SGB Update Apparel
Foot Locker Sees Brighter Days Ahead in the Mall
Foot Locker Inc. is striking a positive tone for the future of the mall business as the world’s-largest-athletic-footwear-retailer gets a better handle on its U.S. business and provides a rosier outlook for the year ahead…
NSGA: Tennis Leads Participation Growth in 2007
According to the National Sporting Goods Association's 2007 sports participation survey, tennis was America's fastest growing sport, growing 18.7% to 12.3 million participants for the year. Meanwhile, the survey saw the women’s market continue
Easton-Bell Working with Big Chains on Inventory
Easton-Bell Sports is developing specific programs to address larger retailers’ concerns about inventory, according to comments by new president and CEO Paul Harrington. The new CEO described the order book at EBS as “strong,” and said initial sell-in w
Canadian Cycle Shop Honored
United Cycle, a family-owned and operated business serving Albertans for over 90 years, will be honoured with the Retail Council of Canada's Visa Ambassador Award at the upcoming STORE Conference in Toronto June 2-3.
Tubbs Snowshoes Names Events Manager
Wendy Miller has joined Tubbs Snowshoes as the company's new events manager. Her responsibilities will include the planning and coordination of the Tubbs Romp to Stomp Series, the company’s successful breast cancer fund-raising event series…
ForeFront Appoints McTasney as CFO
ForeFront Group, Inc. named Brian J. McTasney, as its new CFO. Most recently Mr. McTasney served as CFO of Griffin Technology in Nashville, Tennessee, a $160 million dollar product design company which develops hardware and software for the Mac and PC mar
Perry Ellis Q1 Swim Business Up
Perry Ellis International saw swimwear revenues climb 15% in the first quarter, driven by Jantzen, Nike Swim, Perry Ellis Swim, and Jag. Gross margins improved by over 200 basis points. Management said Nike's growth was driven by men's, women&#
Hibbett Post Slight Comp Gain on Strong April
Hibbett Sports, Inc. posted a healthy sales increase for the first quarter with comps just a sneeze into positive territory. The company has completed its JDA software conversion and has now moved on to the enterprise planning piece, turning on the more d
ASICS Sales Up 16% in 2008; Expects Better 2009
ASICS Corp. saw strength across the globe drive sales for fiscal 2008, as footwear and equipment both grew, but apparel sagged slightly. Overall, the company reported a 16.3% jump in net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31 to ¥226.17 billion ($1.9
Shimano Rides Cycling to Strong Sales Increase in Q1
Shimano Inc. said net sales at its cycling business rose by ¥7.8 billion ($7.4 mm), or 22%, to ¥43.3 billion ($411 mm) in the first quarter ended March 31. Fishing tackle net sales, however, dipped by ¥142 million ($1.4 mm), or 1.2%, to ¥11.4 billion ($10
Negative Comp Drags Down First Quarter Bottom Line for Zumiez
Zumiez Inc. reported a mid-teens increase in net sales for the first quarter as the addition of 21 new stores offset comparable store sales that came in just below flat. The negative comp hurt the bottom line as well, de-leveraging occupancy costs and dr
The Long, Cold Winter Boosts Q1, but Now Hurts Spring Apparel Sales
Many specialty outdoor retailers had a much more profitable first quarter this year as a record snow pack and cold weather helped them clear winter merchandise, often at much higher margins. But the long, snowy and cold winter has also stunted planned spr
Columbia Trims HQ Staff
The Oregonian reported that Columbia Sportswear trimmed headcount at its headquarters near Beaverton through layoffs and voluntary buyouts. The newspaper said company spokesman John Fread would not say how many workers took the buyout offer or were cut i
Patagonia Exits Paddlesports
Patagonia told retailers last week that it was exiting the paddlesports business and put all its 2008 product on close-out….
NSGA: Athletic Footwear Tallies $17.4 Billion in 2007
Retail sales of athletic footwear have surpassed the $17 billion mark for the first time, reaching $17.4 billion, an increase of 2.7% versus 2006, when sales were $16.9 billion, according to the National Sporting Goods Association’s just-released “Sportin
