Is This Really Christmas Spirit?
When SportsOneSource reported in late October that adidas planned to cut costs by implementing a hiring freeze and scrubbing plans for year-end parties, the brain trust at Sole Technologies, manufacturers of Etnies, Emerica and eS footwear, among other br
Icebreaker Acquires Germany, Sweden and Norway Distributor
Icebreaker has acquired its distributor in Germany, Sweden and Norway from Bradshaw Taylor Ltd. Maximilian Hofbauer was named General Manager of the new Icebreaker Pure Merino GmbH. The new company will be based in Starnberg, Germany and will begin selli
Collective Brands Gets Bump from Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider in Q3
The star for Collective Brands in the third quarter was its Stride Rite Group division, which grew sales on a pro forma basis by 11%, driven largely by double-digit increases in the International, Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider businesses…
Marc Ecko Looking to Buy MMA Properties
According to iguillotine.com, Marc Ecko Enterprises is the leading bidder for ProElite, Inc., which produces MMA shows and owns the EliteXC MMA brand. The article claims MEE hopes to inherit ProElite’s television contracts with both CBS and Showtime…
Johnson Outdoors Whipsawed by Tough Economy
Johnson Outdoors has suspended dividend payments and will double its cost cutting efforts to prepare for a tough 2009 in the wake of a $51.7 million fourth quarter operating loss…
Nau Donates 10% of Sales to Partners for Change
Nau, a subsidiary of Horny Toad, plans to donate 10% of every sale made through its website, nau.com, to its non-profit Partners For Change. Called “Gifts Of Change,” this initiative aims to raise both awareness of and funds for the work being done by the
NSGA: Larger Retailers Show Stronger Productivity
Larger full-line sporting goods retailers showed stronger key measures of productivity and profitability than did their smaller counterparts, according to data in the newly released NSGA Cost of Doing Business Survey. For the current study, larger full-li
Flip Skateboards Shifts Distribution Partner
Flip Skateboards, Inc. has finalized a buy-out deal from a long term distribution agreement with Blitz Distribution, Inc. Effective immediately, the company has relocated the sales and distribution of its brand to NHS, Inc., in Santa Cruz, CA…
Gander Mountain Swings to Third Quarter Profit
Gander Mountain Company reported sales of $269.9 million for the quarter ended Nov. 1, 2008, an increase of 4% over the prior year period. Comparable store sales decreased 6.5%. Net income for the third quarter was $770,000, or 3 cents per share, compared
Icebreaker Buys Second European Distributor
Icebreaker has acquired its distributor in Germany, Sweden and Norway – three of its most important markets in Europe. The acquisition marks Icebreakers second of the year in Europe, where its sales are growing at an annual rate of…
Billabong Cuts EPS Forecast on Weakening U.S. Sales
Billabong International Limited nearly halved its guidance on EPS growth for fiscal 2008-09 from 12% to 16% EPS growth down to 6% to 10% due to further deterioration in consumer sales, primarily in the U.S. The revised guidance implies full year sales gro
SGMA Team/Sports Licensing Show Postponed
SGMA and dmg world media announced the postponement of the next SGMA Team Sports Show and the SGMA Sports Licensing Show, tentatively scheduled for June 2009…
Vail Resorts To Cut Permanent and Seasonal Positions
Vail Resorts became the second major ski resort operator in as many weeks to announce layoffs, the Summit Daily News reported. The company said it is cutting 50 year-round positions and leaving another 92 spots unfilled as part of cost-cutting efforts…
Long Beach Port Delays and Lowers New Container Fee
The Port of Long Beach has announced it will delay until at least July 1, 2009 a fee on 20-foot equivalent containers that was set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2009. Additionally, the port will lower the fee from $15 to $6. The Port of Los Angeles is expecte
Burton Relocates Brands to Vermont
Burton has begun transitioning The Program, which includes snowboard brands Forum, Special Blend and Foursquare, from its Irvine, CA offices to Burton’s Vermont headquarters. The company said the transition will be complete by early February and will allo
