19 minute read
SHOE MAKER - Reebok and the Untold Story of a Lancashire Family Who Changed the World
The remarkable story of how Joe Foster developed Reebok into one of the world’s most famous sports brands, having started from a small factory in Bolton.
Since the late 19th century, the Foster family had been hand-making running shoes, supplying the likes of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams - later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire - as well as providing boots to most Football League clubs. But a family feud between Foster’s father and uncle led to Joe and his brother Jeff setting up a new company, inspired by the success of Adidas and Puma, and so Reebok was born.
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At first, money was so short that Joe and his wife had to live in their rundown factory, while the machinery that made the shoes was placed around the edge of the floor, because it was so weak it could have collapsed if they’d been positioned in the middle. But, from this inauspicious start, a major new player in the sports goods field began to emerge, inspired by Joe’s marketing vision.
By the 1980s, Reebok had become a global phenomenon, when they were the first to latch onto the potential of the aerobics craze inspired by Jane Fonda. Soon, Reeboks were being seen on Hollywood red carpets and even in the film Aliens, where Sigourney Weaver wore a pair of Reebok Alien Stompers.
Like the international bestseller Shoe Dog, by Nike’s Phil Knight, Shoemaker is a powerful tale of triumph against all the odds, revealing the challenges and
Above: Reebok advertisement
SHOE MAKER
Reebok and the Untold Story of a Lancashire Family Who Changed the World
Above: Joe Foster with his medals
Joe Foster - The Founder of Reebok | Published 10th June 2021 | Paperback | £9.99
sacrifices that go into creating a world-beating brand; it is also the story of how a small local business can transform itself, with the right products and the right vision, into something much, much bigger.
From Alan Pascoe, Geoff Capes, celebrity tennis matches in Monaco with actress Jane Seymour to today seeing collaborations with Victoria Beckham and superstars from around the globe, one man and his brother were there from the beginning when the first pair of Reebok’s were created and though he sold his shoe empire in the mid 80’s and retired from daily life at Reebok in 1989, he remains loyal to this day as the founder brand ambassador for the billion dollar iconic brand that will forever be a part of him and he a part of it.
Joe Foster was and is a trailblazer and a man of exceptional strength of character and heart as he left a quarrelling uncle and father behind to carve his own path. A natural self improver competing against himself at all times, Joe also squeezed in two years of National service where he recalls playing a lot of badminton and sharpening up his discipline.
He and brother Jeff were blessed to enjoy different roles, Jeff loved the factory and enjoyed the detail of the work while Joe enjoyed to get out there and do the deals and be the innovator in the business progression and in all their time never a cross word was spoken.
When Joe tells of his journey, he credits his team who were incredibly loyal, even through difficult times when there wasn’t enough work and tough decisions had to be taken, the staff would offer to work for free, Joe did not let this happen but when the business scaled back up again everyone came straight back to Reebok.
It was where they wanted to be, a work family full of respect, honesty, integrity and friendship and this theme carried heavily in everything Joe did in the community, in his business relationships and within his partnerships. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 109
Above: Inside the Olympic Works, Joe is on the far right, Foster’ s Originals and De-Luxe in production
Above: The formidable Nellie Halstead smashed several records in Foster’s
The internet is full of different tales and ideas of Reebok, a giant in our sporting, fashion and country’s history which is why Joe decided it was time to put the true story in his own words in to a format to be immortalised for generations to come.
We think it will inspire the next set of leaders and in fact any person who experiences tragedy and loss as amongst everything you will find in the book, Joe’s courage and grit to hang on in there and overcome some severely difficult times as his pain becomes a part of him as he continues to live and honour the people he lost along the way.
So from sleeping in the factorys small living accommodation to champagne with Prince Rainier and fun with Frank Sinatra we can confirm that this Bolton lad is unchanged by his magnificent achievements.
When asked about advice for other entrepreneurs he says ‘’Don’t listen to too much advice or you’ll never do anything‘’ which echoes of his first days in business where vision, enthusiasm, determination and old fashioned hard graft was the way to do it, less planning and more doing by the sounds of things.
Speaking to Joe and his wife Julie was a real treat, the words genuine, kind and caring would be the first words we would associate with them both, they are a great team and Joe has an amazing zest for life that we hope continues for many years to come.
