SGB Update

Sports Marketing South to Represent Burris and Steiner

The Burris Company announced that Sports Marketing South will be representing both the Burris and Steiner optics brands in ten southeastern states. Effective Feb. 1, 2012, the new rep group will be responsible for sales to authorized dealers and distribut

Reebok to Open First CrossFit Gym Store in Manhattan

Reebok will be launching a new retail concept at 420 Fifth Ave. in New York City. The concept wil sell Reebok CrossFit branded clothing, footwear and accessories, as well as house a 10,308-square-foot CrossFit “box,” according to a report on Citybizlist.c

Li Ning Closes Portland Store

Li-Ning closed its Pearl District retail store last week and the company’s U.S. operations are now being run out of Chicago, a spokesman told the Portland Business Journal…

Descente’s Fiscal Q3 Sales and Profits Expand

Descente reported sales for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 increased 8.7 percent to ¥20.7 bn ($268 mm) from ¥19.0 bn ($231 mm) in the year-ago period. Gross margins slipped 80 basis points…

Timberland Surveys Eco-Consciousness in Relationships Survey

Timberland Co. commissioned a survey of 1,000 men and women in the United Kingdom to find out how important eco-conscious behaviors are within a relationship. While over half of Welsh men and women would question dating someone if they didn't take ca

Exceed Company Replaced Independent Director

Exceed Company Ltd., the owner and operator of China's Xidelong sportswear brand, announced its board of directors appointed Dr. Yea-Mow Chen as an independent non-executive director, effective Feb. 4, 2012, while William Sharp, a member of the Board

Orange 21 Changes Name to Spy Inc.

Orange 21 Inc. will change its corporate name to Spy Inc. effective Feb. 15 as part of its singular focus on the brand. The company has received preliminary approval to change its stock symbol to “XSPY” (OTCBB: XSPY) effective that same date…

Franklin Retail Solutions Makes Two Marketing Promotions

Franklin Retail Solutions, which provides in-store marketing and merchandising solutions to the Sporting Goods, Outdoor and Active Lifestyle industries, announced the promotion of Ginna Larson to senior marketing manager and Catherine Smith to client serv

Salewa and Dynafit Announce New Sales and Marketing Team

Salewa North America, owners of the Salewa, Dynafit, and Pomoca brands, announced two key appointments to its sales and marketing team. Jim Lamancusa will join the team as the new director of sales and marketing and Matt Whiteman joins as sales and market

Mizuno’s Americas Business Powers Growth

Mizuno reported revenues rose 3.2 percent to ¥114.9 billion ($1.5 bn) in the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2011. In currency neutral terms, revenues rose 5.2 percent to ¥5.8 billion thanks to a strong double-digit performance in the Americas. Footwear and ap

New Accessories Brands Buoy R.G. Barry’s Holiday Quarter

R.G. Barry Corporation said its accessories segment, which includes the recently acquired Foot Petals women’s insole and Baggallini handbag brands, propelled its gross margin and net income in the second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011…

Walmart Names Act Labs as Preferred Test Lab for Bike Vendors

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has added Act Labs to its list of preferred test labs where its U.S. and Chinese bicycles, helmet, scooter, and sporting goods vendors can obtain third-party confirmation their products meet safety and compliance requirements and tes

NFHS Delays Football Glove Rule

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Rules Review Committee will delay implementation of what is known as the Football Glove Rule until the 2013-14 school year. The rule would require all football gloves worn in varsity games t