<p>According to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, January saw strong growth across most categories, continuing the positive performance from Q4 2010, albeit at a slightly slower pace. With the January closing of the retail year, sectors that were up for the</p>
<p>Black Diamond, Inc. is intently focused on acquiring companies with $10 million to $50 million in annual sales even as it works toward launching its own technical apparel line, according to details of a new five-year strategic plan disclosed last week…</p>
<p>GSI Commerce Inc. said it reached an agreement to acquire Fanatics Inc., which sells licensed sports merchandise online, for about $277 million in cash and stock. The deal, expected to be completed in the second quarter, is expected to create “a leader in</p>
<p>DSW Inc. and its largest shareholder, Retail Ventures, Inc. announced that the two companies have signed a definitive merger agreement providing for RVI to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of DSW…</p>
<p>A rebounding U.S. economy will likely lead to a tight supply of vessel space and equipment during the peak third quarter shipping season, according to Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA), which represents the major container shipping lines serving </p>
<p>Mizuno Corp. is maintaining its fiscal full-year sales and earnings forecast despite fairly flat sales for the nine-month year-to-date fiscal period and a swing to a net loss for the fiscal third quarter period. The Japanese sporting goods company had lo</p>
<p>Total U.S. e-commerce spending reached $227.6 billion in 2010, up 9% versus the previous year, according to the comScore's 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review report. Retail (non-travel) e-commerce spending jumped 10% to $142.5 billion while travel e-co</p>
<p>Wolverine World Wide named Seth Cobb as VP and general manager of Merrell and Chip Coe as VP and general manager of Chaco. Both positions are effective immediately…</p>
<p>Abundant snow, brisk sell through, tight inventories and lots of innovation made for a buoyant mood in the backcountry section of the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City last month…</p>
<p>In the broader retail marketplace it appears that resolute shoppers braved winter storms throughout much of the country in the four-week retail fiscal month of January, trudging through extraordinarily snowy conditions to stock up on discounted cold-weath</p>
<p>Outdoor Footwear posted the highest growth percentage of the three major product categories (Outdoor Footwear, Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Hardgoods) in the fiscal month of January, with sales jumping 7.4% to $163.9 million across the channels tracked by Sp</p>
<p>Under Armour is reportedly close to signing a deal with Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. CNBC had reported that the deal was finalized, but a UA spoke sperson told USA Today they were still working out the details. Said spokeswoman Diane Pelkey in an ema</p>
<p>Under Armour was named the official performance footwear supplier of Major League Baseball, effective for the upcoming 2011 season. Under Armour replaces Reebok…</p>
<p>Altus Athletic Mfg. Co. announced that it is now the exclusive licensee of hand-held fitness accessories for Body by Jake…</p>
<p>Vans hired Justin Regan as its new skate marketing manager. Most recently, Regan has led global brand marketing for apparel brand Altamont. Previously, Regan headed up global brand marketing for Emerica footwear and apparel…</p>
