Statement on Trump Gets New Balance in Trouble

Athletic apparel retailer New Balance is distancing itself from a white supremacist group's call to support it for statements a company executive made backing Republican President-Elect Donald Trump. The Chicago Tribune reports "…the alt-right website, The Daily Stormer, proclaimed Boston-based New Balance the ‘Official Shoes of White People’ this weekend after company vice president of public affairs Matt LeBretton praised Trump."

LeBretton told The Wall Street Journal that a vote for Trump was a step in the right direction. However, in a press statement, New Balance has said LeBretton's comments were taken out of context. In addition, the retailer noted that it "does not tolerate bigotry or hate in any form" and followed up with the statement below:

"As a 110-year-old company with five factories in the U.S. and thousands of employees worldwide from all races, genders, cultures and sexual orientations, New Balance is a values-driven organization and culture that believes in humanity, integrity, community and mutual respect for people around the world."

Total Retail's Take: In what's a very volatile time, New Balance made a smart decision to put out a statement reiterating its core company values and interest in moving forward while putting the focus on its employees and products, not politics.