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FEBRUARY 6, 2012 ISSUE 1206 The Weekly Digital Magazine for the Sporting Goods Industry
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SGB Weekly 1206 revised
Transcript of SGB WEEKLY 1206a
FEBRUARY 6, 2012ISSUE 1206
The Weekly Digital Magazine for the Sporting Goods Industry
Visit us at FN PLATFORM, Booth #62135 February 13-15 in Las Vegas!
Men’s Siesta Cold Snap Charcoal Felt/Bu�alo Plaid
Women’s Siesta Cold Snap Camel Felt/Houndstooth
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Only Spenco® TOTALSUPPORT™ Footwear has the Full-Contact Comfort™ Footbed. Based on the
shape of our best-selling TOTALSUPPORT™ Insole, it’s the perfect combination of support and comfort from
heel-to-toe. Visit spenco.com and see for yourself how TOTALSUPPORT™ Footwear improves alignment, helps reduce
over-pronation and o�ers relief to those with high arches.
Spenco_SGB_Cold_Snap_8.5x11_.pdf 1 1/26/12 6:49 AM
FEB 6, 2012 | SGBWeekly.com 3
4 ADIDAS Introduces the 2012 NBA All-Star Uniforms 1-ON-1 With Travis Blasingame, Head of Global Basketball Apparel at Adidas... Taking the 2012 All Star Uniforms From the Beach to the Court FNH OUTDOORS Purchases CastAway Graphite Rods 6 NIKE Unveils Hyper Elite Platinum Uniforms 10 A School Ban on UGG BOOTS is Causing Alarm for Parents and Students FORTUNE MAGAZINE Names 100 Best Companies to Work for REI, Zappos.com and W.L. Gore Make Top Employer List 12 SIA Inventory Swelled 16 Percent at Specialty Snow Sports Shops in December SPERRY TOP-SIDER to Expand Beyond Footwear
14 NO WEATHER WHINERS AT 2012 OR WINTER MARKET
18 CALENDAR
14Page
Copyright 2012 SportsOneSource, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors to SGB WEEKLY are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. SGB WEEKLY is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Articles appearing in SGB WEEKLY may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher. SGB WEEKLY is published weekly by SportsOneSource, LLC, 2151 Hawkins Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28203; 704.987.3450. Send address changes to SGB WEEKLY , 2151 Hawkins Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28203; 704.987.3450
Editor In ChiefJames Hartford (704.987.3450 x104)
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2151 Hawkins Street • Suite 200 • Charlotte • NC • 28203t. 704-987-3450 • f. 704-987-3455
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The Weekly Digital Magazine for the Sporting Goods Industry
FEBRUARY 6, 2012ISSUE 1206
Visit us at FN PLATFORM, Booth #62135 February 13-15 in Las Vegas!
Men’s Siesta Cold Snap Charcoal Felt/Bu�alo Plaid
Women’s Siesta Cold Snap Camel Felt/Houndstooth
®R
egis
tere
d a
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. ©20
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006,
201
2 S
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Only Spenco® TOTALSUPPORT™ Footwear has the Full-Contact Comfort™ Footbed. Based on the
shape of our best-selling TOTALSUPPORT™ Insole, it’s the perfect combination of support and comfort from
heel-to-toe. Visit spenco.com and see for yourself how TOTALSUPPORT™ Footwear improves alignment, helps reduce
over-pronation and o�ers relief to those with high arches.
Spenco_SGB_Cold_Snap_8.5x11_.pdf 1 1/26/12 6:49 AM
NEWS
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Cover photo courtesy of 2012 OR Winter Market
Photo courtesy of 2012 OR Winter Market
4 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
Adidas unveiled the new NBA All-Star Uniforms and Footwear for the 61st NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, FL. The uniforms were inspired by the 20th anniversary of the memorable 1992 NBA All-Star game, which was also held in Orlando, FL. The bright-orange basketball shoes pay homage to Orlando’s Orange County and the state’s famous oranges.
“NBA All-Star is an exciting event that combines sports, style and entertainment unlike any other in the world,” said Lawrence Norman, Adidas vice president, global basketball. “NBA All-Star is the premier event to showcase Adidas’ court-to-street heritage on basketball’s biggest stage and brings it to fans around the world. We’ll also leverage the league’s best big man, Dwight Howard, throughout the weekend at events, appearances and on the Adidas Basketball Facebook page to bring the excitement to fans in Orlando and our global online community.”
