Negative Comp Drags Down First Quarter Bottom Line for Zumiez
Zumiez Inc. reported a mid-teens increase in net sales for the first quarter as the addition of 21 new stores offset comparable store sales that came in just below flat. The negative comp hurt the bottom line as well, de-leveraging occupancy costs and dr
The Long, Cold Winter Boosts Q1, but Now Hurts Spring Apparel Sales
Many specialty outdoor retailers had a much more profitable first quarter this year as a record snow pack and cold weather helped them clear winter merchandise, often at much higher margins. But the long, snowy and cold winter has also stunted planned spr
NSGA: Athletic Footwear Tallies $17.4 Billion in 2007
Retail sales of athletic footwear have surpassed the $17 billion mark for the first time, reaching $17.4 billion, an increase of 2.7% versus 2006, when sales were $16.9 billion, according to the National Sporting Goods Association’s just-released “Sportin
Nike, NoVo Launch $100M Grant to Help Girls
The Nike Foundation will partner with the NoVo Foundation on a $100 million grant aimed at helping adolescent girls in developing countries. Peter and Jennifer Buffett run the nonprofit NoVo foundation. Peter Buffett is the son of billionaire investor War
Granite Teams with Retailers to Donate Gear
Granite Gear partnered with retailers Midwest Mountaineering and Rutabaga to donate 20 Portage Packs to Big City Mountaineers for use in its summer paddling programs for urban teens from low-income families…
National Geographic To Give TOGAS at OR
National Geographic will be throwing a TOGA party at OR this August. The map and software maker began soliciting online applications Thursday for its first annual Outdoor Geographic Awareness Award, or TOGA, which will be presented at OR in Salt Lake in A
Women’s Coalition Launches Networking Site
The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) has launched their Online Membership Community at www.oiwc.org. The site is designed to provide OIWC members with enhanced networking opportunities with the group's 1,100 members, who work in the outdoo
Under Armour Title Sponsors HS Baseball Classic
Under Armour agreed to title sponsor the 2008 Under Armour All-America Baseball game, formerly called the Cape Cod High School Baseball Classic presented by Under Armour. The game will be played at Wrigley Field on Sunday, August 17…
Foot Locker Amends Credit Line
Foot Locker, Inc. entered into an amended credit agreement with its banks, providing for a $175 million revolving credit facility and extending the maturity date to May 16, 2011, according to a filing with the SEC. The credit agreement also provides for a
Wellman Raises Fortel Polyester Prices
Wellman, Inc. said rising oil prices were forcing it to raise the price of its Fortrel polyseter staple fiber by 4 cents per pound effective with June 2, 2008 shipments. The price increase marks the seventh since April 2007. Wellman has raised Fortrel pri
Gander Opens Stores in Minnesota and Florida
Gander Mountain opened its newest stores in Eau Claire, Minn. and Ocala, FL. Tuesday and will celebrate grand openings for both large format stores May 30…
Sierra Designs, Ultimate Direction Name New Sales Director
Sierra Designs and Ultimate Direction hired Jason McGibbon as the companies’ new director of sales. McGibbon comes to Sierra Designs and Ultimate Direction from Mission Playground, where he was working as a consultant and acting vice president of sales. P
Famous Footwear Workforce Largely Stays Behind…
About 60 of Famous Footwear's 270 employees in Madison, WI, have committed to relocating to St. Louis or otherwise taking jobs with the company, a Brown Shoe Co. spokeswomen told Sports Executive Weekly. For example, some have agreed to take jobs in
Forefront Q1 Loss Widens…
Forefront Holdings saw net sales decline 20.6% to $8.1 million from $10.1 million for the year-ago first quarter. Sales decreased in all product segments except for OEM/Internet and NFL…
Report: Nike to Replace Adidas as Yankees Sponsor
According to the Sports Business Journal, Nike and the New York Yankees have agreed in principle to a five-year sponsorship agreement to begin in 2009, the team’s first in the new Yankee Stadium. Adidas has been sponsoring the Yankees for the last 11 year
