Next Inc. Ranked Number Fifteen in the Major Collegiate Licensing Program Wednesday March 22, 1:05 pm ET
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2006--Next Inc. (OTCBB:NXTI - News) today announced that the company's licensed college sportswear program has been ranked as one of the top-selling companies in the Collegiate Licensing Company's rankings dated reported October 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.
The Collegiate Licensing Company ("CLC"), according to its most recent rankings, announced that Next Inc. has claimed the 15th position among some of the "major distributors" such as Nike USA®, Champion® and Russell®. CLC is the exclusive licensing agent for more than 200 colleges, universities, bowls, and conferences, as well as the NCAA and The Heisman Trophy.
Next has accumulated approximately 200 licenses and agreements to distribute its College Wear line for almost all major college and universities. The collegiate licensed program features infants, toddlers, juvenile and youth size ranges, further enhancing our men's and women's lines and expanding the College Wear program. Next and Lil Fan College Wear licensed products have been well accepted in its national retail and specialty merchants' customer base.
Next, Inc. is a creative and innovative sales and marketing organization that designs, develops, markets, and distributes licensed and branded promotional products and imprinted sportswear primarily through major college and university, motor sports and other major promotional key licensing agreements and the Company's own proprietary designs. Next is one of the dominant companies in the highly fragmented licensed promotional products and imprinted sportswear industries.
The company has expanded its distribution to include e-commerce through which a significant amount of the Company's most popular licensed products is marketed. The most significant are: www.campustraditionsusa.com, www.rpmsportsusa.com, www.americanbiker.com and www.americanwildlifeusa.com.
Next Inc. Adds Joe Ferragina and Ross Litz to Management Team; Industry Veterans with 34 Years Combined Experience to Drive Company's Sales Initiatives
Next Inc. (OTCBB:NXTI) an emerging leader in the sportswear and promotional products industry, today announced it has added industry veterans Joe Ferragina and Ross Litz to its management team where they will direct and oversee the company's strategic sales growth. Ferragina and Litz commented, "After 7 years of working on behalf of Next, we are extremely excited and honored to play a more active role within the company."
Joe Ferragina has been appointed Executive V.P. Sales and Marketing. Mr. Ferragina has over 23 years experience in the apparel industry having held ownership and senior management positions with a number of companies over his career. Past positions include, President and Owner of Dakota Sportswear and VP of Sales for W.E. Stephens manufacturing. In addition, between 1995 and 1997, he was responsible for managing $40 million in sales for Tee Jays Manufacturing. Most recently, Mr. Ferragina was managing partner for Ferra Sales & Marketing. Ferra Sales & Marketing was formed in 1995 as a sales and management company primarily representing apparel manufacturers to national retail chains. In November 1997, Ferra made the transition to represent Next, Inc. products to retail. Since that time, Joe has been instrumental in building business on behalf of Next, Inc. while acting as an independent outside sales representative.
Ross Litz has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Merchandising. Mr. Litz has 11 years experience in sales to national retail chains and has worked diligently with Joe as a partner in Ferra Sales & Marketing for the last 7 years. Before coming on board with Ferra Sales & Marketing, Ross managed $10 million in sales for W.E. Stephens Manufacturing. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in opening new accounts and managing sales for national retail chains.
Mr. Robert Budd, the Company's CEO stated, "I'm extremely pleased and excited to be welcoming Joe and Ross formally into the Next, Inc. team. For years, they have worked diligently on our behalf as independent representatives securing and growing some of our most valuable retail customers. They are consummate professionals, respected for their integrity and consistent ability to assist and advise major retailers on the profitable management of their own merchandising efforts. We firmly believe their new management role within the company has the potential to bolster and complement our sales efforts through the leveraging of their vast experience and knowledge."
Next, Inc. is a creative and innovative sales and marketing organization that designs, develops, markets, and distributes licensed and branded promotional products and imprinted sportswear primarily through major college and university, motor sports and other major promotional key licensing agreements and the Company's own proprietary designs. Next is one of the dominant companies in the highly fragmented licensed promotional products and imprinted sportswear industries.
The company has expanded its distribution to include e-commerce through which a significant amount of the Company's most popular licensed products is marketed. The most significant are, www.campustraditionsusa.com, www.rpmsportsusa.com, and www.americanbiker.com.
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