Top Footwear Franchises. In November 2006, NexCen Brands, Inc., a public brand acquisition and management company, acquired The Athletes Foot, Footwear Franchise Opportunity.The growth of this Top franchise system and create long term brand value through its branding and marketing expertise, supplier relationships, and global retail franchise management and support team headed by The Athletes Foot

The Athletes Foot Franchises announce an invigorating new direction for the brand including the launch of an innovative new merchandising strategy, a change in store design, and a modernized company logo. The year also marks the introduction of new operational and financial tools to empower the franchise owner's success.

In November 2006, NexCen Brands, Inc., a public brand acquisition and management company, acquired The Athlete's Foot with plans to continue to drive the growth of the franchise system and create long term brand value through its branding and marketing expertise, supplier relationships, and global retail franchise management and support team headed by The Athletes Foot management.

2005 Formalized an agreement with Serec S.A.R.L. of Paris, France to become The Athletes Foot master franchisee for France. Finalized an Area Development Agreement with JHP of East Fordham, Inc, of Carlstadt, NJ for the five boroughs of New York. First franchise store opens in the Russian Federation. Minimum of 40 stores to open in the region over the next 10 years. Opened 99 new stores worldwide. Relocated World Headquarters and International Support Center to Norcross, GA. Opened new European office in Lugano, Switzerland. Area Development Agreements formalized for South Carolina and Louisiana.

2004 The Athletes Foot formalized an agreement with Planet Sports Pvt Ltd. to become The Athletes Foots master franchisee for India. The company projects 80 store openings over the length of the 15 -year agreement. CEO Robert J. Corliss awarded Sports Edge magazines Visionary Award in recognition of his vision, leadership and support of the sporting goods industry. The award was renamed the Robert J. Corliss Visionary Award in his honor. The Athlete's Foot Stores, LLC repositioned the company to focus exclusively on franchise operations. Thirty-two of one hundred twenty four corporate owned stores were converted to franchises.

2003 The Athletes Foot is named Entrepreneur Magazine's No1 Franchise Opportunity for 2003 in the sports equipment category. First UK franchise opened in Llandudno, Wales with plans for 20 franchise stores to open across the United Kingdom. December 2003 sparked a new era in the history of The Athletes Foot and generated headlines throughout the sporting goods industry. After five years as TAF President and CEO, Robert J. Corliss, along with other management team members, Martin Amschler, Tim Brannon, Don Camacho, and Chuck Eggers, purchased Group Rallyes interest in The Athlete's Foot.

2002 In March, The Athletes Foot celebrates its 30 year domestic franchising anniversary. The Company opens its 30th store in Atlanta, 50th franchise store in Poland, 18th franchise store in South Korea and first franchise store in Spain. The Company continues its aggressive international growth strategy opening 88 new franchise stores, 65 of which are in international markets. Franchise growth in the United States continues with new openings in markets such as Detroit, Atlanta and Houston. In May, TAFs founders, Robert and David Lando, are inducted into The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. Election to the Hall of Fame is the highest honor one can receive in the sporting goods industry. In July, the company holds its international conference in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

2001 The Athletes Foot adds 100 new franchise stores this year, 61 in international markets. The company announces an agreement with Marco and Jorge Canavati for the master franchise rights to open The Athletes Foot stores throughout Mexico. The company projects 100 store openings over the length of the agreement with 30 to open in the first five years. The company also opens new stores in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. Franchise growth in the United States continues with new openings in markets such as Atlanta, Florida and Detroit. The Athlete's Foot announces an exciting relationship with Athletes Building Better Communities ABBC whose organization includes members of the l999 NFL Super Bowl contenders, The Tennessee Titans, for the exclusive rights to open The Athletes Foot franchise stores throughout Tennessee. Under the agreement, the group has exclusive rights in the state for ten years and will open a minimum of twenty stores. In June, the company announces the completion of a $38 million line of credit with Wells Fargo Retail Finance to provide working capital and assist in further expansion.

2000 Growth continues to be a major focus for The Athletes Foot in 2000 with the addition of 23 corporate and 104 franchise stores. International growth is particularly impressive with the addition of six new countries St. Kitts, South Korea, Grand Cayman, Peru, Malta and Venezuela. The FitPrint System is rolled out nationally and introduced to consumers at key races across the country to strong, positive response. The National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers awards The Athletes Foot an Outstanding Merit Award for superior retail design for the newly developed prototype store. The company is also awarded Sporting Goods Business' Sports Trend magazines, Trendsetter of the Year for Virtual Retailer. A new concept for The Athletes Foot For Her is unveiled in Nashville, Tennessee. The new store features light colors and foot massage machines and is designed around vignettes focusing on specific activities.

1999 The Athlete's Foot shines in 99 and declares its vision as The Worlds Definitive Expert on Athletic Footwear. The company experiences a record growth year - opening 37 corporate stores, six countries and 87 franchise stores, more franchise stores than in any other year in history. Other highlights include the debut of a new store design concept at The Avenue at East Cobb in Marietta, Georgia, featuring the latest in retail and footwear technology; the opening of The Athlete's Foot For Her, a new prototype aimed at active women; and the launch of an e-commerce Internet site, www.theathletesfoot.com. Media interest intensifies with the introduction of the FitPrint System - a proprietary state of the art computerized technology that measures pressure points through different phases of a customer's gait. The sporting goods community votes The Athlete's Foot, Trendsetter of the Year in the specialty retail footwear category.

