SGB Update Apparel

Patagonia Austin to Raise Money for Local Environmental Groups

In an extension of the well-known Patagonia grants program that has given over $31 million to grassroots environmental organizations since 1985, the new Patagonia store in Austin is sponsoring a 'Land, Air & Water' silent auction and concert fro

The Finish Line Shrinks Loss, Inventory in Third Quarter

Strong inventory and cost controls combines with a decent performance in footwear to help The Finish Line slightly trim its loss from continuing operations in the third quarter ended November 29. These improvements helped offset continued weakness in appa

More Vendors Restructure Under Economic Pressures

Head N.V. Group plans to close its tennis ball factory in Phoenix, AZ in March of this year. In 2007, the company began manufacturing tennis balls in a new factory in China, and has now made the decision to shut the U.S. facility and manufacture its worl

Zumiez December Comps Fall 12%

Zumiez, Inc. reported a 12.3% decline in same-store sales after a 3.9% increase in comps for the year ago period. Management said the decrease in comps was driven by a decrease in store transactions and a decrease in average unit retail…

RECALL: RockShox Domain Bicycle Forks

About 175 bicycles with RockShox Domain 302 and 318 bicycle forks, manufactured in Taiwan and imported by SRAM, have been recalled because the forks can detach from the bicycle frames…

Mountain High Sees Record

Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood, CA reported a record-breaking holiday season with skier visits up more than 40% over last year for the two-week Christmas period…

New Balance Appoints EVP, North American Sales

Boston-based New Balance announces the appointment of Chris Quinn as Executive Vice President, North American Sales. Quinn was most recently with Folgers Coffee as Sr. Vice President Sales and Chief Customer Office…

Suunto Names Director of Marketing

As of Jan. 19, Suunto North America will name Nate Randle as their Director of Marketing. Randle comes to Suunto North America with 10 years of marketing and sales experience most recently with Callaway Golf Company…

Pipeline Teams Up with Hawaii Intercontinental Corp.

Pipeline International said for Spring/ Summer 2009 it has joined into exclusive distributor partnership with Hawaii Intercontinental Corporation (HIC). The company said the agreement covers all soft and hard good categories. Products will be sold to depa

Schutt, HotHead Sports Team Up for “Smart Helmet”

HotHead Technologies, Inc., an Atlanta-based enterprise committed to improving athletic safety through research-based technology, announced it is working closely with Schutt Sports to develop a commercially viable heat-sensing helmet insert, which can det

Against All Odds Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Against All Odds USA Inc., an operator of urban apparel and footwear retail stores, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark, NJ. The chain has about $38 million in assets, and $35.9 million in liabilities. The chain operates 64 stores in shopping malls

Firearms Retailer Defense Fund Launched

A new not-for-profit organization dedicated to the legal defense of firearms retailers was announced Saturday at the AcuSport West Dealer Conferences in Salt Lake City, UT…

A Growing List of Companies Lower Guidance

As retailers released their disappointing December comps this week, many included revised guidance with their results and gave cover to the vendor side to lower expectation as well…

Black Diamond Opens Global Distribution Center

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. has opened a new global distribution center near its Zhuhai, China headquarters. Located in a Free Trade Zone in the Guangdong province, the center will assist Black Diamond in locating the storage of inventory closer to vario

Vendors Restructure Under Economic Pressures

The body count from a brutal economy continued to mount last week as four more major manufacturers announced operation restructuring plans to welcome in what has been an exceptionally frosty New Year for vendors and retailers across the board…