THC Rides Weaker Dollar to Strong ‘03…
The Hockey Company Holdings Inc. sees little potential impact to its equipment business in 2004 from a potential NHL work stoppage, but the apparel end of the apparel business would surely take a hit if the league and the players can’t agree on a new col
Reebok Gets into MLB Game…
After missing out on the Major League Baseball deal last August that netted exclusive apparel and headwear deals for seven companies, Reebok International took the next best approach and inked a multi-year deal with MLB to provide footwear for players and
Saucony Puts Focus Back on the Mall Business…
Saucony looks like it is solidly back on the road to recovery after posting its second straight year of positive sales growth. SCNY has certainly turned things around from a rough 2001 when the company posted a loss of $900,000 after sales fell 21% for t
Skechers on the Mend in ‘04… or Is It???
Based on comments by management at Skechers USA, the company is at the beginning at what could either be a false start or a very positive start to 2004 based on recent trends. Wall Street, like management, appears to want o believe the latter as SKX shar
GSI Shrinks 2003 Loss, SG Share…
GSI Commerce reported a breakout fourth quarter that helped narrow the company’s total loss for the year. Net revenues for Q4 increased 26% to $95.2 million compared to net revenues of $75.3 million for the Q4 2002. Net merchandise sales, which represe
Hat World Inks Asia Expansion Deal…
Hat World Corp., which was recently acquired by Genesco, Inc., and Mainland Headwear Holdings Ltd. have entered into an a 10-year license agreement to open and operate 200 to 300 stores in Hong Kong and China. Mainland is primarily a manufacturer and exp
Columbia and Oakley Clean Up Fakes…
Columbia Sportswear recently joined forces with southern Chinese authorities to raid Lianxing Garments Company, located in Zhongshan City, China. The raid is part of an aggressive campaign to stamp out counterfeiters and protect Columbia's unique br
adidas CEO Signals U.S. Upside in 2004…
Adidas-Salomon CEO Herbert Hainer was quoted in a Reuters report that the adidas is expecting flat sales in the U.S. in 2004, and may even be “slightly positive”. He said they expect to see “first signs of improvement” in the second half and that it will
And Heads to U.S. Court in Stripe Fight…
In other adidas news, the company has reportedly filed suit against U.S. Polo Association in the U.S. District Court in Portland for trademark infringement. The suit claims that a USPA shoe is a copy of the adidas Superstar product, but with one less str
Ups and Downs in Nike’s Europe…
Spain’s Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that the Nike brand name did not in fact belong to Nike, Inc., at least if the company wanted to market apparel in Spain. Cidesport, a company that had been a licensee of the Nike name was said to be the lawful owner o
Aldila Gets Leaner and Meaner
Aldila reported that fourth quarter net sales rose 6.6% from $9.1 million in 2002 to $9.8 million in the final quarter of 2003. The company managed to reduce their net loss for the quarter as well, down 28.3% from ($1.7 million) in 2002 to ($1.3 million)
Acushnet Pays up to Protect Titleist…
Acushnet and Nitro Leisure Products have settled a suit out of court. Nitro refurbishes used Titleist golf balls and re-sells them for half to a third of the original retail price. At issue is Nitro’s actions that involved collecting used balls and subs
Commerce Dept. Confirms Strong Retail Numbers for January…
Retail sales results released by the U.S. Commerce Department show that total retail sales excluding motor vehicles rose 0.9% seasonally adjusted for the January 2004 period versus December 2003 and increased a healthy 6.8% unadjusted year-over-year for J
New Toolbox for the Outdoor Industry…
The Outdoor Industry Association has taken a very important first step toward growing human powered outdoor participation by completing the most exhaustive research study of consumer trends conducted to-date. This research does not specifically solve any
All In the Family at Johnson Outdoors?
Samuel C. Johnson, majority shareholder and director of Johnson Outdoors, and his daughter, Helen Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors, have made an offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Johnson Outdoors and take it private. Accordi
