Author: Charlie Lunan

Washington State Parks Slashes Ranger Positions

January 3, 2012 SGB Update

Washington State Parks Department will slash 83 of its 189 ranger jobs by February, because fewer people than expected are forking over $30 for a new Discovery Pass that was supposed to make up a huge shortfall in state funding, according to a report by

Icebreaker to Open Second New York City Store Jan. 23

January 3, 2012 SGB Update

Icebreaker, the New Zealand company that pioneered the merino wool adventure apparel category, will open its second store in New York City Jan. 23…

SSL Adds 12 Retailers to Snow Sports Buying Group

January 3, 2012 SGB Update

Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL) added a dozen new members to its snow sports retail buying group, including…

Jeff Lowe Named Honorary President at Lowe Alpine

January 3, 2012 SGB Update

Lowe Alpine Ltd., maker of innovative backpacks and outdoor accessories is pleased to announce that Jeff Lowe, iconic alpinist and industry pioneer, will once again join the brand, this time in an non-executive role as Honorary President. The move marks a

Whitewater Design Firm Reports Full 2012 Pipeline

January 2, 2012 SGB Update

Beyond the usual uptick in interest most summer sports enjoy during an Olympic year, whitewater paddling in particular seems poised for growth in 2012, according to S2o Design and Engineering, the whitewager park design build company headed by former US C

Obama Administration Removes Non-Down Sleeping Bags from GSP

January 2, 2012 SGB Update

The Obama Administration again ruled that certain non-down sleeping bags should be removed from eligibility for duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) because of complaints from U.S.-based Exxel Outdoors, which makes sleepin

OIA VantagePoint: Outdoor Product Sales Rose 7.1 Percent in November

December 30, 2011 SGB Update

Outdoor Industry Association released its November OIA VantagePoint™ Monthly Trend Report, which reveals that outdoor product sales grew 7.1 percent to $985.1 million in the four-week fiscal month of November. After a strong start for Outdoor Footwear and

Yue Yuen 2011 Profits Slip on 21.7 Percent Sales Gain

December 30, 2011 SGB Update

Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited's said net profits declined 6.2 percent in the year ended Sept. 30 on a 21.7 percent increase in revenues, which reached $7.04 billion as rising raw material costs and factory wages pressured margins. The world&

ShopperTrak Estimates 4.7 Percent Increase in Holiday Spending

December 29, 2011 SGB Update

ShopperTrak said a surge in traffic at retail stores and malls last week and the day after Christmas point to a 4.7 percent gain in December GAFO sales compared to December 2010. Foot traffic on Monday, Dec. 26 increased 25.9% over the same day last year

GOCO To Award Nearly $32 Million for River Corridor Rec Projects

December 29, 2011 SGB Update

The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board has invited 17 projects to submit full applications for funding via GOCO’s River Corridors Initiative, developed to fund outdoor recreation and open space projects along river corridors throughout Colorado. B

Boycott Prompts Petzl America to Distance Itself from Online Piracy Bill

December 28, 2011 SGB Update

After its name appeared on a boycott list, Petzl America said last week it does not support the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA; H.R. 3261), although it continues to back legislation that would help reduce the theft of intellectual property, production of co

REI Foundation Awards $50,000 to The Mountaineers

December 28, 2011 SGB Update

The REI Foundation awarded its annual $50,000 Mary Anderson Legacy Grant to The Mountaineers, the Seattle-based outdoor education, recreation and conservation nonprofit founded in 1906. Lloyd and Mary Anderson enrolled in the nonprofit’s first basic

Raids Net $77 Million in Counterfeit Goods

December 28, 2011 SGB Update

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the seizure of more than 327,000 counterfeit items with a manufacturer's suggested retail price worth an estimated $76.8 million. The haul included

ComScore: Online Holiday Sales Up 15 Percent Through Dec. 25

December 28, 2011 SGB Update

ComScore estimated holiday season retail e-commerce spending rose 16 percent to $2.8 billion last week and 15 percent for the Nov. 1 through Dec. 26 period…

NPD Group: Brick-and-mortar Traffic Rose Week Before Christmas

December 28, 2011 SGB Update

Brick-and-mortar retailers saw a strong close to the holiday shopping season last week as traffic increased to 69 percent of U.S. consumers from 68 percent the prior week, according to The NPD Group, Inc. Specialty Apparel and Specialty Footwear retailers