SGB Update Footwear

Speedo Enters China License with Symphony

Speedo International Limited entered a partnership with Symphony Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of Symphony Holdings Ltd. Symphony has been granted the master license for the Speedo brand in China and Taiwan commencing on January 27, 2007…

NBA Plans All-Star Retail Push…

The NBA has partnered with XP Events to approach retail at the All-Star game in a new light; and, hopefully, to increase both visibility and sales. The scope of product and merchandising activities for the week will include over 30 NBA Store satellite loc

Coleman Parent Expects 20% Sales Jump…

Jarden Corporation is predicting that sales for the fiscal year will be approximately $3.85 billion compared to $3.2 billion last year and $839 million the year before. The company’s Outdoor Solutions Segment – which consists primarily of Coleman – is exp

Chaco Acquires Ulu to Address Winter Footwear…

Chaco had the biggest news on the floor at winter market, which is surprising given the fact that before the show the company made only summer product. This fact is about to change, since Chaco acquired all of the trademarks and assets of the Ulu brand fr

Iconix Closes Shop at Ocean Pacific’s California Office

When Iconix Brand Group, Inc. purchased Ocean Pacific from Warnaco in October for $54 million, the company said that it “can expand OP's international business further and significantly grow the brand's penetration in the U.S.” Those plans, howe

Conservation Alliance Raises $12,000 ot OR

The Conservation Alliance raised $12,000 at its Block Party event at the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City. The event celebrated the seven successes that Conservation Alliance funding helped achieve in 2006. KEEN, Inc., Salomon, Eagl

OR Winter Market Attendance Jumps 24%

Outdoor Retailer closed a successful 2007 Winter Market with a record 17,973 total attendees, up 24% from 2006 on a preliminary basis. The largest Winter Market to date attracted 5,602 buyers, up 14% from 2006*, who toured a show packed with innovative g

Gander Pulls Realistic Airsoft Guns Off Shelves

Gander Mountain Company is pulling realistic replica guns from its stores in Minnesota and will sell only airsoft guns that are obviously and unmistakably toys. Gander Mountain will phase out realistic replica guns, in favor of the obvious toy guns, in al

Utah Governor Huntsman Allows Roadless Protection to Remain in Place

Utah Governor Jon Huntsman told outdoor industry leaders this morning that he would not submit his current draft petition that would do away with protection of Utah’s 4 million acres of roadless national forest lands. Huntsman said the current legal battl

VF Completes Eagle Creek Acquisition

VF Outdoor, Inc. has completed its previously announced acquisition of Eagle Creek, Inc. Terms were not disclosed. VF expects the Eagle Creek brand to add approximately $30 million to 2007 revenues and to sustain high single-digit sales growth over the ne

Reef Board Build-Off Raises $30k in Total

The Reef Board Build-Off showcased and auctioned off an impressive array of one-of-a-kind surfboards at the ASR tradeshow this past weekend. The event raised over $20,000 with proceeds going to each shapers charity of choice. Rich Pavel came out on top af

Clif Bar Returns as Mavericks Sponsor

In an ongoing effort to protect and preserve Half Moon Bay, the Mavericks surf break and its surrounding environment, Clif Bar & Co. will return as a partner for The 2007 Mavericks Surf Contest. In addition to the purchase of wind energy credits to offse

Gerber Raises Funds for Catch-A-Dream

Gerber Legendary Blades raised over $6,100 for the Catch-A-Dream foundation at the SHOT Show when Pete Gerber, whose father Joseph founded the company in 1939, was on hand to personally autograph Gerber knives…

G.I. Joe’s to Sell Controlling Stake to P.E. Firm…

Northwest sporting goods retailer G.I. Joe’s, Inc. has signed an agreement with Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco-based private equity firm to complete a transaction that enables current shareholders to take some cash out of the company, while providing