This book is for everyone, we promise whatever you do and whatever your background you will take something away from the read that will inspire you and push you along in your own story.
Our recommendation is the hard copy, so you can get a Lancashire cuppa and sit in a comfy chair whilst you dive in to Joe’s life, Reebok’s beginning and business at it’s best.
Above: British athlete Cyril Holmes competed in 1936 Olympics in Foster’s running spikes
Above: Early advertisement for Foster’s running shoe
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe Foster was born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1935 and with his brother founded the sports shoe manufacturer Reebok in the late 1950s.
By the late 1980s, Reebok had overtaken Nike and Adidas to become the number one sports brand globally.
Foster remains a global ambassador for the company.
HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR TIPS FOR WELLBEING THIS...
By Lee Chambers - Environmental Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant
Summertime should be a time for individuals, families and friends to spend together doing what makes them laugh, enjoy each other’s’ company, and contribute to everyone’s overall wellbeing.
In the middle of holidays or weekend getaway planning, or just carving time out of your busy schedule for some fun activities, keep these healthy behaviour tips in mind. GET ACTIVE OUTDOORS
With a preponderance of good-weather days to take advantage of, why not do just that? Get outside with friends and family and participate in the wealth of activities summertime seems to invite. Science shows that being outside in nature has wide-ranging health benefits, everything from reducing the risk of heart problems diabetes, stress, high blood pressure, premature birth and premature death to an increase in overall wellbeing. A popular health practice in Japan is “forest bathing,” and the desire to commune in greenspace has rapidly caught on in the UK. With all the parks and countryside, as well as conscientious homeowners planting trees, shrubs and gardens, there’s ample opportunity to get outside and take in what nature has to offer. Exercise, play sports, go to the beach or amusement park, have a picnic, fish, go for a walk. The choices are endless.
HYDRATE AND EAT LIGHT
Water is your body’s best friend when it comes to effectively combatting summertime heat. The sun is extremely dehydrating, along with challenging or vigorous physical exercise and activity when the temperatures soar. You may not realize you’re thirsty until the damage is already done. Avoid the risk of sunstroke and other medical complications, some of which can be life-threatening, by regularly drinking water and other non-alcoholic fluids. Health experts say to start by drinking half a litre of water 1-2 hours before exercising, and 250ml of water every 15 minutes when you’re outside. When you come back inside, you’re still not done rehydrating. Drink another half a litre. While you’re at it, avoid stuffing yourself in the heat. You’ll feel sluggish, unmotivated to get moving, and your digestive system will have to work harder to process all that food. Instead, eat light and avoid too much sugar and carbohydrates. You’ll sleep better at night too.
PUT AWAY THE SMARTPHONE WHILE DRIVING
You might think you’re wonderfully ambidextrous and adept at multi-tasking, yet the science is not on your side. It’s impossible to fully devote your attention and focus to more than one activity at once. Something’s going to give. When you’re behind the wheel, put away the smartphone, say all the experts. Even though you firmly believe it’s not all that dangerous to sneak in a quick text, call or peruse social media at the stoplight or while idling in traffic, the obsession to engage in this unhealthy behaviour may do more than cause other drivers to honk their horns at you. You could very well cause or be in an accident because your concentration isn’t where it should be – on your driving. Research shows that talking on a smartphone or other mobile device increases risk of a crash by 2.2 times, while texting increases that risk by 6.1 times. The researchers also found that females are more likely than males to use phones while driving, and more years of experience driving decreases distracted driving. They noted that drivers, while usually able to selfregulate in certain instances, such as in heavy traffic or curving road conditions, they’re less likely to be able to identify where it’s safe to use the phone. The strong recommendation: put the phone away until you can pull over to safely use the device.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM UV RAYS AND EXPOSURE TO CARCINOGENS FROM BARBEQUING
Relaxing at the beach can be a prosocial way for friends and families to get in some quality time, yet it’s always wise to bring along several layers of protection against the sun’s harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays. Clothing you can add or shed certainly helps, including wide-brimmed hats, as do various sun protection factor (SPF) creams and lotions. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends choosing a higher-protection broad spectrum SPF sunscreen (30 or 50) that’s water-resistant for the best protection. Summertime cookouts on the barbecue have long been a favourite, yet new research shows that the skin (in addition to the lungs) absorbs harmful carcinogens from compounds released during smoking and grilling. Just because you’re wearing a shirt and pants, or other protective clothing doesn’t eliminate the exposure. For this reason, experts recommend washing those barbecue-smoke exposed clothes right afterward.
