BSN Sports, a division of Varsity Brands and the nation’s largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets, announced it has completed the acquisition of Port Jeff Sporting Goods (pictured) based in Port Jefferson, NY.
On the fourth day of the college basketball corruption trial, the father of an elite basketball recruit testified that before his son committed to Louisville, a family friend told him four other schools—Arizona, Creighton, Oklahoma State and Texas—offered competing bids. Brian Bowen Sr. also discussed details of pay-to-play payments from youth basketball teams.
Overload Golf Ventures announced that the company has acquired Henry-Griffitts, a pioneer in club fitting and club fitting education.
SPIN Capital, the Munich-based investment company, has acquired Pyua, the ski outerwear specialist based in Germany, according to ISPO. The acquisition comes after Spin Capital acquired ABS, the avalanche airbag leader, last fall.
New Balance Foundation, the charitable arm of New Balance Athletics, granted $30,000 to the Travis Mills Foundation to cover the operating costs for September 19-23 at the Travis Mills Retreat, a fully accessible facility for combat-injured veterans and their families.
Eastern Outfitters LLC, the parent of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports that emerged from bankruptcy proceedings through a sale to Sports Direct, won the “Transaction of the Year – Mid-size Company” award from the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) for 2018.
Puma has signed DeMarcus Cousins of the Golden State Warriors as the company’s latest ambassador to support the company’s return to basketball, according to ESPN.
Nike said Thursday the company was “deeply concerned” by rape allegations surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo.
To celebrate California recently naming surfing as the state’s official sport, United Airlines said the company is removing the service fees for surfboards for customers traveling to or from California.
Granite Gear, the Northern Minnesota-based backpack manufacturer, announced the passing of former company partner Mike Cruikshank.
Bedgear announced a multi-year partnership as the Official Pillow and Mattress Partner of the TCS New York City Marathon, starting with the company’s return to this year’s race taking place on Sunday, November 4, 2018.
RYU Apparel Inc., maker of urban athletic apparel, said the company has received acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) to decrease the exercise price of a total of 114,186,456 warrants that were issued in private placement unit offerings on December 4, 2017.
ICSC forecasts that shoppers will spend $807 billion, an increase of 4.5 percent over last year, with $685 billion being spent on gifts and other holiday items and $122 billion on food and beverage.
The National Retail Federation announced that the federation expects holiday retail sales in November and December to increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent over 2017. The forecast compares with an average annual increase of 3.9 percent over the past five years.
More than 110 volunteers from 12 Conservation Alliance member companies participated in the organization’s 11th Annual Backyard Collective stewardship event near Boulder, CO, on Friday, September 28.
Portland, ME-based outdoor and lifestyle brand Flowfold has announced the acquisition of a 7,500-square-foot, multi-tenant, industrial building in Gorham, ME.
Darn Tough Vermont, an American manufacturer of outdoor and lifestyle socks, has announced the promotion of Lyn Feinson to VP of product design and development.
Outdoor Retailer, the largest U.S. tradeshow and premier business event for the outdoor industry, on Thursday introduced the initial judges for the inaugural Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards.
Adidas announced a multiyear partnership with 2017-18 NHL All-Star Game Tournament MVP and 2017-18 Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) finalist Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks.
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed California Senate Bill 826, which requires publicly held companies based in California to have a minimum of one woman on their boards of directors by the end of 2019 and more in the future.
Sandy Bodecker, a long-time Nike employee credited with bringing the Nike SB label to prominence and recently leading the Breaking project, has passed away.
The September 2018 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 919,979 represented a decrease of 9.7 percent compared to the September 2017 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1.02 million.
Art of Sport, a new body care brand for athletes counting Kobe Bryant as a founding partner, officially launched.
About 246,000 Ozark Trail camp axes sold by Walmart are being recalled. The axe head can detach from the handle posing an injury hazard.
L.L.Bean announced the company’s partnership with The Trust for Public Land with a $1 million investment to help connect more people to nature.