The All-Star uniforms feature oversized East and West All-Star block lettering that was inspired by the 1992 uniforms. The jackets and jerseys feature a dip-dyed hardwood heather pattern inspired by the floor of the Orlando Arena where the game was held. The tonal blue and red, and three stripes silver and gold accent coloring on the jerseys and short sides will make the uniforms stand out on court. The woven NBA All-Star shorts were inspired by board shorts and also feature a sublimated mesh pattern for performance and breathability.
On-court warm-ups feature functional stretch denim pants and lightweight windbreaker style, full-zip jackets with tonal grey coloring with East (Blue) and West (Red) accents for a stylish off-court look to match the laid back Florida vibe. The jackets also feature elbow patches and laser perforated color contrast while the pants feature mock denim stitching and pockets. Replica NBA All-Star jerseys are available at retail with a full range of NBA All-Star apparel from adidas including men’s and women’s t-shirts, track jackets and headwear. All items are also available at the NBA Store at Jam Session, Orlando Magic Team Shop at Amway Center, the adidas Store at Orlando Crossing and NBAStore.com.
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose will wear the special orange colorway of their newest adidas signature shoes during the NBA All-Star Game. The adizero Rose 2.5 and adiPower Howard 2 All-Star versions will drop February 23 (MSRP $110/$100) at Foot Locker, eastbay.com, shopadidas.com and NBA Jam Session in Orlando.
Adidas Originals will release a special version of the AR2.0. Following up on the popular adi-Rise model, the AR2.0 is inspired by the iconic adidas Forum Mid basketball shoe, but with a modern off-court look, clean vulcanized sole and patent leather strap. It features gold stars on the sockliner and a navy/orange colorway. The NBA All-Star in Orlando and is available now for MSRP $95 at Foot Locker.
ADIDAS INTRODUCES THE 2012 NBA ALL-STAR UNIFORMS
NEWS
FEB 6, 2012 | SGBWeekly.com 5
As the official uniform provider of the NBA, adidas is faced with the challenge each year of creating a unique All Star uniform. This week Adidas launched the 2012 editions, which will be worn February 25 in Orlando, FL. While an All Star Game presents some unique opportunities that aren’t always present in the regular season, one thing does stay the same. “You know our story. It’s all about light and fast, and athletes first. And in that, it’s a head-to-toe experience,” explained Travis Blasingame, Head of Global Basketball Apparel at adidas. “When we come around to All-Star Weekend, that’s our concept car, so to speak, for future innovations, and it really feeds into what we do overall.”
Last season’s REV30 jerseys kicked off a new era in uniform design for adidas, and they have aimed to push even further with this season’s All Star editions. “REV30 was 30 percent lighter, and dried twice as fast," Blasingame said. "But how do we build off that and get lighter and faster?” While performance is still the priority, plenty of emphasis was placed on style as well.
Here are five facts on how adidas Basketball took the 2012 All Star Uniforms from the beach to the court according to Travis Blasingame:
1. The beach serves as this year’s inspiration - “Guys are dressing differently. They are no longer big and baggy in the locker room; they’re tailored, they’re tight. They're spending a lot of money on their clothes. … We are really starting to blend and blur the lines between what they're walking into the arena with, and what they're wearing on court," Warm up pants feature four-way stretch denim, and the lightweight windbreaker-style jackets feature fashion-friendly details like elbow patches, and performance elements like a CLIMACOOL mesh liner.
2. “East” and “West” Fonts - If the fonts on the 2012 jerseys look a bit familiar, a look back 20 years will explain why. “The wordmark and numbering system pay homage back to the 1992 All Star Game, the last time it was in Orlando. It was a big year, especially for west coast people, with Magic getting MVP in his return."
3. Adidas’ Lightest Shorts Yet - The beach settings of Florida provide inspiration yet again on the game shorts. “You’ll see woven shorts on-court for the first time for All-Star Weekend. They are a lot lighter than they've ever been. It’s a blending of board shorts and basketball shorts."
4. Hardwood Heather - The jersey numbers not only provide breathability, but feature a unique graphic treatment that ties directly to the game of basketball. At first glance, you may just see a traditional interwoven yarn appearance—but look a little bit closer. “We are pulling out the traditional heather effect, but playing around with the hardwood flooring.”
5. Count the Stars - Want to know how many times any member of the East and West squads have made the All Star Team? Just count the stars on the back collars of any player’s shooting shirt.
