The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) moved its headquarters from D.C. to Silver Spring, MD. Tom Cove, president and CEO, told the Washington Business Journal, “The market has changed and we were moving in a different direction. We had a bigger space than we needed [in D.C.].”
According to the business periodical, the SGMA picked a large space in D.C. because it was planning to hold trade shows in-house at its office. Before that, its shows were significantly outsourced. Over the past two years, however, the group ended its commitment to trade shows.
“Instead of having a trade show, the organization is now more focused on advocacy and education and promoting the sporting goods industry worldwide,” said Cove.
Cove said the Silver Spring location is still close to Congress and even closer to other entities it works with, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Bethesda. SGMA has had a physical presence in D.C. for the past 35 years.
“We had the opportunity to put someone else in our space and move into Maryland, which costs less and is a much more appropriate size for us. We have still been able to do everything we need to do,” said Cove.
