Category: Outdoor

Women’s Apparel Earns Mountain Hardware REI Vendor of Year Honors

February 4, 2008 SGB Update

REI named Mountain Hardwear Inc. as its 2008 Vendor Partner of the Year Award in REI’s Outdoorwear division. REI said Mountain Hardware redesigned much of its women's apparel, a category that helped propel much of REI's growth in 2007. It marked

Staffaroni Resigns from Heelys

February 1, 2008 SGB Update

Heelys, Inc. said its board has accepted the resignation of Michael G. Staffaroni, Heelys’ CEO since 2001, effective Friday. Ralph T. Parks, former president and CEO of FootAction USA, will serve as interim CEO. Parks was named to Heelys’ board of directo

Veltec Becomes Descente Licensee

February 1, 2008 SGB Executive SGB Update

Veltec has signed an agreement with Descente, Ltd. to become the licensee of the Descente brand for the cycling, triathlon, running and fitness markets, in North America and Europe beginning February 1. Descente will be a part of Veltec’s newly formed sof

Beyond Coastal and Chums-Chisco Merge

January 31, 2008 SGB Executive SGB Update

Beyond Coastal Sun Care and Chums-Chisco, have merged. With the merger, Beyond Coastal founder Shawn Biega will continue as an integral part of Sales and Marketing with Chums-Chisco. In addition, retailers will now be able to get more high margin, low cos

Garmin to Ship First Phone in Q3

January 31, 2008 SGB Executive SGB Update

Garmin International Inc. finally entered the mobile phone market with the nuvifone, an all-in-one, sleek and slim, touchscreen device that combines a premium phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator. Garmin said the touchscreen nuvi

OR Winter Marketplace Closes on High Note

January 31, 2008 SGB Executive SGB Update

Ending an energetic week in Salt Lake City that included a preview of fall ’08 apparel, gear and accessories, plenty of natural snow, and fashion shows packed to capacity, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market closed on a high note showing a resilient industry c

Columbia Q4 Sales Up 4%; Company Sees Weaker Q1

January 31, 2008 SGB Executive SGB Update

Columbia Sportswear Co. said net sales rose 4% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, thanks to robust growth in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Canada. The Columbia brand posted 6% growth and Mountain Hardwear increased 15% fro the quarter, while Sorel mo

Wolverine Bests Estimates, Raises 2008 Outlook

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. fourth quarter 2007 earnings per share increased 16.7% over the same period last year. Earnings per share grew 15.6% to a record $1.70 for the fiscal year, exceeding the upper-end of WWW's estimate by 5 cents. Revenues wer

Study Shows Heat Accelerates BPA Release

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

New and used polycarbonate drinking bottles release BPA, an environmental estrogen, up to 55 times more rapidly after being exposed to boiling water, a study by a team at the University of Cincinnati found. The study found new polycarbonate bottles releas

Russell Partners with NCAA Football

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Russell Athletic has entered into a three year partnership agreement with NCAA Football to become the “Official Supplier of NCAA Football Youth Products.” As part of the deal, Russell Athletic has exclusive rights to utilize NCAA Football trademarks on pr

Eddie Bauer Announces Management Appointments

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Eddie Bauer Holdings, Inc. said Tony Krohn, formerly of The North Face, has joined the retailer as Divisional Vice President of Research, Design and Development for Outerwear, Activewear and Gear. At the same time, Joe Moji joins the Company as Divisional

Jarden Names CEO to Ovesee Fishing Brands

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Jarden Outdoor Solutions installed another veteran of the consumer packaged goods industry to its executive ranks. Terry Carlson was named president and CEO of Jarden's fishing businesses. Carlson joins Jarden from RayMarine, where he was CEO for the

Eddie Bauer Cuts Staff, Targets $30M in Savings

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Eddie Bauer Holdings sacked 123 corporate staffers and reshuffled its executive ranks in a bid to cut costs. The cuts, which represent 16 percent of the company's corporate staff, will affect employees in Seattle, Chicago and Columbus. The initiative

Snowsports Sales Surge in December

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Sales of snow sports gear is up 13 percent in dollar terms this season compared to August to December of last year, Snowsports Industries America reported. The SIA said apparel accounts for more than 40 percent of online sales and that the Internet channe

Ashworth Names Director of Sales for Sunice in U.S.

January 30, 2008 SGB Update

Ashworth, Inc. has named golf apparel industry veteran Chuck Sakmann as director of sales to help launch the company’s recently-acquired, Montreal-based Sunice brand of technical outerwear in the United States. The Pennsylvania-based Sakmann also will man