The new MP Michael Phelps brand launched in early 2015 with a line of performance goggles and continued with the much-awaited debut of the XPRESSO tech suit, worn in competition by the most decorated Olympian of all-time himself. This fall featured the debut of the MP line of training suits and the brand continues to expand its offerings. We caught up with representatives from Aqua Sphere responsible for the MP Michael Phelps brand to get the latest scoop on swimming’s newest performance line.
SwimOutlet.com Blog: It’s been just over a year since the MP brand was announced, we’re guessing it’s been a busy year. Tell us some of the biggest things that were needed to get the brand up and running!
MP Michael Phelps: We engaged our global team, from top management through Marketing, Product Development and Sales. It was critical to set-up a way to seamlessly feed ideas from Michael and Bob (Bowman) to our Marketing and Product Development teams. As we identified new product opportunities, we integrated Michael and Bob in the proof of concept and prototype testing to verify that we were meeting their expectations. When launching a new brand, it’s critical that it stands for something different and that the products clearly represent that; Michael Phelps has a vision to change the sport of swimming and the MP brand is one way to help accomplish this vision.
SwimOutlet.com Blog: So take us through then how Michael and his coach Bob Bowman have provided input during the product development process?
MP Michael Phelps: Michael and Bob are driving the product development priorities. They have very clear ideas about what can be improved or is missing from the market and our job is to convert their ideas to real, working products. This involves in-person meetings with our global product teams where we brain storm, we discuss and evaluate their needs in depth, and get in the water to test products. They are providing feedback through the process from initial product design concept to prototype testing and then eventual final product validation.
To see the complete Q&A, go here.
Brand Q&A is courtesy of SwimOutlet.com, a SwimSwam partner.