Retailers Also Tighten Inventory

Big 5 Sporting Goods management presented at the ICR conference touting their value-based business model as one that will see particular success with the new value-conscious consumer. Chairman, president and CEO Steve Miller noted that Big 5 average $213

Industry Companies Give a Peek Under The Tent

Industry companies hit the road last week in hopes of drumming up some new investment dollars during a time of difficult trading conditions. The two big conferences for the active sports lifestyle market were the ICR Xchange Conference in Dana Point, CA a

Forzani Sees Flat Holiday Sales

The Forzani Group Ltd. reported total sales for the ten weeks ended Jan. 11 were flat to the prior year. On a same-store basis, total retail system sales were down 1.8%, although sales were stronger in the week before and the week after Christmas…

Sport Chalet Amends Credit Line

On January 9, Sport Chalet Inc. amended its credit agreement with lenders led by Bank of America to loosen its terms, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The filing noted that as of December 31, an event of default had occurre

OIF: Participation Up, But Youth Interest Dropping

In the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, the Outdoor Foundation found that while overall participation in outdoor recreation among Americans is increasing, the connection to nature among youth is declining…

Congress Moves on Trade Action

Congress has been back in session for little more than a week and already trade issues are taking center stage. Last week, Reps. Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sander Levin, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee

Black Diamond Opens Global DC

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. has opened a new global distribution center near its Zhuhai, China headquarters. Located in a Free Trade Zone in the Guangdong province, the center will assist Black Diamond in locating the storage of inventory closer to vario

Grenade Gloves Sponsors X Games

Grenade Gloves has become the official glove partner for the Winter X Games Thirteen, January 22-25, 2009 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. The event is expected to draw more than 76,000 fans, athletes and action sports exhibitors…

Vans Exec Joins Taryn Rose International

Taryn Rose International, the luxury footwear brand, appointed Donald Petersen to vice president of operations, effective immediately. Petersen managed operations for Reebok International in the United States and Europe, oversaw logistics for multiple bra

Westcomb Hires Sales Agencies in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic

Westcomb, the Vancouver-based manufacturer of outdoor apparel, hired new sales agencies in two U.S. territories. Pursuit Brand Equity Group will represent Westcomb in the Northeast (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI), and Moraine Sales will represent the company in

Big Agnes Names New Sales Reps

Big Agnes Inc., the maker of sleeping bags, pads and tents, hired Sasso Vertical Sales Inc to handle Big Agnes’ sales in Western Canada. Additionally, outdoor industry veteran Rose Alford was recently hired for in-house dealer services…

New Balance Appoints EVP, North American Sales

Boston-based New Balance announces the appointment of Chris Quinn as Executive Vice President, North American Sales. Quinn was most recently with Folgers Coffee as Sr. Vice President Sales and Chief Customer Office…