ADA and NBS announced plans to merge, effective September 1, 2018. The ADA has agreed to join the NBS group to build a stronger team dealer organization.

The organizations said the combination of dealers will allow the combined organization to double the size of its team dealer count. This merger represents a pooling of the expertise of two major buying groups, with the goal of improving benefits, rebates and services to the combined membership, while reducing costs and improving efficiencies for the vendor community.

NBS was established in 1956 and is comprised of over 375 independent retail members with over 1,200 storefronts in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. NBS brings the ADA Dealers a diverse portfolio of buying opportunities in all categories of outdoor sports and general sporting goods.

The ADA has been in existence for 38 years and brings significant experience in the athletic team and institutional industry. The combination of these two organizations, the significant benefits and staff experience combine to make the two organizations strong together.

“We are pleased to join forces with the ADA Dealers. This merger will enhance the opportunities for both our members and make doing business with our combined groups more cost effective for the Vendor Community. While the upcoming NBS/ADA July Show in Jacksonville will be a co-located event, we look forward to welcoming the ADA Dealers to our merged show in Arlington, TX, in November,” said NBS president Jim Chandley.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the NBS staff to improve the profitability of our combined membership. We must continue to improve the value we provide to our membership to help them compete in a constantly changing retail and team environment,” said ADA president Peter Schneider.