1-ON-1WITH TRAVIS BLASINGAME, HEAD OF GLOBAL BASKETBALL APPAREL AT ADIDAS... Taking the 2012 All Star Uniforms From the Beach to the Court
Photo courtey of Sole.com
FNH OUTDOORS PURCHASES CASTAWAY GRAPHITE RODS
FNH Outdoors, LLC. has acquired CastAway Graphite Rods. CastAway will merge with FNH's existing Fish-N-Hunt Pro Gear subsidiary to form a broader portfolio of fishing offerings for an existing hunting and fishing gear business. The company stated that vendors carrying the FNH Outdoor line will have new options under the existing FNH relationships, with end-customers expected to benefit with more choice.
“CastAway has always been on the cutting edge of technology with innovations like multi-modulus blanks and they were the first company to see the benefits of the Microwave guide system," said Adam Murray, general manager of FNH Outdoors. "I really can’t wait to begin the next chapter in this legacy. We have some amazing plans and we are really looking forward to getting them out to our customers."
6 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
the certified excellence of these nine teams. This jersey is where performance meets sustainability.”
On the performance side, Teague said the core focus was on continuing to offer performance benefits such as breathability and freedom of movement but with a particular push toward the lighter weights that players are increasingly demanding. Nike's commitment to lightweight traces its way back to Nike's co-founder Bill Bowerman.
"Bill Bowerman is the soul of Nike innovation and he was maniacal in his search for reducing the weight his athletes carried around when they were competing," said Teague. "He was convinced that even if you shave a 10th of an ounce from either footwear or apparel over the course of the duration of the competition, it would give his runners a competitive advantage. And basketball is no different. Games are won or lost in the fourth quarter."
On the aesthetic side, the overall look of uniforms has changed over the years, Teague noted. The first change, largely since the game was invented at the beginning of the 20th century, came in the eighties and was driven by the popularity of Michael Jordan and the Fab 5 basketball team from the University of Michigan. Said Teague,
NIKE UNVEILS HYPER ELITE PLATINUM UNIFORMS
At a media event in New York City, Nike Inc. unveiled its Hyper Elite Platinum Basketball uniforms, which were specially designed for nine college basketball programs: Arizona, Baylor (women), UCONN (men and women), Duke, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse. The uniforms feature super-lightweight construction, bonded seams and reflective materials with a strong eco-friendly message.
Tracy Teague, global creative director for Nike Basketball, said Nike has been outfitting men's and women's college teams since 1990, and the nine teams represented have won national championships in Nike uniforms. Combined, the teams have amassed 31 NCAA championships and some call-outs in the uniform designs pay homage to the winning legacies of each school. The short and jersey combinations will be worn by the teams at select games during the 2012 season with the technologies making it to the team market in the 2012/2013 season.
“We’re aiming to elevate college basketball,” Teague stated during an hour-long presentation at Good Units in the lower level of New York City’s Hudson Hotel. “The Hyper Elite Platinum is the next generation of basketball uniforms, and there’s no better place to start than with
Continued on page 8
NEWS
NIKE UNVEILS HYPER ELITE PLATINUM UNIFORMS
job # DCS11_17880
client Nina ServinoDuPont Chemical Solutions
publicationSports One Source Magazine9" x 10.875"
first insertionFebruary, 2012
creative“My Life History—Women’s Jacket”
initial date
account executive AM/MR
creative director PD
copywriter
art director BC
production BC
proofreader CK
approved for PDF AM/MM
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All stock photography is owned by the applicable image provider. All usage rights regarding such images are governed by such provider(s) terms and conditions of use set forth at the provider’s(s’) website(s).
Copyright ©2012 DuPont. All rights reserved. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont ™, The miracles of science™, and Tefl on® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affi liates.
292 miles mountain biking
14 trips to the farmers market
28 kids’ soccer games
1 run in with stranger’s latté
3 school fi eld trips
2 unexpected downpours
6 concerts in the park
1 stormy ferry ride
5 sunrise hikes
Tefl on® fabric protector means
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DCS11_17880_Ad_Jacket_SOS_2-12.indd 1 1/5/12Thursday 12:32 PM
8 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
"The shorts got longer. Jerseys got baggier. And the mindset of the players went from being a player on the court to a 24/7 lifestyle with the game of basketball. Nike was right there with them evolving as they evolved."
In 2007, another change occurred when players began looking for more tailored, form-fitting uniforms. Teague said this was partly driven by the advent of the NBA dress code by the league. He elaborated, "Players are now dressing more tailored off the court and they want to take that same look on the court and from a performance point of view. That gave us some real advantageous."
