SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Credit Insurance Market Tightens as Retail Outlook Worsens

U.S. credit insurance brokers say they are getting more inquiries from companies looking to insure their accounts receivable with retailers. Vendors can purchase credit, or accounts receivable insurance, to eliminate the risk of not getting paid by retail

Wolverine Bolsters Patagonia Footwear Team

Wolverine World Wide’s Outdoor Group promoted Craig Throne from GM of its Patagonia Footwear brand to VP of global marketing and replaced him with Bill Dodge, who oversaw Timberland's former GoLite Footwear venture. Dodge will oversee all business op

Shoe Pavilion To Liquidate

Shoe Pavilion, which filed for bankruptcy in July, plans to close all its stores after 29 years in business. The retailer said on Monday that it has commenced a going-out-of-business sale in all 64 of its locations…

Bon-Ton Predicts Low FY08 Results

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. said that based on fall season sales trends and continued expectations for a soft holiday season, it believes its full-year fiscal 2008 financial results will be at the low end of the previously stated guidance range. Guidance pro

Court Dismisses Tobacco Claims Against Amer Sports

The District Court of Helsinki has dismissed all claims for damages based on Amer Sports Corporation's already discontinued tobacco business. The District Court of Helsinki ordered the plaintiff's to compensate all the legal costs Amer Sports Co

The SportsOneSource Debate: The Election…

Turns out our industry is about as divided as the rest of the country around which Presidential candidate is best qualified to steward our country. Late last week, SportsOneSource queried subscribers asking how the election of John McCain or Barack Obama

Bush Signs Bill Encouraging Bike Commuting

Employers may begin reimbursing employees tax-free for bike commuting costs starting Jan. 1, 2009 under a bill signed by President Bush Oct. 3. After seven years of legislative proposals, the bicycle commuter tax benefit has finally become law. The benefi

TJX’s Comps Slide 1%, Lowers Guidance

The TJX Cos., Inc. reported sales rose 3% in the five weeks ended October 4, to $1.78 billion. Comps decreased 1%. The company is lowering its guidance for third quarter earnings per share from continuing operations to the range of 55 cents to 58 cents pr

Grenade Gloves Hires New Sales Manager

Grenade Gloves hired Marty Carrigan as West regional sales manager. Carrigan comes to the company with an extensive background in equipment, apparel and accessories for the action sports industry, with a heavy emphasis on winter sports. He earned a degree

Tender Corp. Secures Private Equity

Tender Corp., a major provider of insect repellents and other health products to outdoor retailers, said it secured a major investment from private equity firm Prospect Partners, LLC, of Chicago, Ill. Terms were not disclosed…

Brunswick Accelerates Job Cuts, Plant Closures

Brunswick Corp. plans to accelerate its previously announced efforts to resize the company and to remove $300 million in fixed costs by the end of 2009. The company is taking the action in light of “extraordinary developments within the global financial m

RECALL: Outdoor Playset Gliders

The CPSC has recalled about 500 outdoor playset gliders made by Backyard Play Systems. Some of the gliders were shipped with assembly instructions that did not inform consumers to tighten all lock nuts during assembly, including those attached by the manu

Coleman Names New Sales VP

The Coleman Company Inc. has named Michael Bach VP of sales with responsibility for leading the field sales team and the food/drug and home channels. His team will focus on key accounts within mass, sporting goods and other specialty channels and expand t

OIA Rendezvous a Reflection of Changing Season

Change is certainly ahead for the outdoor industry and the rest of America if the prognostications made by the speakers recruited to address the 300 in attendance actually materialize. From explorer and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster talking about the warming

Amer Sued by Avocet; Acquires Assets of Bulgarian Subcontractor

Avocet Sports Technology, based in Menlo Park, CA, has filed a lawsuit against Amer Sports and its subsidiary, Suunto USA, for infringing on three patents for altimeter devices. The suit seeks monetary damages in excess of $20 million. ..