Mizuno Opens New Distribution Center in GA
Mizuno USA, Inc. held an official Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony this week for the company’s new 300,000 square foot distribution center in Buford, GA…
Medalist Appoints Three Rep Agencies
Medalist Performance Sports Apparel, Inc. has appointed three new manufacturer representative agencies. Sportco Marketing, Inc., The Holland Group, Inc., and National Marketing Group, will manage the growth of Medalist in multiple business categories acro
Vietnam Footwear Workers Strike for Better Treatment
Nearly 4,000 workers are striking at a Taiwanese footwear plant in Vietnam in order to protest ill treatment by their bosses, reported the Taipei Times this week…
PUMA Acquires Swedish Corporate Merchandising Firm
PUMA has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of corporate merchandising firm Brandon Company AB with economic effect as of Jan. 1, 2009. The closing of the deal is subject to approval by the competent anti-trust authorities. Through the acquisition of the
Johnson Health Tech Sues Icon
Johnson Health Tech, parent company of Horizon Fitness, has sued Icon Health & Fitness, claiming that the company has produced products infringing on Johnson’s patent no. 7,316,633 of which pertains to an “exercise elliptical machine” patented in January
Outdoor Foundation Finds Outdoor Participation Increasing, Youth Interest Dropping
In the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, the Outdoor Foundation found that while overall participation in outdoor recreation among Americans is increasing, the connection to nature among youth is declining. According to the report, over 50% of
Sporting Goods Retailers Sued Over Switchblades
A class action claims that Wal-Mart, Cabela's, Dicks Sporting Goods and others are selling switchblade knives that they know are illegal in Texas…
Vermont Organic Fiber Company Hires Ed Kiniry as CEO
Vermont Organic Fiber Company has hired veteran outdoor industry entrepreneur Edward (“Ed”) Kiniry as CEO as of Dec. 1, 2008. Kiniry will be responsible for driving the growth of the company’s O-Wool brand of products made with wool grown and certified to
Retailers See Sales Increase, Comps Down in Q3
Retailers in the active sports lifestyle market posted reasonable sales growth for the fiscal third quarter in the light of the general malaise in the market, as sales grew 3.4% on a consolidated basis for the public company retailers tracked by Sports Ex
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…
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
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
Trade Shows Exhibiting Some Pressure
With the economy flailing, trade show traffic is expected to take a significant hit in 2009. As budgets get slashed across the board, both retailers and vendors are finding little room left for the traveling, lodging and entertaining costs involved with t
Gander Mountain Hires Anheuser-Busch Execs
Gander Mountain Company announced that its board of directors has named Michael Owens to serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer and Steven Uline to serve as senior vice president of marketing…
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
