UK Survey Shows Strong Growth in Sporting Goods Sales in September
More than six in 10, or 65 percent, of the United Kingdom's recreational goods retailers said sales grew in September, while none reported sales declines, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) latest monthly Distributive Tr
Columbia Sportswear Names Billabong Exec to Head European Business
Columbia Sportswear Company finally appointed an executive to lead its lagging European business. Franco Fogliato, who has managed Billabong's European business since 2004, will start Nov. 4 as Columbia Sportswear's new SVP of Europe, replacing
Cross Company Begins Operating as Costa Inc.
Cross Company (ATX), the maker of Costa and Native premium sunglasses, has begun operating under the name Costa Inc…
Oliberté Manufactures the World’s First Fair Trade Certified Footwear
Oliberté, maker of sustainably produced leather shoes and bags handmade in Africa, is the first footwear manufacturing facility in the world to be Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA. Oliberté opened its factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2012…
Supra Footwear Parent Opens Donggan Office to Oversee Factories
ONE Distribution, the manufacturer of Supra Footwear, has opened a new footwear development facility in Dongguan, China known as ONE Distribution Resources (ODR). The 3,000-square-foot office will enable the company to have employees on the ground working
Startup Toren Pledges More Affordable Technical Apparel
A New York entrepreneur has begun soliciting consumer input on a new line of technical apparel he claims will offer better fitting and lower priced waterproof-breathable garments than what is currently offered by Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx
CriticalPoint Capital Acquires Organized SportsWear
CriticalPoint Capital, the investment affiliate of CriticalPoint Partners, announced today that it has acquired Organized SportsWear, LLC. Organized SportsWear manufactures physical education uniforms with customized silk screen printing and embroidery…
Academy Sports to Open first Memphis Store
Academy Sports + Outdoors will open its first Memphis-area store on Sept. 27 in Collierville, Tennessee. In conjunction with the opening, Academy has signed a multi-year partnership with The University of Memphis and its athletics multimedia rights holder
GU Energy Labs Names Leadville Champ National Sales Manager
GU Energy Labs named Leadville 2013 100 MTB Amateur champion Laura O’Meara as its new national sales manager for the IBD, or independent bike dealer, channel…
Patagonia Launches
Patagonia announced its new campaign, 'The Responsible Economy,' and outlined its numerous environmental and social “firsts” since being founded 40 years ago. The campaign “challenges the assumption that an economy based on growth an
Dearfoams Launches Campus Challenge Contest
Dearfoams, the maker of slippers, launched the Dearfoams' Campus Challenge, a national photo contest that invites college guys to show off their slippers for the chance to win cash…
Fanzz Acquires Just Sports
Fanzz, the fan chain owned by the parent of the Utah Jazz, is acquiring Just Sports, another fan chain that operates 27 stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Fanzz has 94 stores in 19 Western states…
Gildan Activewear Plans New $200M US Yarn Plants
Gildan Activewear Inc. announced it is evaluating potential sites in the Southern U.S. for the construction of two additional yarn-spinning facilities, to support its projected sales growth and further reinforce its position as a global low-cost manufactu
SmartWool Declares October National Sock Month
SmartWool, the maker of outdoor and snowsports socks, has declared October as National Sock Month and will launch a month-long retail engagement campaign known as Socktober…
Skins to Sponsor Timex Multisport Team
Skins Compression announced its latest partnership with the Timex Team. As the “Official Compression Supplier of the Timex Multisport Team” and the “Official Compression Supplier of the Timex Factory Team,”…
