Outdoor Coalition Grabs Bigger Share of VF Corp. Business in Q4; Vans a Key Focus…
The VF Outdoor Coalition, which includes The North Face, Vans, JanSport, Eastpak, Napapijri, and Kipling, revenues for the fourth quarter jumped 86.8% to $276.5 million from $148.0 million in the year-ago period. Excluding roughly $100 million in revenue
Sims Inks Deal with World’s Largest Trading Company…
Tom Sims has inked a new licensing agreement with Itochu International, the North American subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation, one of Japan's leading companies. Itochu now has the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of Sims Snowboards, including al
Former Execs Plead Guilty in China Kickback Scheme…
Scott Brabson, a former Vans executive, and Jay Rosendahl, a former Columbia Sportswear executive who was consulting for Vans, pleaded guilty last week to four federal charges, admitting they obtained $4.7 million in bribes and kickbacks from Chinese fact
December SnowSports Sales Slow at Specialty; Chain Stores Still Has Gains…
Warm December weather slowed foot traffic in many New England Specialty SnowSports retailers causing nationwide SnowSports Specialty retail sales to slump 5% in units and 2% in dollars during the month. For the same month, SnowSports Chain retailers saw s
Federal Budget Proposal Leaves No Room for Recreation…
Two weeks ago in a letter to President Bush, 78 executives from OIA member-companies asked for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Urban Parks and Recreation Restoration Program. Both programs are designed to help states, cities
Reebok Launches Biggest Ad Campaign in Ten Years, But Where Have We Heard This Before…
Reebok International looked to excite the market with the ad campaign that is expected to further energize the company’s Rbk brand and strengthen its position with the coveted 12 to 24 year-old consumer base that is responsible for the vast majority of sn
Louisiana Court Rejects Bass Pro TIF…
The Louisiana State Supreme Court has ruled that Livingston Parish’s TIF bill, designed to lure Bass Pro into opening a store in the town, was unconstitutional because it used dedicated tax dollars in its funding. The court did not rule on the constitutio
December SnowSports Sales Slow at Specialty; Chain Stores Still Has Gains…
Warm December weather slowed foot traffic in many New England Specialty SnowSports retailers causing nationwide SnowSports Specialty retail sales to slump 5% in units and 2% in dollars during the month. For the same month, SnowSports Chain retailers saw s
Sara Lee Spinning Off U.S. Branded Apparel Unit…
Wall Street appears to be reacting favorably to the announcement Thursday that Sara Lee Corporation will spin off its branded apparel division and other units. Combined, businesses represent about 40% ($8.2 billion) of the company’s revenues, and focus on
Head Sees Europe and Winter Sports Take Bigger Slice of Pie in Q4, Full Year 2004…
Head N.V. needed a weaker dollar to help post any significant increase in sales revenues for the year, a benefit that the Austria-based company will soon cease to realize as it moves to de-list its shares on the NYSE. Fourth quarter net income fell nearl
Recall: Shimano Brake Cables…
In cooperation with the CPSC, Shimano is recalling its ‘Road Racing Bicycle Brake Inner Cables’ because the cable can detach during braking, “causing the rider to lose control and fall.” This recall involves aftermarket Shimano 1.6 mm X 1,700 mm brake inn
adidas-Salomon Still Looks for Europe Gains in 2005, Nice Boost in 2006…
Herbert Hainer, chairman and CEO of adidas-Salomon, said in an interview with Reuters last week that he expects sales in Europe to increase in single-digits for 2005 despite a dip in order backlog reported at the end of third quarter. Brand adidas generat
Footwear Brands Point to Fashion to Stand Out…
The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market had a number of consistent messages across the show floor, but perhaps none was more prevalent than the story about the move to add more fashion to technical product. The story was heard at the last Summer Market, but e
Collegiate Pacific Gets Big Lift from Acquisitions to Post Fiscal Q2 Profit…
Collegiate Pacific reported that net sales for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased 461% to $23.8 million from $4.2 million in Q2 last year.
Net income for the period was $581,000, or 6 cents per diluted share, versus a net loss o
Johnson Outdoors to Vote on Going Private; Diving and Watercraft Hurt Q1 Earnings…
JO Acquisition Corp., formed by Johnson Outdoors chairman and CEO Helen Johnson-Leipold to take the company private, has filed its preliminary proxy statement with the SEC. The proxy statement outlines both companies’ reasoning for the transaction as wel