DO YOUR BEST TO STAY COOL
Excessive heat and high humidity are extraordinarily dangerous to your health, responsible for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and organ and other bodily systems failure as the circulatory and central nervous systems shut down. When temperatures climb into the 20s (rather rare if were honest!), the humidity skyrockets, and remains there for days on end, you feel depleted, drained, unmotivated, dull and it takes longer to concentrate and focus. Keeping the body cool is a must, so make sure you have access to somewhere indoors where the temperature is controlled and cool. Whether that’s an air-conditioned room at home, a shopping mall, movie theatre, restaurant, sporting event or entertainment venue, do your best to stay cool.
LAUGH A LOT
Nothing makes you feel immediately better like a good laugh. In fact, laughter is such an excellent medicine, if it could be packaged and sold, it’d be worth millions. Since you can’t buy laughter, however, it’s priceless. Tell some family-friendly jokes at your next get-together to spark congeniality in the group. Be on the lookout for a good comedy on TV, through a streaming service, or at the movies. Sit back with those you care about and let yourself enjoy the humour. Go ahead and laugh out loud. Laughing helps you effectively cope with stress, make more of social relationships, helps in coping with distress, reduces feelings of anger and helps boost happiness. Smiling and laughing may even help you live longer.
Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS is our resident psychologist and founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing.
As a director of Wellbeing Lancashire, he will be keeping us updated with the work they are doing across the region.
Have a question or topic you would like Lee to cover in a future issue? Email him on info@leechambers.org and he will include you where possible.
CAMPING FIRST AID
By Nicola Parker MNIMH
Like many people this summer, my partner and I have decided that we will be taking our holiday time in the UK.
Due to the uncertain nature of things, it feels like a sensible option and it will be nice to put our money back into some smaller, more local businesses.
With that decided, we have chosen to go on a hiking holiday in the lake district. We are both quite outdoorsy and I’m not afraid of roughing it for a few nights while we camp out. As long as we go well prepared of course, which for me, always involves adding my essential remedies to a first aid kit.
First things first, I’ll be taking a neem based insect repellent. I personally struggle with the smell of some of the chemical ones available in camping shops. I also find that they leave my skin feeling dry and unhealthy afterwards. Neem oil is a natural insect repellent and is incredibly moisturising, so with neem, I never have a problem. A few years ago, I used a neem oil rub on all exposed skin just before one of those long distance mud runs that have become so popular. We’d been warned about ticks in the area and having helped patients with Lyme disease, I was extra paranoid. In any outdoors event, neem has treated me well so it is my go to herb for this. As a topical oil,
it’s also antimicrobial and anti itch, so if I do get bitten because I’ve forgotten to use it, I can use the same preparation to treat the bite too! Aloe and lavender are my two essentials for burns. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be used neat on the skin and mixing it with aloe creates a cooling and healing treatment for sunburn or for burns picked up at the cooking fire. I’m not used to heating water and cooking around an open flame, so an aloe and lavender gel will definitely be coming along. Both are incredibly cheap and lavender can be used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory oil in case of bites or stings from the flora and fauna.
Arnica is my herb for injury. Homeopathic arnica come as tiny tablets that can be chewed after injury and has been traditionally used to help speed up the healing process. The gel or cream can be used topically to bring out bruising, so perfect for application on bumps and sprains. Arnica gel is my main recommendation for topical treatment of joint pain, in my own practice. My knees are not what they used to be and with an old hip injury, I certainly expect to experience some joint stiffness after a long day’s hike. Cramp is the other problem that can ruin a long walk. I am not prone to cramp unless I’m exercising but years ago, a walker gave me an excellent tip. She used to take Mag Phos tissue salts with her on her long hikes, explaining that a couple of tiny tablets dissolved in the mouth can relieve cramp almost instantly. I do use magnesium, in either large tablets or as a topical spray to manage cramp, but Mag Phos tissue salts are tiny and pocket sized, making them perfect for long journeys, when I may only need them occasionally. My final addition to my first aid kit, will be sachets or capsules of a probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii. The remedy used to be called Diarr-Safe because it’s used for infections that cause diarrhoea and of course, because Saccharomyces boulardii is quite the mouthful. While out camping, I do worry about not cooking food thoroughly or drinking unclean water while we are out in the wilds, if taking it from natural sources. Diarrhoea can ruin any holiday but the idea of getting it while out on a long walk doesn’t bare thinking about!
