Preferential Trade Programs Could Expire Dec. 31

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation last week to extend by one year the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) programs. It is now up to the Senate to pass the legislation before both expire

Louis Vuitton Settles with New Balance

Louis Vuitton agreed to stop selling its Minstrel shoe line as part of a settlement reached with New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., which had accused the French luxury goods company of copying New Balance's best-selling 574 shoe. New Balance, which file

The Hartford Sales Group Celebrates 25 Years!

The Hartford Sales Group celebrated its 25th anniversary recently at The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, California. The Sales Associates presented Larry Hartford, Principal of the agency, with a plaque and a personalized golf bag, thanking him for his &

Alexander Wins Hartford Sales Group MVP Award!

Kevin Alexander was awarded the Hartford Sales Group's MVP award for the Fall 2009 booking season at their recent agency meeting in Laguna Beach, CA. Larry Hartford, the agency's principal, recognized Kevin for his outstanding sales achievement

Buckman’s Ski and Snowboard Shops Go Green

Buckman’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which has five ski and snowboard shops in Pennsylvania, has constructed a 620 kilowatt solar energy system at their corporate headquarters in Pottstown, PA. Made up of nearly 3,000 roof-mounted solar panels, this s

Essilor Acquires FGX International Holdings

French opthalmic-lens giant Essilor International plans to acquire FGX International Holdings, the Smithfield, RI-based owner of Foster Grant, Gargoyles, Ironman, Champion and Body Glove sunglasses. Under the terms of the merger, FGX International shareh

Global Brands Hires E-Commerce Partner

Global Brands Group, FIFA’s exclusive worldwide master licensee, has entered into a multi-year deal with Delivery Agent, Inc., which will build, host and manage multi-lingual e-commerce environments covering North America, Europe and South Africa.

Delta Apparel Acquires Custom Clothing Business

Delta Apparel Inc has agreed to buy graphics apparel business Art Gun Technologies LLC in a move that takes it into the customized apparel market for the first time. Through its “virtual art studio,” Art Gun provides shoppers the ability to design apparel

Pelé Launches New Apparel Venture

Pelé, the Brazlian soccer legend, has launched his own cleat and apparel-manufacturing venture—Pelé Sports AG—with a group of German investors, according to the Wall Street Journal…

Advanced Sports Acquires Oval Concepts

Advanced Sports, Inc., which owns Kestrel, Breezer, Fuji and other bike brands, is buying the cycling components company Oval Concepts. ASI said it has purchased the Oval Concepts brand, trademarks and tooling and has entered into a license agreement for

SGMA Launches Trade Association for Fitness Manufacturers

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) has created the Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers (AFIRM) to cater to the government affairs, educational and market research needs of fitness industry manufacturers and retailers