Changing of the Guard…
It was a tale of two cities in the fourth quarter as Phil Knight, the founder, chairman, president and CEO of Nike, Inc. announced in December that he was stepping down from the president & CEO role and handing the reins of the company to an outsider…
Bell Acquires Sports Instruments…
Bell Sports has purchased Sports Instruments a manufacturer and designed of heart rate monitors, cycle computers and sports watches. Bell will market and sell the Sports Instruments product line through its network of more than 3,000 independent bike deal
Former Yakima Owner Criticizes Move; Company Pulls Out of Winter Shows…
In an interview last week with a local Arcata paper, Don Banducci, former owner of Yakima, criticized Watermark for its decision to move the company out of Humboldt County. Last month, Watermark announced that it would be moving all landsport operations,
Osprey Custom Program Heats Up
Osprey launched a new custom molded hip-belt program at OR Summer Market this past year which is very similar to the custom molded ski boots available at many snowsports specialty retailers. The program requires Osprey dealers to purchase a specially desi
PPA Launches Consulting Services and Elects Board Members…
The Professional Paddlesports Association has lunched a new business consulting program dubbed, ‘PaddlePro Business Evaluation Programs.’ The organization describes it as an exclusive, onsite peer evaluation program for members desiring to improve the eff
Villafan Appointed Baby Jogger Product Manager
Dynamic Brands, the parent Company for The Bag Boy Company, The Baby Jogger Company and AMF Golf, has named Rebecca Villafan as Product Manager for Baby Jogger strollers. Villafan, who has been employed with The Baby Jogger Company since 1994, will overs
MSR Delays XGK EX Release; CD Looks to Sell SmartTrack
In a letter to retailers, MSR recently announced that the release of MSR’s new XGK EX stove has been postponed three months to May 1, 2005. According to the letter, The original release date of February 1, 2005, “would have limited our ability to test thi
Holiday Sales Realities Should Force a New Look at Historical Retail Metrics…
At first glance, it appears that consumers pulled back this holiday shopping season as most retailers outside of the luxury category hinted at less than robust sales results for the period through Christmas Eve. The problem with assessing results versus
Catazine Boosts EMS Holiday Business…
In November EMS began shipping their first mail order catalog since 1983 – a 180 page color ‘catazine’ combining product information and content. EMS printed 750,000 copies and ahs distributed 650,000 of those to its customers, while the remainder was sen
Dick’s Sporting Goods Charlotte Store Overwhelmed by Retro Jordan 13 Launch…
It was a good news, bad news scenario last week for the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the University area of Charlotte, NC as local police were forced to close the store during a Midnight Madness sale that also featured the launch of the Retro Jordan 13
Mystery Blog Site Shakes Up Outdoor Industry…
The total power of the Internet as a tool to communicate and build a feeling of community is just being realized by many, and recently a few veterans of the outdoor industry teamed together to use the Internet for this very purpose. ThePiton.com was launc
NYPD Cracks Down on Counterfeit TNF Apparel…
New York City Police seized over $12 million worth of counterfeit The North Face and other brand name apparel in a Garment District raid before Christmas. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the raid to the press, saying that it was one of the largest count
Spy Optics Launches IPO…
Spy Optics has launched a successful IPO on the Nasdaq National Exchange under the corporate name Orange.21 with the ticker symbol ORNG. Orange.21 offered 2.48 million shares initially, and then upping the number to 3.48 million shares when an internal st
Salomon Moving Production East; Will Cut Back French Production and Jobs…
Salomon has announced that it will reduce its ski production in France to 35% of total production by 2007 from the current 55% level. Most of the shift in production is expected to go to Romania. Inline skates and Snowboard production will move to China
Giant and Merida Expect a Record 2004…
According to the China Economic News Service, Taiwan’s two largest bicycle manufacturers are posting record sales and profits this year. Last week BOSS reported that Taiwan exports were at an all time high in both units and value, with ASP’s climbing due