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH NICOLA, CONTACT HER CLINIC ON 01524 413733
So that’s my natural first aid kit all packed and ready for the British summer. Now, if only I had remedies to keep the sun shining and the rain at bay, but perhaps that might be asking too much of my herbs.
Nicola Parker MNIMH
has a herbal medicine clinic located on the picturesque coast Morecambe Bay where she offers face to face and virtual appointments. For more information on the topics she writes about or to book an appointment, contact her clinic on 01524 413733 or via email at helpmebehealthy@gmail.com
Stock photos by Vecteezy
Hi, I’m Paul, your Resident Health Coach... MINDFUL EATING
Paul is a successful and multi-award nominated health coach working for PT Health Coaching, based in Darwen. With over 15 years experience in the field of health, fitness and wellbeing, Paul takes a holistic approach to helping people make positive lifestyle changes. It is a well-known fact that most weight loss programs don’t work in the long term.
Around 85% of obese individuals who lose weight return to or exceed their initial weight within a few years.
Chronic exposure to stress may play a large role in overeating and the development of obesity.
The vast majority of studies agree that mindful eating helps you lose weight by changing eating behaviours and reducing stress.
A 6-week group seminar on mindful eating among obese individuals resulted in an average weight loss of 9 lbs (4 kg) during the seminar and the 12-week followup period.
Another 6-month seminar resulted in an average weight loss of 26 lbs (12 kg), without any regained weight in the following 3-month period.
By changing the way you think about food, the negative feelings that may be associated with eating are replaced with awareness, improved self-control and positive emotions.
When unwanted eating behaviours are addressed, the chances of long-term weight loss success are increased.
BINGE EATING
Binge eating involves eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, mindlessly and without control (think of the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street!).
It has been linked to eating disorders and weight gain, and one study showed that almost 70% of b inge eaters are obese.
Interestingly, mindful eating has been shown to drastically reduce the severity and frequency of binge eating.
MINDFUL EATING AND UNHEALTHY EATING BEHAVIOURS
In addition to being an effective treatment for binge eating, mindful eating methods have also been shown to reduce:
• EMOTIONAL EATING:
Eating in response to certain emotions
• EXTERNAL EATING:
Eating in response to environmental food-related cues, such as the sight or smell of food
Unhealthy eating behaviours like these are the most commonly reported problems among obese individuals. Mindful eating gives you the skills you need to deal with these impulses. It puts you in charge of your responses, instead of you acting on them without thought.
HOW TO MINDFULLY EAT
To practice mindfulness, you’ll need a series of exercises and meditations. Many people find it helpful to attend a seminar, online course or workshop on mindfulness or mindful eating. However, there are many simple ways to get started, some of which can have powerful benefits on their own:
•Eat more slowly and don’t rush your meals – put your knife and fork down
• Chew thoroughly
•Eliminate distractions by turning off the TV and putting down your phone
• Eat in silence (if you eat alone)
• Focus on how the food makes you feel
• Stop eating when you’re no longer hungry
•Ask yourself why you’re eating
Are you actually hungry? Is it healthy?
• Drink water with your meal
• Eat at a table
To start with, pick one meal per day, to focus on these points. Once you’ve got the hang of it, mindfulness will become more natural. Then you can focus on applying these habits into more meals.
Our minds are powerful tools allowing us to thrive or suffer. Let’s shape them so that we do more thriving!
Until next month… Paul
Paul is a Health and wellbeing coach and consultant for individuals and organisations and is Lancashire Magazine’s resident Health Coach. To find out more or to get some support contact him on: Tel: 07495 89298 Email: paul@pthealthcoaching.com
