Recreational Equipment, Inc. named Bill Baumann vice president of information technology (IT). He was most recently the VP of IT with Musician's Friend/Guitar Center in Medford, OR. That company sells more than $600 million a year via its web site, w
Author: Charlie Lunan
Energy Costs Squeezing Michigan Retailers
Retailers are feeling a double squeeze from rising fuel prices as their own shipping and receiving costs rise even as they try to hold – or even lower – prices to lure consumers with less discretionary income…
Athlete and Spokesman Buys Stake in Winterstick Snowboards
Winterstick Snowboards rider athlete and spokesman Tom Burt has taken an equity position in the company and will provide input into designing the hand-built boards. Winterstick, which shifted manufacturing to Telluride, CO-based Wagner Custom last season,
Gander Mountain’s Direct Sales Counter Comps Decline in Q2
Gander Mountain Company reported sales rose 16.8% and losses were halved in the quarter ended Aug. 2, 2008, thanks largely to nearly $40 million in sales from its recently acquired Overton's direct sales business. Despite a 11.7% comp store decline,
OIWC Education Foundation Up and Running
The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) officially announced the launch of its new Education Foundation, a non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated specifically to providing women in the outdoor industries with educational programs
Gander Begins Distributing 244-page Catalogue
Gander Mountain said it began limited national distribution of its 244-page catalog to customers. The catalog marks Gander Mountain's return to direct marketing after 12 years…
Coleman Goes Online to Drive Kids Outdoors
The Coleman Co. is encouraging elementary and middle school teachers to include its Coleman 50 States in 50 Days Challenge into their curricula this fall. Starting Sept. 1, kids can log on to a site to track adventurer Mike Haugen as he travels to the tal
Consumer Confidence Builds in August
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index made further gains in August. The index suggest that the economy remains stuck in neutral, but may show signs of improvement by early next year. The Expectations Index suggests better times may be ahead, alth
Hundreds of Delegates Ride Bikes in Denver
Just one day into the Democratic National Convention, more than 1,400 people have participated in Freewheelin, a bike-sharing program being promoted by Humana and Bikes Belong in a bid to promote cycling as a healthy, cost-efficient and environmentally fr
Vans Names Watson to Drive Apparel Sales
Vans, a subsidiary of VF Corp., has hired Jim Watson as director, apparel sales to drive growth of its men's, girls’ and boys’ apparel through U.S. wholesale accounts…
Orange 21 Appoints Merchant Banker as Chairman
Orange 21 Inc. said its board of directors appointed A. Stone Douglass chairman Aug. 20, just two weeks after he joined the board. Douglass is an experienced merchant banker and business management consultant. He is a managing director of Compass Partners
Survey Indicates Gas Prices Are Driving Bike Sales
Is there an upside to high gas prices? If you’re a bicycle retailer, there can be—particularly in the service department. Bikes Belong has just completed a survey of more than 150 bicycle retailers from nearly 40 states to see if their summer 2008 sales r
Canadian Snow Sports Group Upgrades Website
The National Snow Industries Association has launched a new version of its web site to better serve members of Canada's snow sports industry. The first phase of the redesign streamlines the process of obtaining information on the industry, the NSIA a
Outdoor University Reaches 200 Retailers in 2008
Attendance at Outdoor University rose in the double digits this year, reaching more than 200 retailers from more than 125 independent specialty shops, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. The growth indicates retailers are warming to a new forma
The North Face Becomes bluesign Member
The North Face has become a member of bluesign, the Swiss standards organization that helps companies measure their environmental footprint, conserve resources during production and develop more sustainable and transparent production processes…
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