SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Rawlings Taps Hultec to Produce Baseball Pills

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., the Official Baseball Supplier to Major League Baseball since 1977, will utilize a new supplier for the production of the “pill” for all Major League Baseballs. Hultec, an affiliate of Fort Worth, Texas based S & B T

Sport Chalet Amends Credit Line

On January 9, Sport Chalet Inc. amended its credit agreement with lenders led by Bank of America to loosen its terms, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The filing noted that as of December 31, an event of default had occurre

TEKO Names Director of Sales

TEKO, the high-performance socks producer, said Rich Weight has joined the company as director of sales. Most notably, Weight served as director of sales for both Cloudveil and Chaco…

Insight Names New Marketing Director

Insight Tech-Gear, a developer and manufacturer of illumination, laser aiming and imaging solutions for the federal, law enforcement and commercial markets, has named Paul Erhardt its new Marketing Director…

L.L.Bean Tops Customer Service Survey

According to the fourth annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers’ Choice survey, conducted by BIGresearch, shoppers revealed that L.L.Bean delivers the best customer service in all retail formats. Results were announced at the Annual Retail Indust

Patagonia Austin to Raise Money for Local Environmental Groups

In an extension of the well-known Patagonia grants program that has given over $31 million to grassroots environmental organizations since 1985, the new Patagonia store in Austin is sponsoring a 'Land, Air & Water' silent auction and concert fro

Against All Odds Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Against All Odds USA Inc., an operator of urban apparel and footwear retail stores, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark, NJ. The chain has about $38 million in assets, and $35.9 million in liabilities. The chain operates 64 stores in shopping malls

Vendors Restructure Under Economic Pressures

The body count from a brutal economy continued to mount last week as four more major manufacturers announced operation restructuring plans to welcome in what has been an exceptionally frosty New Year for vendors and retailers across the board…

The Finish Line Shrinks Loss, Inventory in Third Quarter

Strong inventory and cost controls combines with a decent performance in footwear to help The Finish Line slightly trim its loss from continuing operations in the third quarter ended November 29. These improvements helped offset continued weakness in appa

Teva Hires New Global Marketing Director

Teva has hired Joel Heath as global marketing director. Heath is the fourth addition to Teva's Management Team within the last 10 months and joins a team that includes Global Product Director Juerg Geser, Domestic Sales VP Jake Brandman, Product Deve

Ruger to Repurchase 357,000 Shares

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced that during the fourth quarter of 2008 the company repurchased 357,000 shares of its common stock for $2.4 million in the open market, including 309,000 shares repurchased in October 2008 and 48,000 shares repurchase

Stein Mart December Comps Fall 9.3%, Reduces Expense Structure

Stein Mart, Inc. saw total sales for the five-week period ending Jan. 3, 2009 of $178 million, a decrease from $196.3 million during the comparable period last year. Comparable store sales dropped 9.3% for the five-week period ended Jan. 3, 2008, an incre

OIA: November Outdoor Sales Slide 11%

According to most recent edition of The OIA Outdoor Topline Report, retail sales for all core outdoor stores (chain, internet, specialty) fell 11% in dollars ($407,383,909) compared to November 2007($458,334,314), the first month of overall dollar sales d