:World Balance
{{short description|Filipino footwear manufacturer}}
{{Not to be confused with|New Balance}}
{{Infobox company
| name = World Balance
| logo = World Balance logo.svg
| logo_size = 200
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| former_name =
| type = Private
| foundation = {{start date and age|1980}}
| founders = Chong brothers (Arsenio Chong, Armani Chong, and Sin Chong)
| location = Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Barnaby Chong (President and CEO){{cite web|url=https://www.speedmagazine.ph/world-balance-expands-footprint-in-visayas/ |title=World Balance expands footprint in Visayas |website=speedmagazine.ph |date=2016-09-22 |access-date=2020-12-26}}
| industry = Footwear
| products = Athletic shoes, apparel, sportswear, sports equipment
| subsid =
| num_employees = 1000 worldwide (2019 est.){{cite web|url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-CHG-Global-EI_IE3034115.11,21.htm |title= World Balance (CHG Inc) Company Profile |access-date= December 26, 2020 |publisher= Glassdoor}}
| revenue =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.worldbalance.com.ph/|worldbalance.com.ph}}
}}
World Balance (WB or W) is a Filipino sports footwear and apparel brand that was established in 1980.{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/business-life/2019/12/13/1975651/list-4-things-you-need-know-about-proudly-filipino-company-world-balance |title=LIST: 4 things you need to know about proudly Filipino company World Balance |website=Philstar |date=2019-10-13 |access-date=2021-01-05}} A division of CHG Global, Inc., the brand is one of the Philippines' major sportswear manufacturers.{{cite web|url=https://primer.com.ph/beauty-fashion/2016/10/02/list-of-local-footwear-brands-in-the-philippines/ |title=List of Local Footwear Brands in the Philippines |website=Philippine Primer |date=2016-10-02 |access-date=2021-01-05}}
History
File:World Balance logo history.jpg
In 1980, Arsenio Chong, Armani Chong, and Sin Chong founded World Balance International Incorporated in their current location in Caloocan. In 2006, one of the brothers' sons, Barnaby Chong, took over as the president and CEO while other family members took up key positions within the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/barnaby-chong-321b761aa/?originalSubdomain=ph |title = Barnaby Chong President and CEO |website=LinkedIn |date=2006-05-01 |access-date =2021-01-05}}
In 2013, the company also launched its sister brand named EasySoft which features shoes made from Vicrotech Material which in terms, being waterproof, flexible, durable and shock-absorbing.[https://easysoft.com.ph/ EASY SOFT PH][https://easysoft.com.ph/pages/about-us About Us]
In 2018, the business entity was renamed from World Balance International, Inc. to CHG Global, Inc., reflecting the diversification of the parent company to its other brands and services.
In 2020, the company announced that it was converting some of its manufacturing facilities to produce face masks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; this has been expanded to include a line of protective apparel.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.ph/life/active-lifestyle/world-balance-enters-face-mask-wars-with-p350-nanosilver-a1017-20200905/ |title=World Balance enters face mask wars with P350 Nanosilver |website=Spin.ph |date=2020-05-09 |access-date=2021-01-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thisishype.ph/world-balance-debuts-nxt-gear-collection-with-masks-caps-and-more/ |title=World Balance Debuts NXT Gear Collection with Masks, Caps, and More |website=This is Hype |date=2020-08-16 |access-date=2021-01-05}}
Products
World Balance manufactures a range of shoes and apparel. Its performance and athlesiure shoes include its Bounce pad and Terrasoft lines, named after the type of foam used in their soles.{{cite web|title=Calling all Warsies! World Balance just dropped their limited edition Star Wars Collection|url=https://www.alike.com.ph/journals/view/the-force-is-strong-with-world-balances-star-wars-collection-484|publisher=Alike|access-date=2021-01-05|date=2019-10-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.classysweets.com/world-balance-lacey-sneakers/|title=World Balance Lacey Sneakers |website=Classy Sweets.com |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2021-01-05}}
The company manufactures lifestyle sneakers worn for fashion, including Disney,{{cite web|url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/316916/disney-and-world-balance-launch-mickey-mouse-collection/ |title=Disney and World Balance launch Mickey Mouse collection |website=Inquirer Lifestyle |date=2018-12-05 |access-date=2021-01-05}} Star Wars,{{cite web|url=https://www.ungeek.ph/2019/10/local-sneaker-brand-world-balance-has-an-awesome-star-wars-sneaker-line/ |title=Local sneaker brand World Balance has an awesome Star Wars sneaker line |website=Ungeek |date=2019-10-16 |access-date=2021-01-05}}{{cite web|title=World Balance launches newest collection with Disney|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/06/26/world-balance-launches-newest-collection-with-disney/|work=Footwear News|access-date=2021-01-05|date=2019-06-26}} Secret Fresh,{{cite web|url=https://www.spot.ph/shopping/the-latest-shopping/80281/world-balance-secret-fresh-collection-a3440-20191218 |title=These World Balance x Secret Fresh Sneakers Are Perfect for Art Geeks |website=Spot.ph |date=2019-12-18 |access-date=2021-01-05}} and Smiley World lines.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/business-world/20200316/282016149397933 |title=World Balance launches its Smiley Collection |website=BusinessMirror |date=2020-03-16 |access-date=2021-01-05}}
EasySoft is World Balance's sister brand which manufactures shoes made from Vicrotech Material for its durability.[https://easysoft.com.ph/ EASY SOFT PH] Most EasySoft shoes are black used for school and office use and serves as an alternative for leather shoes.[https://easysoft.com.ph/blogs/news/shoe-advice-5-things-you-should-know-about-easysoft Shoe Advice: 5 things you should know about EasySoft]
World Balance also manufactures a line of everyday apparel, including snap-button shirt-jackets, windbreakers, long-sleeved shirts and track pants, as well as hoodies and sweaters.{{cite web|title=Philippine Footwer Brand, World Balance, Launches in Dubai Mall|url=https://dubaiofw.com/world-balance-dxb/|work=Hypebeast|access-date=2021-01-05|date=2018-03-21}}
File:World Balance shoes 2011.jpg|Red box showing short-lived World Balance "refresh" logo from 2010 to 2011, beside shoes and boxes with the current logo introduced in 2012.
File:World Balance Hyper Track running shoes.jpg|World Balance Hyper Track running shoes.
File:World Balance Speed Runners M, 2024.jpg|A pair of World Balance Speed Runners for men, released in 2024.
Sponsorships
The company provides licensed merchandise of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA),{{cite web|title=PBA partners with World Balance as the official licensed merchandise provider|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/04/10/pba-partners-with-world-balance-as-the-official-licensed-merchandise-provider/|publisher=BusinessMirror|access-date=2021-01-05|date=2019-04-10}} and is the official sponsor of PBA team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.{{cite news |title=World Balance is Ginebra's new outfitter |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/21/15/world-balance-ginebras-new-outfitter|publisher=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2015-08-21|date=2019-04-10}} Scottie Thompson is a brand ambassador.
World Balance has entered the sponsors' roster of the Binibining Pilipinas franchise. The Philippine pageant determines future candidates for international pageants such as Miss Universe and Miss International. The brand sponsored some of the pageant's candidates' athletic footwear.{{cite news |title=World Balance empowers Binibining Pilipinas candidates |url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/334771/world-balance-empowers-binibining-pilipinas-candidates/|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=2015-08-21|date=2019-05-10}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}
{{Running Shoe Brands}}
Category:1980 establishments in the Philippines
Category:Philippine companies established in 1980
Category:Clothing companies established in 1980
Category:Shoe companies of the Philippines
Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the Philippines