Collaboration Across Disciplines:

Skate Fenders

Skate Fenders were created by Frank McClelland with the assistance from project manager David Leach of Lake Superior State University’s Product Development Center. Respond Inc. developed the unique product “Skate Fenders” and gained a first mover advantage in the United States as a durable product designed to protect the player from common foot injuries in ice hockey. The product is manufactured through injection molding with high grade polycarbonate. The company currently offers two different versions of the Skate Fenders product, the Full Pro Model and the Compact Pro Model in two sizes.

Recently, Dr. Wilhelms' International Business Law students assisted Mr. McClelland in his efforts to take Skate Fenders international.

Aubrey Ekblad, Aaron Burzynski, Cameron Penny, Nathan Stump, Noel Granger, and Quinn Kelly worked closely with Eric Becks, a project manager, from the Prototype Development Center, and Frank McClelland, the inventor, to investigate the potential for improving the market presence in the European market. The students studied countries such as Germany, The Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Spain, and Switzerland. In addition to the country analysis, the students developed a push and pull marketing strategy specifically targeting the use of Social Media.

Junior Nathan Stump who was a part of the International Business Law class stated that, “Working on the Skate Fenders project has helped me understand the proper steps it takes to send a product overseas. It  has taught me how to research tariffs and develop individual marketing strategies based on the different demographics in each separate nation.”

The team of students presented their findings to Skate Fenders management on December 14th, 2012.