One benefit of the move to slimmer jerseys was helping Nike remove 14 inches of girth from the middle of the jersey to help reduce weight. Body-hugging cuts also make it tough for defenders to grab hold of a player's jersey in game traffic. Yet despite the lightweight call, players still liked the long shorts and most began wearing the Nike Pro Combat that featured pads to buffer the thighs, hips and tail bone against bruises. Said Teague, "The game has gotten incredibly physical and all these players are looking for added protection playing the game but in a lightweight form that doesn't hinder their performance."
With players looking for such padding, Nike designers were tasked to find new materials and manufacturing processes amid the lightweight call. The result was the Nike Hyperlite uniform that reduces the weight of the uniform by almost a pound. Said Teague, "Every single stitch was evaluated. The overall cut of the pattern was analyzed to continue to enable complete freedom of movement. Every embellishment was scrutinized."
The short, weighing 5 ounces, features the latest developments in Nikes' Dri Fit fabric technology while incorporating 4-way stretch woven design to reduce the tendency of seams to restrict movement. Even the bottom hem is bonded to eliminate stitching for comfort and style. The short also includes laser perforations in the side panels for increased breathability.
The jersey is also tailored for optimal efficiency of movement and is five percent lighter than the previous Nike Hyper Elite uniform. The front of the jersey features a lightweight Nike Sphere fabric, the back includes a full Nike Aerographics back panel and neckline - like the hem of the short - benefits from a bonded back seam. Featuring laser-cut bonded logos, a sharp platinum design as well as prominent accent colors, the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms are also designed to stand out on the court. Said Teague, "We actually made the embellishment reflective so they really are going to pop on the court."
But what Teague called the "biggest innovation and what we're most excited about" is that the fabric in the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum shorts is made from 100 percent recycled polyester while the jersey fabric is made from at least 96 percent recycled polyester. In sum, each uniform is constructed from the equivalent average of 22 plastic bottles. Said Teague, "That's something we're proud of in Nike basketball design. We're able to provide state-of-the-art performance and do it in a way that aligns with our sustainability goal."
In 2011, Nike affirmed its commitment to increasing its use of more sustainable materials by doubling its use of recycled polyester, using approximately 440 million PET plastic bottles, enough to cover over 12,000 basketball courts.
Along with the jerseys and shorts, the uniforms launch dovetails with the introduction of the Nike Zoom Hyperenforcer sneaker, combining Flywire support with Hyperfuse material, along with the latest Nike Dri-Fit Elite sock designed specifically for basketball, and a line of school-specific warm-up jackets that showcase each program’s Championship success. Teague said the warm-ups also bring extra breathability along with fluid construction promising players to "actually shoot in this warm-up."
The uniforms will debut late-January for some of biggest rivalries in college basketball. Dates include UConn vs. Notre Dame (1/29), Kentucky vs. Tennessee (1/31), Duke vs. Maryland (2/11), Baylor (women’s) vs. Texas A&M (2/11), Florida vs. Tennessee (2/11), Syracuse vs. USF (2/22), Arizona vs. UCLA (2/25), UConn (women’s) vs. Notre Dame (2/27) and UNC vs. Maryland (2/29).
Arizona Jersey
Duke Jersey
Arizona Jersey
Duke Jersey
WHERE STRATEGIC DECISIONS BEGIN
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10 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
NEWS
The Pottsdam Middle School in Pottsdam, Pa has banned students from wearing Ugg Boots because they have caught too many students hiding cell phones in them. The school's strict policy on cell phones prohibits cell phone usage during class hours.
District community relations director John Armato told the Pottstown Mercury that current school policy allows students to bring cellphones to school but requires that they be kept in their lockers during the day.
A SCHOOL BAN ON UGG BOOTS IS CAUSING ALARM FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
REI, Zappos.com and W.L. Gore & Associates were ranked as top 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune Magazine -- REI (#8), Zappos.com (#11) and Gore & Associates (#38).
The recognition marks the highest-ever ranking for REI and the 15th consecutive year they were ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.
“Our more than 10,000 employees maintain an unwavering com-mitment to our values and culture - which is why we remain an employer of choice and are successful in helping others lead healthy active outdoor lifestyles.” said Michelle Clements, senior vice presi-dent, Human Resources for REI. Fortune Magazine estimated the company’s workforce increased 12 percent in 2011.
Another lifer on the list is W. L. Gore & Associates, best known in the sporting goods industry for its Gore-Tex and high-performance fabrics. Employment at the company grew 2 percent in 2011, Fortune Magazine estimated.
