Wolverine Year Boosted by Merrell…

Wolverine World Wide said that the Merrell business “had another phenomenal year” with sales for 2003 growing 20%, exceeding the company’s 15% growth plan for the brand for the year. Fourth quarter sales for the brand were described as growing at a “slig

Coles Resigns as Reebok Brand Prez…

Martin Coles has resigned as president of the Reebok Brand, citing personal reasons for his decision. Jay Margolis, president and COO of Reebok International Ltd., has assumed the daily responsibilities of leading the Reebok brand…

Dunlop Slazenger is Latest Ashley Deal…

Dunlop Slazenger has reportedly been sold to Sports World International LTD, the owner of the Sport Soccer and Lilywhites retail chains with over 120 doors in the U.K. and 20 more in Ireland and Belgium…

Genesco Puts a Lid on Mall Presence…

Genesco Inc., parent company of the Journeys, Underground Station and Johnston & Murphy shoe chains, has acquired Hat World Corporation, parent of the Hat World and Lids headwear chains, in a deal worth $165 million, “subject to adjustment for changes in

Cornerstone Flips True Temper…

Cornerstone Equity Investors will sell its investment in True Temper Corporation to company management and Gilbert Global Equity Partners and “related entities” in a deal that is expected to close “within the next 90 days”…

Nautilus Doubles Warranty Period…

Shortly after recalling 420,000 of their Bowflex machines (see SEW_0405) Nautilus has decided to extend the warranty on all of the “Bowflex Power Pro” machines from five years to ten. In connection with the recall, the CPSC said that there were “59 back,

JFF Probe Claims Two More Execs…

Tom Shine, currently Reebok’s SVP for Sports & Entertainment Marketing, is the latest to plead guilty in the federal probe of Just for Feet. The incident occurred when Shine was president of Logo Athletic, which filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and was acquir

SIA Attendance Up 1.3%

The SIA.04 SnowSports Show wrapped up Thursday, January 29, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, and the phrase unanimously echoed throughout the hall was, “the best show in years”. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, SnowSports Indus

Obermeyer Winter Marketing Competition Results are In

Obermeyer has announced the winners of this winter’s retail competition, which included categories for in-store displays and on-line clinic participation. Retailers from around the country submitted their most successful displays from the past year to be

Dennis Baldwin is New Chief Marketing Officer of Reebok

Reebok International president and chief operating officer Jay Margolis announces the appointment of Dennis Baldwin as the chief marketing officer for the Reebok brand. Baldwin, who had been the brand's senior vice president of global footwear since

May Dept. Stores Shuffles the Deck

The May Department Stores Company announced the retirement of two senior executives and the promotion of two other executives. Clarence O. (Bud) Reynolds, chairman of Lord & Taylor, and Kenneth L. Wilkerson, chairman of Hecht's/Strawbridge's, wi

Bite Becomes Exclusive Distributor of Superfeet in Golf

Bite Footwear obtained an agreement with Superfeet to be the exclusive distributor of Superfeet insoles to the United States golf industry. The relationship between the two companies is a natural fit: both Bite and Superfeet focus on developing functional

Stonewear Designs Launches Yoga Ambassador Program

Stonewear Designs has launched a Yoga Ambassador program to help support the popularity they already enjoy among yoga enthusiasts. The goal of the Yoga Ambassadors program is to build a small corps of yoga instructors to be an auxiliary force to Stonewear

Bending Branches Paddle Shows 87% Growth

Paddles are flowing out of the Bending Branches Paddle manufacturing facility in Osceola, WI. After launching a complete line of compression and injection-molded composite kayak paddles at the 2002 Outdoor Retailer show, dealer response was so good that t