SGB Update Apparel

Rawlings Taps Hultec to Produce Baseball Pills

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., the Official Baseball Supplier to Major League Baseball since 1977, will utilize a new supplier for the production of the “pill” for all Major League Baseballs. Hultec, an affiliate of Fort Worth, Texas based S & B T

Wenger Sponsors Patagonian Expedition Race

Wenger, maker of the Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Precision Outdoor Equipment, agreed to a three-year title sponsorship of the Patagonian Expedition Race. Beginning in 2009, the international event – which has become known as “the last wild race” – will n

Deckers, Wolverine Address Guidance

Deckers Outdoor re-affirmed guidance of 52% growth in sales and 40% EPS expansion and is on target to reach its goal of $1 billion in sales by 2012, said CFO Tom Hillebrandt during the ICR conference last week. The company also re-affirmed its previously

Retailers Also Tighten Inventory

Big 5 Sporting Goods management presented at the ICR conference touting their value-based business model as one that will see particular success with the new value-conscious consumer. Chairman, president and CEO Steve Miller noted that Big 5 average $213

NRF Study: Holiday Sales Dropped 2.8% in 2008

A deep recession, severe winter weather and five fewer shopping days combined to create the most challenging sales environment in years for the nation’s retailers…

Woolrich Sues Eddie Bauer

Woolrich Inc. has sued Eddie Bauer Inc. for infringing on its trademark, “The Original Outdoor Clothing Co.” In the suit, Woolrich said it has used the slogan since 1997 on more than $500 million worth of garments, catalogs and advertisements…

K2 Sports Enters Triathlon Market with Acquisition of Zoot Sports

Zoot Sports, the triathlon apparel and wetsuit specialist, was acquired late last week by K2 Sports, a division of Jarden Outdoor. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. K2 Sports gains one of the hottest brands capitalizing on the triathlon trend

Forzani Sees Flat Holiday Sales

The Forzani Group Ltd. reported total sales for the ten weeks ended Jan. 11 were flat to the prior year. On a same-store basis, total retail system sales were down 1.8%, although sales were stronger in the week before and the week after Christmas…

Sport Chalet Amends Credit Line

On January 9, Sport Chalet Inc. amended its credit agreement with lenders led by Bank of America to loosen its terms, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The filing noted that as of December 31, an event of default had occurre

OIF: Participation Up, But Youth Interest Dropping

In the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, the Outdoor Foundation found that while overall participation in outdoor recreation among Americans is increasing, the connection to nature among youth is declining…

Congress Moves on Trade Action

Congress has been back in session for little more than a week and already trade issues are taking center stage. Last week, Reps. Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sander Levin, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee

Buffalo Communications Promotes Tom Williams to VP

Buffalo Communications, a division of Billy Casper Golf, has promoted Tom Williams to VP. In his new position, Williams will help direct corporate strategy while overseeing the company's golf and lifestyle products division. He will also manage Buffa

Yakima Acquires RACKandRoll

Yakima Products Inc. has acquired RACKandROLL, LLC, a manufacturer of high performance multi-sport trailers based in Frederick, MD. John Koch, former CEO of RACKandROLL, will stay involved and remain available to facilitate a seamless transfer of goods an