Loco faqs

What does LOCO mean?

As runners we have all been accused of being crazy at one point or another. Whether it's running in blinding heat, driving rain or blowing snow. Just like you we've gotten up at the crack of dawn to sneak in a run, to train for a marathon or 5K or whatever. You know what we mean. Or maybe you squeezed a run in before your wife went into labor like I did and my wife never let me forget it. What about those cold and rainy hard 10Ks before Thanksgiving dinner. I could go on and on -

About out name:

Almost everyone knows the word Loco to mean "crazy. It really means hey you with the wild and crazy hair, slow down so I can catch you. No - because of fair trade relations we have to admit that LOCO takes its origins from our Mexican neighbors and it means literally to "to be crazy about something" - The most famous use is for to be crazy about motion as in locomotion. Fitting don't you think?

Founder: Michael St. Laurent (Mike St.)

What is the history of LOCO?

LOCO was founded in 2003 and incorporated in New Hampshire as a privately held corporation. It was setup in Australia in 2004 as a privately owned company.

LOCO is not a venture backed firm, nor is it publicly traded. When you talk to us at LOCO about your running and your shoes you are talking to the owners who are runners just like you.

LOCO Sports home office is locted in Newmarket, New Hampshire, a great seacoast town with a strong history in running and runners.

Who is LOCO owned by?

The LOCO company is owned by a core group of runners in USA and australia who wanted to make the best possible, performance-based products for runners on the market.

These runners range from core runners who run a few races a year, to serious club runners, to triathletes to the most serious marathoners.

LOCO: core runners, triathletes, club members and competitors - just like you.

Who designs your shoes?

Our shoe models are designed by core runners who are experienced in every facet of running shoes and production. Our models come from recommendations by you, the runner our customers.

Our founders have over 30 years working in running shoe development for the industries largest and best known athletic shoes companies.

A few of the models developed by the founders in the past include:

• Nike Pegasus
• Saucony Shadow
• New Balance 565 and 995
• and dozens of others.

Where are your shoes made?

Our shoes are made in factories that have extensive experience in manufacturing performance running footwear. These factories make production shoes for some of the best know brands on the market. Our development is started here in our office, with samples and production completed by a quality manufacturer in the Orient

Of course we would like to say that we hand cobble these in our garage just for you. But we are not that loco.

Why should I buy your shoes?

• The real question is - should I run in LOCO shoes?
• YES, but If and only if our shoes are right for you!
• As runners ourselves we know that getting the right running shoe is one of the most important things to stay healthy and enjoy running. We want you to buy our shoes -
  • If and only if they fit right, feel right, flex right.
  • If the technology matches your running style and is right for you.
  • If you are a runner interested in a new unique brand that promises to stay true to you the runner and the sport.

Where can I try your shoes?

LOCO shoes will soon be sold by a few key stores. We currently attend races, sporting events and running club meetings where we sell direct. In November2004 we will post a list of all races we will be at where you can try our shoes - for real - flex them, run in them. If you're really dying to try a pair, contact us and we will find a way!

If these shoes are so good, why don't they cost more?

There are 4 major reasons why LOCO NZ can provide high performance running shoes to our customers at such competitive prices:

1. The design of our shoes is elegantly simple. They are designed functionally for runners and running. Our shoes incorporate only the essential technology you need for running. Because they don't have any unnecessary flashy overlays or patterns, our shoes cost less to produce and we pass the savings on to our runner customers.
2. If you make a good shoe you don't have to change it every 6 months or even every year. LOCO models stay the same design for 5 years. Much of the cost of normal shoes goes into paying for the development costs of those fancy new designs including new molds and dies. Since our costs are spread out over 5 years we can pass those savings on to our loyal runner customers.
3. LOCO supports local teams and clubs and not on million dollar athletes and billion dollar ad budgets. Some major companies spend 15% of their revenue on marketing and advertising. Large companies have to pay for this advertising by selling expensive shoe models. LOCO markets to runners without expensive advertising and over-hyped technology.
4. We are selling the shoes directly to our customers via the internet and directly to clubs and schools, which saves the substantial mark-up that retailers add to the price of their shoes.

Why do your shoes cost less then competitors?

Three reasons: -

• Because we want to go back to a simpler world of reasonably priced running shoe models. (Don't you?)
• Our shoes stay in line for 5 years - we have less cost for development and inventory
• LOCO shoes follow a simple fit feel and function promise - we put less technology stuff on our shoes. We refuse to add features just to make shoes look more technical.

Running shoes made by our competitors are designed to fit certain price points in the market and the retail stores. Our models are priced by what runners want to buy shoes at direct.

OK, we're Loco, we have to ask - why do theirs have to cost so much???

How well do your shoes perform?

LOCO models are made with state of the art materials and the best possible production methods. We place a high emphasis on making quality shoes with the very best components. (Hey, we run in them too.)

Our extensive wear testing has proven that LOCO shoes perform just as well and last just as long as many higher priced models on the market.