Amer Won’t Sell Mavic Cycling Business
Amer Sports has decided to keep France-based bicycle component unit Mavic. Amer had announced in September it was mulling “strategic alternatives” with respect to Mavic…
SGMA Launches New Trade Association for Fitness Market
The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) has created the Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers (AFIRM) to cater to the government affairs, educational and market research needs of fitness industry manufacturers and retailers
American Footwear Act Reintroduced in U.S. House of Representatives
Reps. Joseph Crowley (D., N.Y.) and Kevin Brady (R., Texas) reintroduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would eliminate duties on certain types of lower-priced and children’s footwear…
Duties on Some Outdoor Footwear Poised to Skyrocket Dec. 31
Makers of certain types of waterproof, breathable outdoor footwear were warned to brace for a huge increase in duties last week after it appeared an agreement to pass a miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) through Congress collapsed…
Preferential Trade Programs Could Expire Dec. 31
The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation last week to extend by one year the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) programs. It is now up to the Senate to pass the legislation before both expire
Rossignol Expects Annual Profit Despite Rocky Start
In a somewhat surprising move, management for the previously-maligned Rossignol brand said they expect to be profitable in the fiscal year ending in March thanks to cost cutting and good snow, CEO Bruno Cercley told several sources during the grand openin
JJB Sees 29% Sales Decline for Trailing 20 Weeks
After posting first half sales that plummeted 21.3% and margins that fell more than 14 percentage points, it doesn’t appear JJB Sports Plc. will be able to rebound in the second half. The UK-based retailer said that on a like-for-like basis, its rev
Louis Vuitton Settles with New Balance
Louis Vuitton agreed to stop selling its Minstrel shoe line as part of a settlement reached with New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., which had accused the French luxury goods company of copying New Balance's best-selling 574 shoe. New Balance, which file
NRF: Christmas Shoppers Procrastinating
According to NRF’s 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the average person had completed 46.7% of their holiday shopping by the second week of December, compared to 47.1% completed by this time last year…
Lead in Logo Prompts Timberland Boot Recall
Timberland recalled about 21,000 pairs of its Classic Scuffproof boots for children because the logo stamped onto the boots' insoles contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. No injuries or incidents have been rep
The North Face Sues The South Butt Over Parody
The North Face filed a lawsuit against the teenage owner of The South Butt, claiming that the St. Louis-area parody company is infringing on the established apparel-maker's trademark and products…
Outdoor Q3 Profits Surge on Modest Sales
Last year, the third quarter marked the true beginning of the financial crisis. Credit markets were frozen, consumers stopped shopping and retailers were left looking at full stock rooms and virtually no foot traffic…
Gramicci Finds Growth Partner in Haggar
Haggar Clothing Co., the men's dress and casual apparel giant, has secured the master license agreement for the Gramicci brand. The current Gramicci team will continue to operate the business under a licensed agreement but is expected to benefit from
The North Face Sues The South Butt Over Parody
The North Face filed a lawsuit against the teenage owner of The South Butt, claiming that the St. Loius-area parody company is infringing on the established apparel-maker's trademark and products…
Buckman’s Ski and Snowboard Shops Go Green
Buckman’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which has five ski and snowboard shops in Pennsylvania, has constructed a 620 kilowatt solar energy system at their corporate headquarters in Pottstown, PA. Made up of nearly 3,000 roof-mounted solar panels, this s
