Shoe 'try-on night' part of company's ad deal with Warren High

Warren Township High School has approved a sports advertising deal that includes a commission if students buy shoes at what's billed as a “try-on night.”

Board members at Gurnee-based Warren District 121 approved the agreement with shoemaker California-based K-Swiss Inc. at a meeting this week.

Warren is guaranteed $600 for allowing two K-Swiss signs in a school cafeteria during spring sports season, instead of putting the signs up where the teams play.

Athletic Director Mark Pos said K-Swiss will host a “try-on night” in March for students interested in buying athletic shoes. Warren will receive $5 for each pair sold.

“It will be a local vendor that I will sit down and meet with and do all the planning of that particular evening,” Pos said at Tuesday night's District 121 board session.

District 121 Superintendent Phil Sobocinski said the plan for K-Swiss to sell shoes to students and give a commission to the school system is similar to how class ring companies operate. It'll be the first time athletic shoes are sold to pupils at school.

Warren's sports advertising deals, such as the one with K-Swiss, have come via Cleveland-based broker Home Team Marketing. Home Team began working with Warren in 2006.

Pos said $900 was gained from football stadium scoreboard advertising this year.

In the 2006-07 academic year, Warren took in a combined $2,300 in a marketing deal set up by Home Team with Allstate Co. and AT&T Inc. Allstate and AT&T had signs at Blue Devils football and basketball games.

Home Team worked on K-Swiss deals earlier this year with high schools in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles and other markets. The company specializes in high school sports marketing.