eNewsletter: June 2009

Welcome to our June 2009 issue with a special focus on sports and leisure. To view our full rewards online catalog, please visit www.rewardsdirect.com.

• Brand Spotlight: Oakley
• What People Want Right Now: Sports and Leisure

Brand Spotlight: Oakley

"Challenging the Limits of Conventional Thinking"

In 1975 with 300 dollars in his pocket and a backyard garage serving as a test lab, Jim Jannard, founder of Oakley, set forth to revolutionize the way people look at eyewear. Jannard started Oakley with the simple idea of making products that work better and look better than anything else out there. "Everything in the world can and will be made better," Jannard would often tell skeptics who doubted his ability to compete against larger companies, "the only question is, 'when and by whom?'" For Jannard, that meant challenging the limits of conventional thinking. Jannard first made a name for himself when he created the O Frame® goggle with a lens curved in the perfect arc of a cylinder. The goggle would go on to become a mainstay in MX racing for 17 years. Pros like Mark Barnett, Marty Smith, Johnny O'Mara and Jeff Ward championed its clarity and wide peripheral view. Shortly after the "O Frame," Jannard went back to his lab and started reinventing sunglasses for other sports. He used innovations from his previous inventions to create "Eyeshades®," a design that began an evolution of eyewear from generic accessory to vital equipment. Sport's enthusiasts especially loved the new design concept, raving about the sunglasses clear view and its ability to not fog during perspiration. In addition, the wrap-around shape prevented irritants from flying into their eyes when competing. Oakley had truly put itself on the map.

Decades of innovation brought new product technologies, blends of science and art that have been awarded more than 540 patents worldwide making Oakley one of the largest sunglasses manufacturers in the world today. Jannard's Oakley brand has become the mark of excellence and the solution to challenges facing those who cannot compromise on performance.

Jannard's Philosophy of Design:

• Redefine products by redefining what is physically possible –
  Nothing is impossible. New ideas demand new technology, and some are insistent. CAD/CAM engineering lets Oakley experiment and explore.
• Reject conventional ideas and, when necessary, reinvent from scratch –
  That means sending out hunter-gatherers to roam the world for inspirations, and locking ourselves in a design bunker until even the rawest materials get the science treatment.
• Transcend performance innovations into solutions for everyday applications –
  By serving the demands of professional athletes, we create innovations that serve all.
• Deliver the unexpected –
  That's what invention is all about. Science and art come together, producing a new formula of performance and style, and the occasional nasty explosion.

What People Want Right Now: Sports and Leisure

As the weather warms, more people are spending time outdoors enjoying fun in the sun. Here's a list of the top ten sports and leisure items being redeemed from our Rewards Direct Collection.