# Joseph William Foster > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_William_Foster > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_William_Foster.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_William_Foster > Source revision: 1338428011 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American businessman This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Joseph William Foster" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. It may need editing to conform to Wikipedia's neutral point of view policy. There may be relevant discussion on the talk page. See our advice if the article is about you and read our scam warning in case someone asks for money to edit this article. (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Joe Foster Foster in 2022 Born Joseph William Foster (1935-05-18) 18 May 1935 (age 91) Bolton, Lancashire, England Years active 1958–present Agent A.M. Heath Known for Co-founder of Reebok Predecessor Joseph William Foster Spouse Jean Website reebokthefounder.com **Joseph William Foster** (born 18 May 1935) is the co-founder of [Reebok](/source/Reebok) with his older brother Jeffery William Foster (Jeff). He shares the same name as his grandfather, also named Joseph William Foster. Foster's grandfather was the founder of [J.W. Foster and Sons](/source/J.W._Foster_and_Sons) and the pioneer of the [spiked running shoe](/source/Track_spikes). The elder Foster also developed the trainer ([sneaker](/source/Sneakers)) and provided most [First Division](/source/Football_League_First_Division) (now English Premier League) Football teams with trainers.[1] ## Career Joe Foster was born into the [J.W Foster & Sons](/source/J.W._Foster_and_Sons) family business founded by his grandfather. Joe joined the family business in 1952, but left the company a year later to complete his [National Service](/source/Conscription_in_the_United_Kingdom). Upon his return after 2 years away in 1955, Foster began to have doubts about the future of the family business. The result was that Foster and his older brother Jeff left the family business in order to set up their own business in 1958. The two brothers founded "Mercury Sports Footwear", 6 miles down the road in [Bury](/source/Bury%2C_Greater_Manchester). After 18 months, the duo were advised to protect their company name by registering it. However, they found out that the word "Mercury Sports Footwear" was registered by another company. They started the search for a new name and came across the [grey rhebok](/source/Grey_rhebok), a small South African [antelope](/source/Antelope) in [Webster's dictionary](/source/Webster's_dictionary). The two liked the name of the animal, and used the American spelling which was free to register.[2] The Reebok business developed with Jeff looking after production, Joe took charge of the sales and marketing side, as well as design which included the classic silhouette, outsole and the Starcrest logo. In the early years Joe travelled all over the United Kingdom marketing Reebok shoes to various retailers. In 1979, Joe attended the NSGA (National Sporting Goods of America) Show in [Chicago](/source/Chicago), where he met American businessman [Paul Fireman](/source/Paul_Fireman). Fireman proceeded to license and distribute the Reebok brand in the [United](/source/United_States) States. This collaboration was instrumental in turning Reebok into a leading athletic apparel company.[3] As the surviving co-founder of Reebok, Joe continues to speak about his career at various corporate events.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Joe currently resides in [Tenerife](/source/Tenerife). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Coles_1-0)** Colea, Jason (2016). *Golden Kicks: The Shoes that Changed Sport*. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 14–16. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Humphries, Nick; Foster, Joe. ["Joe Foster (Founder of Reebok) - Startup Success Tips"](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joe-foster-founder-of-reebok-startup-success-tips/id1509338520?i=1000514534285). *Apple Podcasts*. Young Entrepreneur Podcast with Nick Humphries. Retrieved 7 January 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Reebok International Ltd. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Reebok International Ltd"](http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/87/Reebok-International-Ltd.html). ## External links - [Official website](https://www.reebokthefounder.com/) v t e Reebok International Ltd. Subsidiaries Former Avia CCM Rockport Brands Classic Sneakers Freestyle Nano Pump Ventilator Zig Related companies Authentic Brands Group (parent) Adidas (former parent) J.W. Foster and Sons (predecessor) Advertising Campaigns Dan & Dave Terry Tate: Office Linebacker Sponsorships Boston Track Club Drac's Night Out Human Rights Award Pro Summer League Reebok Stadium Key people Joseph W. Foster (co-founder) Swizz Beatz Category Authority control databases VIAF --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph William Foster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_William_Foster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_William_Foster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.