SGB Update Apparel

Adidas Meets ’08 Goals, Expects Decline In ’09

Adidas AG said Wednesday that fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled, thanks to lower taxes and marketing costs, but warned that sales and profit are likely to fall this year. Backlogs on a currency-neutral basis were down 6% for the adidas brand and

BJ’s February Comps Remain Steady

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. saw February 2009 sales increase by 2.4% to $670.0 million from $654.2 million in February 2008. On a comparable club basis, sales increased by 0.6% for the month of February 2009, including a negative impact from sales of gasoli

Propeller Merges with Penfield Marketing

Propeller LLC, an advertising agency focused on outdoor action sports, has merged with Penfield Marketing Group, a sports and event marketing company. The new entity, called Wheelhouse, will continue to specialize in sports and recreational activities and

Broder Bros. Co. Hires Strategic Advisor

In light of the current market conditions, Broder Bros., Co. has retained Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC as its financial advisor and investment banker and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as special counsel as it explores its financing and strategic alternatives with re

National Golf Rounds Played Up 8.6% in January

The Golf Datatech National Golf Rounds Played Report showed that in January, golf rounds played varied vastly between regions. According to the report, national golf rounds played in the U.S. were up 8.6% in January 2009 vs. January 2008…

Sport Chalet Amends Credit Facility

Sport Chalet, Inc. has amended its credit facility with Bank of America. Under the terms of the amendment, Bank of America has waived the company's existing event of default and certain potential defaults and amended the borrowing base, certain finan

ATA Changes 2010 Trade Show Dates

The Archery Trade Association’s board of directors has changed the 2010 Trade Show dates to Jan. 13-15 to accommodate a scheduling conflict…

Newton Running Names President

Newton Running appointed Stephen Gartside as the company’s president. Gartside will run the day-to-day global operations of Newton Running, based in Boulder, and work closely with Newton’s founders, Danny Abshire and Jerry Lee. Gartside has more than 20 y

Acushnet, Callaway Sue One Another for Patent Infringement

Acushnet Company, the golf business of Fortune Brands, Inc., and Callaway Golf Company have filed patent infringement lawsuits against one another. Acushnet asserts that Callaway’s Tour i and Tour ix golf balls infringe nine United States patents from Acu

Shock Doctor Beefs Up Management Team

Shock Doctor, Inc. named Steven Coopersmith as senior vice president of marketing and Andy Donahue as powersports sales manager. Coopersmith will lead all marketing efforts, in promoting the company’s brand on a worldwide basis. Donahue will helm the sa

Callaway Golf Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Acushnet

Callaway Golf Company has has filed a new patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against The Acushnet Company, the golf business of Fortune Brands, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that the new 2009 Titleist P

Protests Prompt Schools to Cut Russell Ties

A host of colleges across the country have ended their licensing agreements with Russell Athletic over charges that a plant in Honduras was closed in order to shut down a union. Russell has said the closing was in response to economic reasons and denied t

Big 5 Sees Comps Slide Cut into

Soft sales of winter-related products caused by a flagging economy and a warmer-than-usual winter stymied sales for Big 5’s fourth quarter. Overall, sales declined 5.4% to $219.6 million from $232.1 million in the year-ago period. Comps for Big 5 fell 8.

NSGA: Athletic Footwear Prices Up 1.6% in 2008

Preliminary data from the NSGA “Sporting Goods Market in 2009” report puts the average price point for athletic footwear in 2008 at $43.71, a 1.6% increase from 2007. In 2007, the average price had risen 2.1% to $43.03…

Winter Sports Lifts Head NV’s Fourth Quarter Results

Driven by double-digit gains in winter sports, Head NV revenues increased 5.4% in the fourth quarter to €115.1 million ($147.3 million). Operating profits also grew with the help of lower expenses, favorable exchange rate movements, and the sales gains…