Last modified: Monday, April 26, 2004
Hat World co-founder to cap off Friday's IU Entrepreneur Day
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Scott Molander, co-founder and executive vice president of Hat World, will be the keynote speaker at the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's fourth annual Entrepreneur Day on Friday (April 30) at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in Bloomington.
Entrepreneur Day gives entrepreneurs in the community, students, alumni, and business and industry leaders an opportunity to discuss issues facing start-up and high-growth companies. Along with the keynote address by Molander, there will be a panel discussion on "Why Indiana? Fertile Ground for Entrepreneurship."
The program will run from 1 to 5 p.m. in Room 0036 of the Kelley Graduate and Executive Education Center, 1275 E. 10th St. on the IU Bloomington campus. The event is free and open to the public. A paid parking garage is adjacent to the building. Registration is required and can be done by contacting the Johnson Center at 812-855-4248 or jecei@indiana.edu.
Hat World Inc., recently acquired by Genesco Inc. for $177 million, is the retail leader in athletic headwear. Hat World Inc. is comprised of nearly 500 stores under the Lids, Hat World, Hat Zone and Cap Factory retail store names and online businesses. It is the world's largest retailer specializing in the sale of officially licensed and branded headwear.
Molander and Glenn Campbell, executive vice president and general merchandise manager, co-founded Hat World in 1995. Both were successful managers with a national athletic retailer and decided it was time to go into business for themselves. Since that decision, Hat World has seen incredible growth and recognition, leading to its acquision.
Molander says, "If you can make a living selling pretzels, soap and cookies in a mall, why not hats?"
Along with the financial success of the company, Molander also is proud of Hat World's involvement as a corporate sponsor of Caps for Kids, a nonprofit organization that gives hats autographed by athletes, entertainers and other notable personalities to children, adolescents and young adults who lose their hair from chemotherapy.
Following Molander's presentation, there will be a panel discussion focusing on starting and keeping businesses in Indiana. The session will feature Steve Humke, a partner in Ice, Miller; Tim Michel, director of real estate management services at Colliers, Turley, Martin Tucker; and Mack McCormick, president and chief executive officer of AuthorHouse.
IU's Kelley School of Business has one of the best entrepreneur programs in the nation. Last year, it was recognized by the editors of Entrepreneur magazine as one of the 12 top-tier national programs.
