Timberland Sells GoLite Footwear to Former Exec…
This morning, The B.O.S.S. Report is reporting that New England Footwear LLC on Friday closed a deal to acquire the GoLite footwear business from The Timberland Company. Douglas Clark, who was previously vice president of Timberland’s Invention Factory, f
Timberland Sells GoLite Footwear to Former Exec…
New England Footwear LLC on Friday closed a deal to acquire the GoLite footwear business from The Timberland Company. Douglas Clark, who was previously VP of Timberland’s Invention Factory, formed Portsmouth, NH-based New England Footwear two weeks ago. H
Columbia Sponsors Tour de France Team
Columbia Sportswear Company has agreed to sponsor world-ranked Team High Road for three years in a deal that will put its brand front and center at this year's Tour de France. The agreement includes both the men's and women's professional c
Industry Vendors Post Surprisingly Strong Q1…
Though the weather was dismal for much of the first quarter and retail seemed to suffer from weak traffic and weaker comps, the picture was much brighter for the active sports lifestyle market’s vendor community. Still, the bright spots here are not expe
The Forzani Group Hurt by Dearth of Winter Gear in First Quarter…
The Forzani Group Ltd. reported that overall same-store sales slipped 2.1% for the first quarter, which led to a net loss for the period ended May 4. The Canadian retailer attributed the decline to low stocks of ski, snowboard and related gear after a bl
Ashworth’s Back-End Focus Results in Q2 Profit…
Ashworth, Inc. saw strength in international markets somewhat offset soft results in the U.S. Even bigger news was back-end work that boosted gross margins and allowed the company to switch from a net loss in the year-ago quarter to a modest profit this
Billabong Agrees to Acquire Key East Coast Retailer…
Billabong has completed an agreement to acquire the retail operations of Quiet Flight, an East Coast retailer and the operator of 13 stores, including the flagship Billabong and Element retail stores in New York City. Quiet Flight’s retail management team
Foot Locker Execs Offer Expanded Transparency on U.S. Business…
At its investor conference last week, Foot Locker Inc. execs spelled out a plan to reinvigorate its product mix by bringing in more trend-right, exclusive and limited-edition merchandise from its key vendors, while expecting a spark from a host of newer v
Sportshoe Center Downsizes…
Olympia Sports has acquired four stores from Sportshoe Center Inc., the Maine-based athletic footwear and apparel chain based in Kennebunk. The stores located in Wells and Scarborough, MI; Manchester, VT; and Lake George, NY will have a grand reopening o
Bushnell Acquires Simmons Outdoor
Bushnell Outdoor Products has acquired the Simmons brand and certain other assets of Simmons Outdoor Corporation from Meade Instruments Corp. Simmons is a provider of high quality, innovative optical products, including a complete line of riflescopes and
Nike Allows Endorsers to Wear Speedo
Nike Inc. is allowing seven of its sponsored athletes to wear Speedo's record-breaking swimsuit, LZR Racer, at the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials starting June 29. A company spokesman, Derek Kent, told The Oregonian, “Nike exists to serve athletes. It&
Wellman Hikes Fortrel Fiber Prices Again
For the second time in a month, Wellman, Inc. announced a 4 cent per pound price hike in its Fortrel polyester staple fiber products. The latest price hike takes effect with July 14, 2008 shipments…
Institutional Investors Buy Burke Estate’s Stake in Accell
European bicycle maker Accell Group N.V. said that several institutional investors had purchased an 8.62% stake in the company being liquidated by the estate of late Trek Bicycle Corp. Founder and Chairman Richard “Dick” Burke. SNS Securities N.V. found b
Johnson Outdoors Wins $96mn Military Contract
The Defense Department said that Johnson Outdoors Inc. has been awarded a $96 million Defense Logistics Agency contract to supply shelters, trailers and related components for all branches of the military. Johnson Outdoors, based in Racine, WI, makes outd
GSI Commerce Lays Off 148
GSI Commerce Inc. has announced its Portland, Tenn.-based e-commerce retail-and-distribution center will close Sept. 30, resulting in the loss of 148 jobs. The center is closing because Restoration Hardware has decided to move their distribution in house.