Movers & Shakers – Week of March 25, 2016
Executives, Athletes and Reps moving around the active lifestyle industry. Implus LLC, parent company for accessory brands including Sof Sole, ForceField, Yaktrax, TriggerPoint and Balega, hired Mary Hannah Statham as Marketing Manager. Kering, the parent of Puma, Volcom and a number of designer brands, appointed Jean-Philippe Bailly as Kering’s Chief Operating Officer. Newell Rubbermaid appointed Russ […]
SGB’s Fast FIVE
SGB hit IHRSA global fitness trade show in Orlando, FL to find this week’s best new products. OCTANE FITNESS ZR8000 ZERO RUNNER High-impact is so last season. But high-intensity remains the pinnacle of our workouts. Enter Octane Fitness’ new ZR8000 Zero Runner, $8,399, the commercial follow-up to last year’s retail version. The machine’s independent hip […]
Knives, Reinvigorated
The collective movement towards our more primal roots is bringing more customers into the fold of the active lifestyle knives category. By Odie Tucker Whether attached to the pack of a bike commuter, to the belt of an outdoorsman, or in the hands of someone splitting wood for their family’s wood fired stove, quality knife […]
Under Armour Extends its Push Into Soccer
Debuts first pro team gear at NYC event. By Thomas J. Ryan Ramping up its push into soccer, Under Armour last week unveiled its first match kits under its new multi-year partnership with the New York Cosmos, the reigning champions of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Cosmos are the first professional soccer team […]
Brendan Bannigan, Owner, Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop
Grizzly Hackle owner leads a new generation of specialty fly shops. By Greg Thomas Brendan Bannigan wouldn’t say that owning a retail fly shop was a lifelong goal, but at the relatively tender age of 29, after 11 years in the fly-fishing industry, that’s exactly where he found himself on January 1 having taken the […]
Bringing Fun Back to Golf
Topgolf attracts a new generation to the sport. By Neil Schwartz and David Clucas At this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL, one of the most discussed topics was Topgolf. Topgolf brings what some call “the old bowling experience” to golf by mixing the sport with a fun, sports-bar type environment. It’s one avenue […]
Movers & Shakers – Week of March 18, 2016
Executives, Athletes and Reps moving around the active lifestyle industry… Arccos Golf, maker of GPS + Live Shot Tracking + Tour Analytics platform appointed Tom Williams to VP of Marketing. Banana Republic signed Kevin Love, the star power forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as its inaugural style ambassador. This is the first time Banana Republic has […]
SGB’s Fast Five
With a ton of new spring/summer footwear soon to launch, SGB picked five of the coolest new kicks we think are hitting the right trends. ALLBIRDS WOOL RUNNER We all love the benefits of wool socks — temperature regulation, odor control, etc. So why not bring these performance boosters to shoes? That’s the story behind […]
Your Guide to Rocking IHRSA 2016
Come Monday March 21, IHRSA, one of the largest fitness trade shows in the world, lands in the Sunshine state for its 35th edition. SGB has your primer for the show, including not-to-miss events and the top trends we’ll be watching. The weather forecast calls for temps to start the week with highs in the […]
A Sunny Outlook On Summer Skin Protection
Natural ingredients, apparel accessories and cooler headwear top trends to ward off the sun. By Courtney Holden Long gone are the days of lathering up with baby oil before an afternoon at the community pool. Today’s consumers understand the dangers of too much sun, and they’re actively taking steps to prevent it. “People in general […]
Hoka Co-founder Announces a Change in Stride
The maximalist brand takes a step toward minimalism. By Jahla Seppanen SGB was in attendance at the Hoka One One Clayton release party (if you consider running a 5K and testing new shoes a party…which we do), hosted at the legendary Boulder Running Company. Big-name athletes and run-devoted writers mingled over the very surprising new […]
SGB’s NCAA Brand Bracketology
Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and Russell battle for the Final Four. The 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off this week and we’ve been feverishly been filling out our brackets — South Dakota State can upset Maryland, right? But more than predicting what school wins, we in the industry trade watch for what brands win […]
Dick Sullivan, CEO, PGA Tour Superstore
Building the ‘total golf experience’ at retail. By Neil Schwartz At this year’s PGA Merchandise Show, SGB had an opportunity to sit down with Dick Sullivan, president and CEO of PGA Tour Superstore. Owned by Home Depot Co-founder and Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank, the golf retail business currently operates 25 stores in 11 states and eyes […]
Doug Gordon’s Countrywide Trek For Physical Education
Inspiration often comes from a few sources. In Doug Gordon’s case,it was a life-changing event, long-simmering frustration,and a small joke. By Thomas J. Ryan On February 15, Doug Gordon, a sporting goods industry veteran, set off from a beach at Charleston, SC for a cross-country ride to promote getting daily physical education (P.E.) back into all U.S. […]
Hires, Promotions and Sponsorships – Week of March 11, 2016
Brooks Running Company welcomed 2015 U.S. Indoor Track and Field Heptathlon Champion Jeremy Taiwo to its roster of sponsored athletes. Carhartt joined forces with outdoor television host Mark Zona to promote its new outdoor apparel line, which will debut this fall. Costa President and CEO Chas MacDonald will retire from the company effective April 30. […]