Rylo, the action camera startup, secured $20 million in Series B funding, led by Icon Ventures. Niclas Bornling, formerly at New Era, was hired as VP of marketing.
Foot Locker Inc. has again partnered with the Fred Jordan Missions to provide thousands of under-privileged children in the Los Angeles area with free athletic shoes.
The Heritage Classic Foundation announced that Southern Tide, the coastal lifestyle and apparel brand, has signed a multi-year agreement as the “Official Style” sponsor of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.
Camber Outdoors, the active-outdoor industries organization committed to a vision of Everyone’s Outdoors, has announced eight October events in the 2018 Camber Exchange series.
100% has appointed Mike Wilson as marketing manager.
Implus, the market leader in athletic, fitness and outdoor accessories, announced the acquisition of RockTape, a leading provider of kinesiology tape, medical education and other health and wellness products.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association included certain Amazon marketplaces in the company’s submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) identifying foreign markets that facilitate the sale of counterfeits.
According to documents filed in bankruptcy court, Toys R Us’ lenders cancelled the bankruptcy auction of intellectual property assets after receiving qualified bids for assets by investors seeking to revive the chain.
Jordan Brand announced that the company will open a massive Flight 23 flagship in Downtown Los Angeles on October 20.
Under Armour signed on to become the provider of uniforms and other athletic merchandise to Lumen Christi Catholic School, based in Jackson, MI.
Nike alums Keith Crawford and David Odusanya have launched CO-Lab., a creative agency focused on design strategy for companies, from brand and product development to the consumer experience.
Top of the World, a collegiate apparel and headwear provider and a key licensee partner for Michigan State, along with local retailer Alumni Hall, are hosting a Michigan State retail and experiential pop-up shop at the East Lansing Marriott at University Place from October 16 through 21.
Two major organizations in the sport of running, The Running Event (TRE) conference and expo and the Running Industry Association (RIA), the nonprofit trade group representing independently owned running retailers and the brands they sell, announced a partnership agreement focused on helping specialty running retailers excel during TRE 2018, to be held Nov. 27-30, 2018, at the Austin (TX) Convention Center.
AlterG, creator of the Anti-Gravity Treadmill technology, announced today that the company raised $6 million in a new equity financing from new investors including Sorehsa AG, Leerink Revelation Partners and Partner Ventures, plus existing investors, including Versant Ventures.
SeventySix Capital, a sports tech venture capital fund led by former MLB superstar Ryan Howard, announced that NBA legend Ralph Sampson has joined the company’s Athlete Venture Group.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s board of directors on Tuesday announced the appointment of Jill Soltau as CEO and a member of the board of directors, effective Oct. 15.
Smartwool announced Tuesday the company has hired Josh Novis as its Canadian sales manager.
The U.S., Canada and Mexico have reached a deal to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new deal, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, keeps the framework of NAFTA largely intact, maintaining the status quo of free trade between the three countries.
American Apparel & Footwear Association President and CEO Rick Helfenb commented on the reworked NAFTA deal, and said in a statement, “This shows that all three countries recognize the importance of the trilateral trading arrangement that has been fostered and supported by NAFTA during the past 24 years.”
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay commented on the reworked NAFTA deal, and said in a statement, “We are pleased a deal has been reached that preserves NAFTA’s trilateral framework, which is critical to protecting North American supply chains that support millions of American jobs.”
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President & CEO Auggie Tantillo commented on the reworked NAFTA deal, and said a statement, “Unlike the original NAFTA, the new agreement includes a separate textile and apparel chapter. This outcome is a tangible recognition by all three parties of the importance of textile manufacturing to the regional economy.”
Timberland opened the doors to the company’s first experiential pop-up store on New York’s famed Fifth Avenue, at 43rd Street.
The Tottenham Hotspur football club announced a multi-year agreement with headwear brand, New Era.
