Sports Authority Teeters on Bankruptcy
One of the nation’s largest sporting goods retailers is struggling stay afloat. Sports Authority, with more than 450 stores in 45 states, missed its Jan. 15 payment on $21 million in loans and is trying to restructure its debt before going into default. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, the Englewood, […]
This Week’s Movers & Shakers – February 5, 2016
Who was on the move in the industry this week with new hires, promotions and sponsorships… Cherokee Global Brands, the parent of Cherokee, Flip Flop Shops, and Tony Hawk, appointed Randi Spieker as Executive VP, Business Development, reporting to Howard Siegel, Cherokee Global Brand’s President and COO, effective February 8. Lynx Fitness appointed Karin Shay […]
Europe’s OutDoor Show Moves Up to Mid-June in 2017
The game of trade-show leapfrog continues. On Thursday, organizers for Europe’s OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen, Germany said they will move up the date of the event by nearly a month to mid- June starting in 2017. The decision echoes earlier moves by Outdoor Retailer and the SIA Snow Show here in the United States to move their […]
Who’s Watching Your Wearable Data?
New Research Warns of Security Lapses in Popular Fitness Trackers The wearable technology boom may take a hit after a February 2 report warned that many leading fitness trackers, including products from Fitbit, Garmin, Jawbone, Mio, Xiaomi, Basis, and Withings, hold major security and privacy blind spots. The report, conducted by Canadian non-profit research group, […]
One-On-One: Todd Spaletto, President, The North Face
The President of The North Face doesn’t like segmenting his brands’ consumers. “It’s the same customer playing in different environments,” Todd Spaletto told SGB. “These hardcore athletes aren’t less core because they step into an urban environment.” In other words, The North Face is taking a broader perspective — still delivering hardcore gear for when […]
Mitchell & Ness Releases 1991 Michael Jordan East All-Star Game Jersey
Marking the jersey’s 25th anniversary, Mitchell & Ness has released the 1991 Michael Jordan East All-Star Game Authentic Jersey. Retailing at $300, the introduction is part of Mitchell & Ness’ ongoing partnership with Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand and marks the first time the company has produced the jersey. The jersey features sublimated front […]
Greenpeace Ups Pressure on Outdoor Brands at ISPO Munich
Greenpeace further embedded itself in the outdoor industry last week by exhibiting at the ISPO Munich trade show, where it released research that prompted a European brand to recall a hiking boot. At the show, Greenpeace released “Leaving Traces,” which found that 11 of 40 outdoor products tested by its laboratory contained per- and polyfluorinated […]
It’s Snowtime: SGB’s Photo Tour of SIA 2016
What In The World Is Trending In Snowsports? By Jahla Seppanen Come noon on Day 1 of Snowsports Industries America 2016, plenty of orders and meetings had already taken place. Despite common opinion that traffic was down from years prior, the pulse of the show beat strong in the pop-up lounge dens nestled in booths […]
Columbia Sportswear Amps Up Sports Offerings
Columbia Sportswear is getting sportier with a host of licensing and sponsorship deals. The biggest surprise was its partnership with Manchester United, one of England’s most popular soccer teams, to become the team’s first Official Outdoor Apparel Partner. Columbia will create a dual branded outerwear for outdoor pursuits, including hiking, climbing, mountaineering, and water and […]
NCAA Survey Unveils Areas of Concern for Student Athletes
While a new survey from NCAA Research showed college sports had an overwhelmingly positive impact on student-athletes, one area of concern was found to be youth sports specialization. The study found that many NCAA student-athletes began specializing in their sports “at what experts consider a very early age (e.g., before age 12),” especially in sports […]
2016 PGA Merchandise Show Tees Off With New Apparel, Wearables
The 2016 PGA Merchandise show teed off January 27 in Orlando, FL, and despite some difficult headwinds, including declining play and participation, show organizers are expecting a 15-percent bump in attendance over previous years. A projected 42,000 to 45,000 attendees will walk the 10 miles of aisles at the show over the next three days. The show […]
Austin Canoe & Kayak and Summit Sports Merge
Two specialty outdoor retail shops are now one. Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK) in Texas and Summit Sports in Michigan announced a merger deal, Jan. 26, that brings together their retail expertise in snow, paddle, and other outdoor adventure sports. The combined business, backed by Digital Fuel Capital, consists of five stores in Texas, four in […]
Great Outdoor Store Redefines the Brick-and-Mortar Experience
DeAnn Echols, owner of the single-location South Dakota specialty retail store, shares the secrets of what separates a good retailer from a great one. By Jahla Seppanen Great Outdoor Store in Sioux Falls, SD, has been around since the spandex-wearing days of 1980s. Tom Ashworth, a Sioux local, founded the store, seeing it through almost […]
What Not to Miss at SIA 2016
It’s SIA Snow Show week! And as the snowsports industry gets ready to hit the show floor in Denver, we’re taking a look at the top news, trends and events not to miss at the show. First Off, How Are Snowsports Sales Looking? The 2015/16 snowsports season for retailers and resorts will likely go down as […]
Track & Field’s David vs. Goliath
A lawsuit filed last week challenging U.S. Track & Field and U.S. Olympic exclusive sponsorships raises the question of whether big brands are helping or hurting the sport. Nick Symmonds, who won the 800-meter qualifying event at the U.S. Championship says he was dropped from Team USA for refusing to sign a document instructing him […]
