Yakima Introduces GE Money Sport Card
Yakima has announced a partnership with GE Money Sport's consumer financing program to provide special financing options for many consumer products and services. With the GE Money Sport Card, participating Yakima dealers will provide customers instan
Construction Starts on Greener Tannery in Vietnam
Construction has begun in Saigon, Vietnam on an ecologically friendly “model factory” for the German/Chinese leather producer ISA Tan Tec. The tannery will emit 35% less CO2 than conventional production facilities. The company said it needs the capacity t
Conservation Alliance Lobbies Congress on Public Lands
Representatives from The North Face, Osprey, The Forest Group, and The Conservation Alliance spent two days lobbying Congress last week to support a bill that includes more than 150 public lands bills. The proposal could go to the Senate floor for a vote
Skram Media to Acquire Mountain Gazette Properties
Skram Media has reached an agreement to purchase the Mountain Gazette from GSM Media, LLC, of Paonia, CO, a deal that will expand its reach to 350,000 mountain sports enthusiasts. Skram Media will also own the magazine’s website, mountaingazette.com. Skra
Back-to-School Footwear Sales See Return to Value Categories and Channels
The 2008 back-to-school shopping season revealed some interesting new trends in the sport footwear market as many of the trends seen last year reversed themselves for the eight-week period from mid-July through mid-September…
Industry Members Seem Unfazed by Wall St. Turbulence During Investor Presentations
As the sky was falling on Wall Street, several industry companies remained cool, calm and collected as they spoke about their own businesses at investor conferences last week. Notably, the Bank of America Securities annual investment conference drew mana
Steve and Barry’s to Close 103 Doors
Steve & Barry's, which is currently in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, plans to close 103 stores. The Port Washington, N.Y. based retailer will operate with a smaller base of 173 stores, which the company said would better position it to reach p
Boscov’s Gets Bid
Versa Capital Management, Inc., a Philadelphia-based private equity investment firm that recently acquired Bob's Stores, has reached an agreement to acquire bankrupt Boscov's Department Store. Under bankruptcy procedures, Versa will serve as the
Dreams, Inc. Acquires StarStruck
Dreams, Inc., which owns the FansEdge website and chain, has acquired the assets of StarStruck/ProTeam, a catalog-focused retailer in the sports licensed products industry. Star Struck/ProTeam is one of the largest catalog and Internet retailers of licens
Gap Inc. Acquires Athleta for $150M
Gap Inc. has agreed to acquire Athleta Inc., the women’s sports and active apparel catalog company based in Petaluma, CA, for about $150 million in cash. The Gap said the acquisition will allow it to enhance its presence in the growing $31 billion women’s
Retailers and Manufacturers Urged to Study Phthalate Legislation Before Tossing Inventory
The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) was signed into law recently, leaving SGMA president Tom Cove worried that businesses will follow Wal-Mart’s lead and immediately trash all of their inventory containing phthalates. Cove urg
Russell Athletic Named ‘Title Sponsor’ of NAIA Championship
Russell Athletic and the Host Committee for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) football national championship entered an agreement that grants Russell Athletic “title sponsorship” rights for the 2008 and 2009 NAIA Championships.
Academy Sports Kicks Off National Ad Campaign through VYPE
VYPE signed its first national advertising contract with Academy Sports and Outdoors to provide targeted advertising in eight regions across the U.S. Through VYPE’s locally produced magazines and websites, Academy will reach key market demographics with f
New Deals for Under Armour and USF; Sport Chalet and USC
Under Armour has finalized a five-year contract to become the official athletic outfitter of the University of South Florida (USF). According to the St. Petersburg Times, Under Armour will pay USF $1 million over five years and will provide more than $1.8
Johnson Health Tech Merges U.S. Subsidiaries
Johnson Health Tech, Co. Ltd., based in Taichung, Taiwan, has merged its four U.S. subsidiaries. The new entity, named Johnson Health Tech North America Corp. and based in Cottage Grove, WI, combines Matrix Fitness Systems, Horizon Fitness, Vision Fitness