Amazon announced the company is increasing the company’s minimum wage to $15 for all full-time, part-time, temporary (including those hired by agencies) and seasonal employees across the U.S.—effective November 1.
Moody’s Investors Service assigned a Baa2 rating to Brunswick Corp.’s proposed senior unsecured notes. The ratings remain under review for downgrade.
Puma has reinforced the company’s corporate communications team by appointing Robert-Jan Bartunek as senior manager corporate communications.
The North Face announced the Free Solo Speaker Series tour featuring professional athletes Alex Honnold and Jimmy Chin.
For the second time in as many seasons in his Major League career, Aaron Judge was the player whose jersey fans most wanted to wear, Major League Baseball announced.
The Conservation Alliance sent grants totaling $879,000 to 22 organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America.
Pittsburgh Penguins players wore green skate laces at practice on Monday to support the “Sports Matter” program with Dick’s Sporting Goods.
CrossFit Inc. on Monday announced that Wodapalooza, a global fitness festival and inclusive competition, is joining the roster as the seventh event to be sanctioned by CrossFit.
Gamo USA and Daisy Outdoor Products has announced the appointment of Wisconsin native Joe Syring as the new VP of sales for both companies.
Perry Ellis International Inc. on Monday announced that independent proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis & Co., recommend that Perry Ellis shareholders vote for the proposed acquisition by the entity controlled by George Feldenkreis at Perry Ellis’ special meeting of shareholders scheduled for October 18.
The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), the nonprofit organization that leads FFANY Market Weeks in New York and the organization’s NY Shoe Expo Tradeshows, and Informa PLC, organizer of FN Platform, MAGIC, Coterie and PROJECT, announced a joint collaboration to promote the development and growth of the footwear industry in the United States.
After 35 years at the helm, Pacific Market International (PMI) founder Rob Harris is proud to announce Bob Keller’s appointment as the new CEO.
Sun & Ski Sports will open the company’s newest location at the Valley’s leading shopping destination, McAllen’s La Plaza Mall, in November 2018. This will be the first store in the Rio Grande Valley for the Texas based retailer.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) on Monday announced the appointment of three staff members to senior leadership positions within the association.
Schutt Sports’ new football helmet, the F7 LTD, has earned a “Five Star” rating and the number one and best-performing helmet in the Virginia Tech STAR Rating System, displacing a highly touted and publicized helmet from Vicis.
Alterra Mountain Co. announced Monday that the company has closed on the purchase of Crystal Mountain Resort in Washington.
Outdoor adventure and travel media platform Outdoor Project publicly announced the results of the platform’s Women in the Wild 2018 series.
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of independent specialty retail, this week welcomed five new members to the alliance’s retailer network.
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has released the association’s 18th Sustainable Slopes Annual Report detailing the ski industry’s progress in implementing the principles of the association’s Environmental Charter during the 2017-18 season.
Tactical apparel and gear company 5.11 has opened a brick-and-mortar retail store in West Palm Beach, FL.
Revolve Group Inc., the Los Angeles-based online apparel retailer targeting Millennial women, filed documents for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RVLV.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc. announced that Jeffrey Davis has informed the company that he is resigning from his position as executive vice president and chief financial officer effective Oct. 1 to pursue another opportunity. Jerry Murray, senior vice president of finance, will assume the position of interim chief financial officer.
Puma announced a long-term partnership with international supermodel Adriana Lima.
Camping World Holdings Inc., the nation’s largest outdoor and RV company, announced the promotion of Brent Moody to the role of president of Camping World Holdings.
Athletic Supply/Barcelona Sporting Goods, owned by Trivest Partners, has acquired three team dealers: Williams’ Sporting Goods (WSG), Cardinal’s Sports Center and Team Sports Inc. (TSO).
Birkenstock announced the company has opened the brand’s first company-owned retail store in the United States. The store is located at 120 Spring Street in the historic SoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan.
About 600 adult tricycles from TerraTrike are being recalled.
Photo courtesy Port Jeff Sports
