SGB Update Footwear

Shoe Carnival Net Up on Higher Athletic Margins

Higher merchandising margins, partly due to increased performance product, as well as on inventory and expense controls fed a surge in Shoe Carnival's Q2 earnings. Although overall store traffic continued to decline, comps in athletics increased for

Escalade Sports Ends Evansville Production

Escalade Sports plans to close its last manufacturing operation in Evansville, IN, the company's headquarters, effective Sept. 5. HR director Gary Allan told the Courier Press that table tennis production will be consolidated into Escalade Sports’ Me

Versatility Proves Key Footwear Trend at ORSM

There was a marked trend at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market toward improving existing product lines by adding useful features. The words “hybrid,” “crossover” and “versatile” have become a mantra for most exhibitors. There was also an abundance of multitas

Eastern Mountain Sports Hits Home Run with North Conway Store

Eastern Mountain Sports newest store in North Conway, N.H. hit $1 million in sales in its first six weeks and is running 80% ahead of plan, according to senior executives B.O.S.S. visited in The Granite State.
The success of the store validates the compa

Interbike Sees Pre-Reg Up

Resurging interest in bicycling appears to be pushing up interest in the industry’s primary trade show. More than 13,000 individual buyers, representing close to 3,000 bicycle storefronts have pre-registered to attend Interbike International Bicycle Expo

Pipeline Forms Licensing Agreement with Mikshag

PIPELINE International announced a new licensing agreement with Mikshag, Inc. to create an extensive line of apparel, swimwear and outerwear for young men and juniors. Mikshag will design, produce, and distribute PIPELINE branded product through sporting

Steve and Barry’s Acquisition Approved

Steve & Barry's LLC announced that BHY S&B Holdings LLC, a newly formed affiliate of investment firms Bay Harbour Management and York Capital Management, has received bankruptcy court approval to acquire substantially all assets of Steve & Barry&#039

Collective Licensing Licenses Airwalk to Forzani Subsidiary

Collective Licensing International, LLC has signed a license agreement with sporting goods wholesaler Intersport North America Ltd. (“INA”), a subsidiary of The Forzani Group Ltd., to market and sell Airwalk branded footwear in the United States and Visio

VF’s International Outdoor Pres Takes Over Seven

Topher Gaylord, president of VF Corp's International Outdoor and Action Sports business, based in Lugano, Switzerland, was named president of Seven For All Mankind LLC, VF's luxury jeans business. His new position becomes effective October 1..

Charles River Launches “Be Pink Proud” Campaign

Charles River Apparel will be donating a portion of their sales from their “Be Pink Proud” active wear clothing line to several cancer research and support organizations in memory of Charles River employee and family member Susan (Lipsett) de Vries, who h

Hirsch Acquires U.S. Screen Print and Inkjet Technology

Hirsch International Corp. has acquired controlling interesting in U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology. Headquartered in Tempe, AR, U.S. Screen has serviced the decorated apparel industry with a wide range of educational services, software and supplies

Outdoor University Reaches 200 Retailers in 2008

Attendance at Outdoor University rose in the double digits this year, reaching more than 200 retailers from more than 125 independent specialty shops, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. The growth indicates retailers are warming to a new forma

Bay Harbour to Acquire Steve and Barry’s

Bay Harbour Management LC plans to purchase out of bankruptcy the assets of Steve & Barry's for $168 million. The New York-based investment firm plans to keep open about 150 of the chain's 276 stores, according to the Bay Harbour managing princi

Bob’s Stores Sold to Private Equity Group

TJX Cos. Inc. announced the sale of Bob's Stores to a pair of private equity firms, Versa Capital Management and Crystal Capital. Terms of the sale weren't disclosed. However, the deal will result in a $15 million, or 3-cent-per-share charge, in