SGB Update

Retail Execs See Lighter Traffic But More Sales in May…

It looks like the most recent Executive Opinion Survey, a monthly index by the National Retail Federation, was a fair indicator of the health of the retail business in May as retail execs also noted that the prediction of a negative impact of higher gas p

Cobblestones Names Sales and Marketing Chief

Cobblestones Activewear has named Michael Seegmiller vice president of Sales and Marketing, it was announced by Mark Osborn, general manager. Seegmiller comes to Cobblestone with more than 25 years experience in managing national and key accounts, includi

Zanatta Leaves Lotto Board; Tecnica is Now Sole Focus…

Giancarlo Zanatta, President of the Tecnica Group, has resigned his position as a member of the board of directors of Lotto Sport Italia in an effort to focus on re-launching the Nordica and Rollerblade brands world-wide…

ASTM Certifies New Textile Testing Method…

The American Society of Testing and Materials and Outlast have collaborated with Dr. Douglass Hittle, the Director of Solar Energy Applications at Colorado State University, to develop a textile test for phase change materials…

G-III Feels the Sting of Declining Sports Fashion Market…

G-III Apparel Group widens its net loss for the fiscal first quarter ended April 30, due primarily to continued softening in the company’s “fashion sports apparel” category and efforts to clear the slower goods that cut deeply into margins. The company s

DuPont Builds Eco-Friendly Textile Plant…

DuPont has signed a joint venture agreement with Tate & Lyle PLC, a U.K.-based carbohydrate processing company, to develop and build a production facility for a bio-based nylon and polyester alternative. The joint venture will use a proprietary fermentati

American Recreation Parent Boosts Net Income 18.5% in Q1…

Kellwood, Inc. first quarter sales increased 2.1% to $686.1 million, compared to $672.3 million last year due to a combination of organic growth of $5 million, or approximately one percent, and the acquisition of Phat Fashions which provided an additional

Price Hikes Are Rolling Down the Bike Supply Chain…

Full Speed Ahead and its subsidiary VisionTech will be raising their wholesale 5% to 15% mainly due to rising costs of raw materials and the overheating Chinese economy. As previously reported in BOSS (BOSS_0413), shortages in steel and aluminum in China

Nike in Deal with Arena Football …

The Arena Football League has entered into a three-year marketing partnership with Nike, who will serve as the AFL’s Official Uniform, Sideline Headwear, and Sideline Apparel Supplier through 2007. As part of the deal Nike will develop an exclusive unifor

Chinook Hires Coogan for New Brand Strategy

Chinook Trading has selected Mike Coogan, former VP of global marketing at Kamik, to launch a branded division.
Coogan, who will serve as president of the newly formed branded division at Chinook Trading, is launching a unique multi-brand strategy for the

But Loses Hoosier Deal to adidas…

The Hoosiers have made the switch from Nike to adidas for the school’s entire athletic department. The decision marks the first time that adidas has been the licensed product vendor for all of IU’s sports. Nike had held a majority of the contract since 20