SGB Update Apparel

JJB Sports CEO Suspended

Chris Ronnie, the chief executive of JJB Sports, the struggling UK sporting goods chain, has been suspended from his duties pending the outcome of an investigation into his share dealings. JJB revealed last week Ronnie no longer held any shares in the com

Payless ShoeSource Earns PETA Award

Payless ShoeSource has won the Best New Shoe Line category in PETA's sixth annual Proggy Awards for creating the “first-ever affordable green footwear line” that doesn't contain any leather. Payless will receive a framed certificate and will be

Callaway Golf FY08 Earnings Rises 6%

Callaway Golf Company announced that, based on current information, net sales for 2008 are expected to slip 0.7% to $1.117 billion from $1.125 billion in 2007. Consistent with recent earnings guidance, pro forma diluted earnings per share for 2008 are es

Escalade Renegotiating Bank Line After Default

Escalade Inc. said that it had received a letter from a lender, saying it was in default on its credit agreement, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The filing said that the company and the lender, JPMorgan Chase, are “undert

Cabelas Introduces CLUB Visa Signature Card

Cabela’s Incorporated announced today that World’s Foremost Bank, Cabela’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary and issuer of Cabela’s-branded CLUB Visa credit card, introduced the CLUB Visa Signature card. Cabela’s CLUB Visa Signature card has no annual fee and

Icebreaker Appoints Schrimsher to VP, USA sales

Icebreaker, the New Zealand merino wool specialist, hired Barry Schrimsher as vice president of USA sales effective immediately. A native of Portland and a graduate of the University of Oregon, Schrimsher is a 24-year outdoor industry entrepreneur. He est

NSGA Establishes Scholarships To Honor Jim Faltinek

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has established the James L. Faltinek Scholarship Program, named in honor of retired President & CEO Jim Faltinek. Each year, a total of five scholarships to the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summi

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