SGB Update Apparel

Chinese Brand Signs Tennis Star

Chinese sportswear manufacturer Anta has signed Jelena Jankovic, the top-ranked female tennis player, as brand ambassador. Jankovic, whose contract with Reebok recently expired, will start wearing Anta sports apparel, shoes and accessories worldwide start

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

Carve Designs Names Reps

Women’s surf lifestyle manufacturer, Carve Designs, hired 3 new sales representatives for the brand: Paul Tversky in the Mid-Atlantic territory, Bashford and Associates in the Southeast region, and Megalops Inc. in Florida…

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

Sportsclick to Acquire Checkered Flag Sports

Sportsclick Inc. entered into a letter of intent to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Southprint Inc., which operates Checkered Flag Sports) (“Southprint”). Southprint is a manufacturer of authentic, licensed NASCAR apparel. SportsClick is a Canad

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

Sports Chalet Amends Credit Line

On January 9, Sports 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

Aetrex Names Director of Sales

Aetrex Worldwide said Sigurd Lee has joined the company as director of sales, Athletic Channel. Lee has extensive experience in the athletic apparel and footwear industry, including 26 years at Nike, where he held numerous positions including director of

Boulder Outdoor Specialty Group Taps Pale Morning Media

The Boulder Outdoor Specialty Group, formerly American Recreation Products, recently retained Pale Morning Media as their public relations Agency of Record. Effective January 1, Pale Morning Media became the official representative of Kelty, Kelty K.I.D.S

Former Patagonia Buyer Joins Rab

Rab, the British manufacturer of technical mountaineering garments, gear and accessories, said Jeannie Wall will be directing the company’s brand-new Backcountry collection. Wall was most recently with Patagonia, Inc., from 1991 to 2007. Most relevant to