OIA: November Outdoor Sales Slide 11%

According to most recent edition of The OIA Outdoor Topline Report, retail sales for all core outdoor stores (chain, internet, specialty) fell 11% in dollars ($407,383,909) compared to November 2007($458,334,314), the first month of overall dollar sales d

Skechers, Adjmi Team Up for Kids Apparel Line

Skechers USA said that Adjmi Apparel Group has been named the licensee for a new Skechers-branded children’s clothing line set to launch in Fall 2009 at department, specialty and online retailers that carry Skechers Kids footwear…

Columbia Sportswear Promotes Cusick to CFO

Columbia Sportswear Co. will promote Thomas B. Cusick to the executive position of VP, CFO and treasurer, effective Jan. 23. Cusick has served in senior financial management roles with Columbia Sportswear since joining the company as corporate controller

Management Shakeup at JJB Sports

JJB Sports, the struggling U.K. sporting goods chain, has named David Jones, the former chief executive of U.K. fashion chain Next, as executive chairman. Peter Williams, the former chief executive of the Selfridges U.K. department store, has also been ap

California Pro Sports Forms Joint Venture

California Pro Sports, Torrance, Cal. team dealer,, announced a unique joint venture with Tyler Sports, Inc., operated baseball/softball training facilities, and The Perfect Fit, a sports marketing firm. The venture will enable the three regional compani

Holiday Was Just as Tough as Everyone Expected

Holiday 2008 proved to be just as disappointing for many in the retail sphere as everyone worried beforehand. Though anecdotal evidence from much of specialty retail held slightly better results than the general market…

Vasque Sponsors the Hasegawa Cup Trail Race

Vasque footwear expanded its international influence by sponsoring what is considered the biggest, longest, toughest and yet most popular endurance race in Japan – the Hasegawa Tsuneo Cup Mountain Endurance Race…

Sheri Poe Out at MBT

MBT reports that Sheri Poe will no longer serve as CEO of U.S. operations. Ken Pucker, who was named interim global CEO in early November, will assume her responsibilities for managing the U.S. entity of MBT…

Hot Products in a Cold Season

ACROSS THE SNOWBELT many runners continue to pursue their passion regardless of how low the temperatures drop. Keeping these diehard enthusiasts warm, upright and safe offers running specialty retailers a steady source of sales until spring arrives…

L.L. Bean Plans Layoffs

L.L. Bean is considering a company restructuring, cost cutting and layoffs to deal with a double-digit drop in sales over the holiday period. In an e-mail to employees first obtained by the Times Record newspaper in Maine, Chris McCormick, president and c

E-Commerce Sales Drop During Holiday Season

Online sales for the holiday period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 23 fell 3% versus the prior year, marking the first decline in online spending since comScore started tracking online sales in 2001. Online spending of $25.5 billion during the period were below comS