Illinois State Study Finds Metal Bats As Safe As Wood
In the first ever high school baseball field test comparing wood bats to non-wood bats, a group of researchers from Illinois State University have concluded that non-wood bats are just as safe as wood bats. The study also found that wood bats reduce hitt
Sean Leslie Joins Hayter Communications
Sean Leslie landed a role as account manager for action sports and outdoor lifestyle PR firm Hayter Communications. In his new position, Leslie will drive media relations efforts for Ride, K2 Snowboards and the K2 Winter Outdoor division (Karhu, Atlas and
VF Imagewear Renews NFL Agreement
VF Imagewear has renewed its strategic licensing agreement with the National Football League for fanwear products across various distribution channels. The NFL renewal agreement will continue through the first quarter of 2012…
Columbia Inks Brazilian Distribution Deal
Columbia Sportswear Company has signed an agreement with Drastosa SA to be its exclusive distributor in Brazil. The agreement expands distribution of Columbia Sportswear products in Brazil, reaching a wider range of retailers and, for the first time, deli
Iconix to Pay $550,000 in Anti-Trust Fines for Rocawear Merger
Iconix Brand Group has agreed to pay $550,000 to settle charges that the company failed to produce certain documents before buying Rocawear, an acquisition requiring pre-merger review, according to the U.S. Department of Justice…
Steven Madden Inc. Expects Slow Q3 Sales
Steven Madden Inc. expects to report third quarter net sales of approximately $113 million compared with $123.2 million in the same period of the prior year. This reflects a decrease in wholesale revenues of approximately 6% for the quarter. Net sales als
Yakima Inks Deal with CenterStone
Yakima Products has selected CenterStone Technologies' iVendix software application. iVendix will provide Yakima with a business-to-business online ordering solution for their retail dealers and sales reps in North America. When Yakima goes “live” on
Jeff Weidman Takes a Step Back from Rutabaga…
After five years at the helm of Rutabaga, store co-owner Jeff Weidman is reducing his day-to-day involvement, as well has his share of the business. Darren Bush, Weidman’s business partner, will be stepping up and taking on more responsibility. Bush has b
Garmin Inks Deal to Acquire Its Danish Distributor…
Garmin signed a letter of intent to acquire Fairpoint Navigation, the distributor of the company's consumer products in Denmark. The completion of the acquisition – expected to occur in January 2008 – depends on negotiations and the execution of a de
Conservation Alliance Distributes $400K in Grants…
The Conservation Alliance sent checks totaling $400,000 to 17 organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America. The donations marked the Alliance’s final disbursal of funding for 2007, and represent the largest single funding round in
Saucony Looks to Pick Up Share in Run Specialty; Sees New Focus on Originals…
Richie Woodworth, president of Saucony, Inc., said the company has three very distinct and main areas of focus for the future. First, they will continue to focus on continued growth in the core running specialty channel. Woodworth said they now hold the
West Marine Sees Store Closures Hurt Sales Line in Q3
West Marine, Inc. saw comps sales inch up 0.3% for the third quarter as net sales decreased 4.1% to $187.5 million from $195.6 million last year, following the closing of 35 stores in 2006…
Nautilus Cuts 80 HQ Jobs
Nautilus, Inc. plans to reduce its workforce by 140 positions, including 80 spots at the company's headquarters. The rollback will cause the company’s expense line to be diminished by “more than $10 million on an annualized basis.”…
Pro Golf of America Acquired By Investment Group…
Pro Golf of America Inc., the franchisor for 80 independently owned Pro Golf stores, has been acquired by an investment group in bankruptcy proceedings. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pro Golf’s assets were sold after Ajay Sports Inc., the former m
Rusty Names New Design Director
Rusty North America, the surf brand, appointed Murphy Martines as its director of merchandise and design. Martines most recently was creative director for their action sports divisions of Redsand and Gotcha at Perry Ellis International…