1998 The Athletes Foot furthers its 1997 onset of expansion into the big box arena by opening a total of 10 superstores in secondary markets across the United States. In August, a dynamic new president and CEO, Robert J. Corliss, joins The Athlete's Foot and embarks on a mission to re-energize athletic footwear retailing.

1997  Athletes Foot is named Success Magazine's No1  Franchise Opportunity in America.

1996  Athletes Foot grows to more than 650 stores worldwide, with plans to open 100 additional stores by year end.

1995 Continuing its commitment to fit and service, The Athletes Foot implements a plan to showcase fit and function in a dynamic new store design, the first major design change since the company's inception in l971. The first prototype store opens in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a second store in Atlanta, Georgia. Agreements signed with Philippines, Taiwan, Korea and Thailand.

1994 All international stores begin the change to selling only footwear. This conversion signals a corporate commitment to position The Athlete's Foot as the leader in proper fit and customer service. Agreements signed with Israel, Argentina and New Zealand.

1993 Due in large part to a successful test program, The Athletes Foot commits to a strategy of selling footwear only in stores throughout the world. Agreement signed with Belgium.

1992 Athletes Foot Group, Inc. becomes the leading franchisor of athletic footwear in the world with 324 franchise and 245 corporate stores. The new International Stores Support Center opens in May. Agreements are signed with Cyprus and Poland.

1991 Euris purchases Group Rallye. Andre Crestey is appointed chairman of the board for Rallyes sporting goods division, which includes The Athletes Foot. Under his leadership, The Athlete's Foot Group, Inc. is created as the corporate umbrella for two divisions: The Athletes Foot Marketing Group, Inc. serving franchises and The Athletes Foot Stores Inc. operating company stores. To facilitate its global expansion, The Athletes Foot Group, Inc. breaks ground on its new international headquarters in Kennesaw, Georgia. As part of its rigorous training program and a renewed emphasis on customer service, The Athletes Foot introduces the Associate Training Series, a video based program offering standardized certification for all sales associates to become Fit Technicians. Franchise agreements signed with Canada, Guadeloupe, Indonesia and Denmark.

1990 Franchise agreements signed with the Republic of Palau, Greece and Mexico.

1989 Athletes Foot begins a test of selling footwear only at seven corporate stores in the United States. Franchise agreements signed with Malaysia and The U.S. Virgin Islands.

1988 Athletes Foot Wear Test Center introduces Fit University, a unique three day required course to educate all sales associates on the physiology and anatomy of the feet and ways to properly fit athletic footwear. Franchise agreement signed with Saipan.

1987 Franchise agreements signed with Singapore, Portugal and Hong Kong. The Athletes Foot Australia Pty. Limited makes the strategic decision to convert to selling only athletic footwear in all stores.

1986 More than 100 corporate owned stores serve as models of operation for more than 450 franchise stores now operating in the United States, France, Australia and Guam.

1985 Corporate and franchise operations are consolidated and moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Atlanta, Georgia.

1984 Group Rallye purchases the remaining 51 percent from the Lando family and continues domestic and international growth of the company. The Athlete's Foot Wear Test Center at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois is established. Tom Brunick is named director, a role in which he evaluates the construction, durability and performance of every major brand of athletic footwear on the market. Utilizing data from thousands of wear testers, information is provided to all stores to share with customers.

1981 Group Rallye, a French food retail conglomerate with interests in fashion, home improvement, sports and real estate, purchases 49 percent of The Athlete's Foot from the Lando family. Franchise agreement signed with France.

1980 Athletes Foot Australia Pty. Limited acquires the rights to operate The Athlete's Foot stores in Australia.

1979 International expansion exceeds expectations. In just one year, The Athletes Foot grows to 350 stores throughout the world.

1978 The Athletes Foot signs its first international agreement with Mike Fried in Australia and opens the first store at 16 Stevens Place in Adelaide. The Athletes Foot expands to 200 stores in the U.S.

1977 Rapid growth continues as The Athlete's Foot operates more than 167 stores across the country.

1976 Athletes Foot doubles its size to more than 100 stores. Tom Brunick formally joins The Athletes Foot as Footwear Advisor.

1975 Robert Lando and his son Mark purchase the rights from David Lando and his son Michael and change the incorporated name of the company to Athletes Foot Marketing Associates, Inc. A new, aggressive marketing strategy results in more than 50 stores by year end.

1974 The Athletes Foot stages its first annual franchise conference in Pittsburgh.

1973 The Athletes Foot stores now number 16 across the U.S. Tom Brunick, men's track and cross country coach at St. Francis College in Joliet, Illinois, signs on with The Athletes Foot as an independent footwear consultant. Brunick oversees actual wear testing of the manufacturers products and shares the research with all the stores, leading to the company slogan,Nobody knows the athletes foot like The Athletes Foot.

1972The Athlete's Foot begins franchising domestically. The first franchise agreement is signed by Killian Spanbauer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who opens the store in September at the Sawyer Street Shopping Center.

1971 Robert and David Lando develop the concept for The Athletes Foot,the first athletic footwear specialty store of its kind in the country. The first store opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wood Street in February.

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