# Implus

> Implus is a Durham, North Carolina-based consumer products company that builds and buys active-lifestyle accessory brands - insoles, performance socks, shoe care, home fitness, recovery tools and outdoor traction gear - and sells them through more than 60,000 retail outlets across roughly 60 countries. Founded in the late 1980s around the Sof Sole insole brand, it grew into a house of around 18 brands including SKLZ, Yaktrax, Balega, Spenco, TriggerPoint, Harbinger and RockTape, largely through a long string of acquisitions under private-equity ownership.

- **Founded:** 1989
- **Headquarters:** Durham, North Carolina, United States
- **Founders:** Founded around the Sof Sole insole brand (family-led, post-Footstar) (Founding brand / management)
- **Team size:** Approximately 470-1,000 employees
- **Products:** Footcare & footwear accessories, Performance socks, Fitness & athletic performance, Movement & flexibility / recovery, Outdoor traction & warmth
- **Notable:** Grew from a single insole brand to a portfolio of roughly 18 active-lifestyle brands., Completed 20+ acquisitions, including RockTape (its 20th) by 2018., Built distribution reaching 60,000+ retail outlets in about 60 countries.

## Products & services

- **Footcare & footwear accessories** — Insoles, shoe care, odor control and hosiery under brands like Sof Sole, Spenco, Airplus, Sneaker Balls and Penguin.
- **Performance socks** — Premium running and lifestyle socks, led by the Balega brand.
- **Fitness & athletic performance** — Home fitness, training and strength accessories under SKLZ and Harbinger.
- **Movement & flexibility / recovery** — Foam rollers, massage and recovery tools, and kinesiology tape under TriggerPoint and RockTape.
- **Outdoor traction & warmth** — Ice cleats, traction devices, boot dryers and hand/foot warmers under Yaktrax, ICETrekkers, STABIL, DryGuy and Little Hotties.

## Achievements

- Grew from a single insole brand to a portfolio of roughly 18 active-lifestyle brands.
- Completed 20+ acquisitions, including RockTape (its 20th) by 2018.
- Built distribution reaching 60,000+ retail outlets in about 60 countries.
- Recruited former Newell Brands CEO Michael Polk to lead the company in 2020.

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Michael Polk profiled discussing why leaders thrive in privately owned businesses; continues as CEO of Implus.
- **2020-02** — Michael Polk, former Newell Brands CEO, appointed interim CEO of Implus, later leading its transformation.
- **2018-10** — Implus completed its acquisition of RockTape, described as its 20th acquisition.
- **2015-01** — Berkshire Partners acquired a majority stake in Implus from Trilantic Capital Partners.

## Links

- Website: https://implus.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/implus
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/implusllc/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/implus
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-05