the United States.
In June 2010, LIDS Sports Group joined Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard to announce plans to invest $22 million and create up to 571 new jobs by 2015. That announcement included leasing 150,000 square feet at 5349 W. 76th Street for the relocation of its LIDS Team Sports division from Madison, Wisconsin.
"LIDS' explosive growth since consolidating its operations in Indianapolis is phenomenal," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "We take the job and investment commitments companies make to the city seriously and are thrilled when success comes this quickly."
The company reports it has created 185 new jobs since the economic development announcement 13 months ago.
"Doubling the square footage at our West 76th Street location is the direct result of LIDS' ongoing growth initiatives across all divisions of our company, and reinforces the commitment we made to the City of Indianapolis last year to create employment opportunities," said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher. "This additional warehouse space will play a key role in our ongoing growth plans."
"LIDS Sports Group's continued growth over the past 15 years has required an ongoing need for flexible space for its operations," said Charlie Podell, senior vice president of Duke Realty's Indiana operations. "We are pleased that we not only have been able to continue to provide LIDS with the space it needs, but also to enable it to maintain operations within Park 100, eliminating the need for a major move and disruption of its work force."
LIDS Sports Group's free-standing 200,000 square-foot corporate headquarters is located at 7555 Woodland Drive and serves as the company's primary warehouse and distribution center for retail and e-commerce operations. That building currently operates at close to capacity thanks to the influx of new hires and merchandise needed to support LIDS Sports Group's diversifying retail businesses LIDS Locker Room and LIDS Clubhouse.
LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories and novelties. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce websites.
About LIDS Sports Group
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business and its Internet businesses, www.lids.com, www.lids.ca, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.sportsavenue.com. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 975 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially-licensed and branded products of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories all in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties, and also operates Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue stores. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce websites. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco, Inc.
About Develop Indy
Develop Indy is Marion County's local economic development organization. Develop Indy is dedicated to attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing businesses and serving as a catalyst for capital investment and quality job growth in Indianapolis/Marion County. Formed in 2007, Develop Indy is led by CEO Scott Miller. For more information about Develop Indy, visit www.developindy.com.
About Duke Realty
Duke Realty is an Indianapolis-based company that owns, has an interest in or has under development approximately 139 million rentable square feet of industrial and office assets, including medical office, in 18 major U.S. cities. Duke Realty's first property when it was founded in 1972 was Building 1 in Park 100. Since then, Park 100, which is located along I-465 between 71st and 86th streets and includes office and industrial space, has grown to include more than 18 million square feet. Duke Realty Corporation is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol DRE and is listed on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. More information about Duke Realty is available at www.dukerealty.com.

Source: Develop Indy

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