Franklin Sports has agreed to pick up the tab for all attendees of the SGMA Spring Market registering through March 31. The registration fee costs $50.

SGMA Spring Market (June 11-13, 2007, Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas) is designed to provide the year’s most comprehensive forum for manufacturers, specialty retailers, and team dealers to preview the latest trends and styles in sporting goods and fitness apparel, footwear and equipment. The unique multi-day format will also allow retailers and dealers the opportunity to negotiate margin-improving deals directly with the industry’s most trendsetting manufacturers.

“There’s no other event like SGMA Spring Market that brings the entire sporting goods and fitness community together under one roof,” said Larry Franklin, president of Franklin Sports. “The opportunity to see new products first hand and meet one-on-one with manufacturers, retailers and team dealers is crucial to our industry. Our underwriting efforts are offered as a means to extend this unique collaboration to the entire retailer and team dealer community.”

More than 200 exhibitors are already on board, including Asics, Cramer Products, Easton Sports, Everlast, Garmin, LAMAR Health Fitness & Sports, New Balance, Rawlings, Russell Athletic Group, Spalding, and Under Armour.

Specialty and independent retailers will be joined by major buying groups and industry organizations. SGMA Spring Market will also feature the TAG Buying Center, open to Team Athletic Goods, Inc. (TAG) team dealers, which is rapidly filling up with brands ranging from Spalding and Regent to Majestic and Russell.

In addition to showcasing breakthrough product on the exhibit floor, SGMA Spring Market will also give retailers an opportunity to learn about the next wave of trends in the industry before they hit the retail audience. A series of five general sessions will be integrated into the program on-site at the Sands Expo & Convention Center: Trends in Running: Footwear and Apparel; Design and Innovation – A Core Competency in Your Organization?; Trends in Team Sports; Trends in Brand Management – Who Owns Your Brand?; and Alternative Options in Financing and Raising Capital.

Event sponsors include Asics and Twins Enterprise at the Platinum Sponsor level. Gold Sponsors include Century Sporting Goods, Easton Sports, Franklin Sports, Gamenamics, Lamar Health Fitness & Sports, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Regent Sports, Sportline, Stamina Products, Under Armour and Everlast.

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