Rasa Libre Ends Its Run

Deluxe Distribution's Jim Thiebaud announced the end to skateboard brand Rasa Libre in a press release, noting that “no single reason or even a bunch of reasons” could be pointed to for blame, but rather that sometimes, “it comes down to a bunch of f

Black Friday Has Less Impact on Holiday Trend…

Has Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that had been the historical tipping point for American retailers to start turning a profit for the year, become much ado about nothing for good? Before the leftovers are all gone, before the numbers are talli

Vital Apparel Group Acquires InSport…

Vital Apparel Group last week acquired InSport International in a move that gives the women’s fitness apparel company a solid foothold in the running and cycling business. Terms of the deal with were not disclosed. Vital, a privately-held company based

Nike Execs Glad to be Back on Ground…

Bill Perez knew that his move to Nike, Inc. would be an exciting ride, but the company’s president and CEO got more than he bargained for last Monday. National media rushed to a scene that had four execs circling Portland, Ore. for six hours as the compa

Genesco Continues to Score Big in the Mall…

Genesco Inc. was able to overcome tough comparisons to a strong third quarter last year, and challenges from hurricanes and rising gas prices this year, to deliver a solid top-line effort in the quarter ended October 29. The company saw balanced sales gr

K2 Outerwear Group Takes Shape Under Marmot…

All sales, marketing, and product development operations of the K2 Snow apparel brand have fully transitioned from K2 Sports in Vashon, Wash., to operate under Marmot in Santa Rosa, Calif. K2 Inc. acquired Marmot in 2004, enabling the company to establis

Perry Ellis Dives Deeper into the Action Sports Market…

Perry Ellis International seems to be taking a closer look at the Action Sports industry, changing its Swim division into an Action Sports/Active group after acquiring the Gotcha brand and its trademarks. PERY took its actions in the industry a step furt

BRS Fuels Further Growth at Levtran…

Private equity firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., L.L.C. continues to have an appetite for the sporting goods industry, making another deal last month to fund an MBO at Levtran Enterprises, which operates the Downtown Locker Room and DTLR businesses

China Commits to Offensive Against Golf Counterfeitors…

The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, which includes the Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, MacGregor Golf, Nike, PING, and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, announced last week that the Chinese government has launched a major