Fortune estimated that Zappos.com, famous for its customer service, grew employment by 70 percent in 2011 to 3,003 employees.
FORTUNE MAGAZINE NAMES 100 BEST COMPANIES
TO WORK FORREI, ZAPPOS.COM AND W.L. GORE MAKE TOP
EMPLOYER LIST
▲▲
Just click on the video icons to see more on the top 100 best companies to work for Zappos.com and Rei
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
Photo courtesy of Ugg
www.pcg-advisors.comOne Embarcadero Center Suite 3810 San Francisco, CA 94111
Please contact: Tripp Baird / 415-705-8003
Specializing in private placements, mergers& acquisitions, financial restructurings and
strategic advising/consulting
We look forward to working with OIA and all its members to promoteoutdoor recreation and active lifestyles while creating extraordinary results
for our clients.
12 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
A 50 percent decline in the snow cover in December caused inventory at specialty snow sports shops to swell by 16 percent compared to their level at the end of last year, according to the latest RetailTRAK report released by SnowSports Industries America. Specialty shops sell-through was down 10 percent overall through December as consumers waited for more snow to fall.
Still, sales remained above the four-season average and a mid-January change in the storm track may help the retailers recover some of the sales lost in December.
August through December 2011 sales reached $2.2 billion. While that was 2 percent below last season's record sales, it was above August-December sales in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons. Sales during the 2011 period were down 10 percent overall in units with big drops in accessories, such as goggles, wax, and gloves. Equipment and apparel sales, which consumers normally acquire earlier in the season, fared better with increased sales in alpine and AT/Randonee equipment and insulated tops.
SIA said the drop in sales correlated directly to the lack of snow, but noted that as of January 24 snow covered 41 percent of the lower 48 states, compared to 23 percent in December 2011 and 48 percent in December 2010.
Despite the lack of snow, sales of reverse and mixed camber skis reach 87,000 units, up 75 percent and accounted for 23 percent of all alpine skis sold from August through December. In-Season AT/Randonee boot sales were up 12 percent in units and dollars, and skins sales were up 10 percent in units sold and 12 percent in dollars sold. Rocker snowboard sales accounted for more than 70 percent of all in-season snowboard sales. Sales of rocker boards increased 13 percent in units and 11 percent in dollars sold through December.
Sperry Top-Sider has signed five new licensed partnership deals to expand Sperry Top-Sider branded products into new areas -- belts, bags, hosiery, eyewear, swimwear, cover-ups, headwear, scarves, gloves and shoe care, among others. The new product collections will launch Spring 2013 in the brand's wholly-owned Sperry Top-Sider specialty retail stores located across the country, sperrytopsider.com, at
premium department stores and specialty retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
The new licensed partnership deals are with Manhattan Beachwear, Inc. for swimwear; Renfro Corporation for hosiery; Tandy Brands for belts and bags; Interbrand, LLC for headwear, scarves and gloves; and U.S. Continental Marketing, Inc. for leather and shoe care products in the U.S. Additional licensing deals are pending with partners
covering product categories in eyewear and watches, among others.
"These initiatives are the critical next steps for Sperry Top-Sider as we aim to connect more broadly with our target consumer and continue our mission to create the leading nautical performance and lifestyle brand across the globe," said Gregg Ribatt, CEO of the Collective Brands' Performance + Lifestyle Group, which oversees the brand.
SIA INVENTORY SWELLED 16 PERCENT AT SPECIALTY SNOW SPORTS SHOPS IN DECEMBER
SPERRY TOP-SIDER TO EXPAND BEYOND FOOTWEAR
Come visit us at Outdoor Retailer booth #30137Wand at Platform booth #60756.
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14 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
The 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, UT again drew record attendance, busy aisles, and warm smiles – even after one of the toughest Decembers retailers had to endure.
It was hard to notice that many attendees were suffering through the toughest winter at least since 2008/2009. The mood on the Salt Palace show floor was upbeat considering the complete lack of snow in the lower 48 states in a 180 degree change from the 2011 show. While there was clearly less energy on the floor on the first day, retailers and reps were upbeat on the future of outdoor recreation.
This in part reflected the diversity of the activities at the show. Buyers for hook-and-bullet and climbing shops, for instance, told SGB Weekly the warm weather was boosting their business, while several apparel and footwear vendors said their growing distribution outside the outdoor specialty and internationally assured continued double-digit growth in 2012. Nor did events in Europe seem to cast a pall over the show. Companies were clearly moving forward with innovation and new programs.
The snow shortfall hit hard in December, resulting in heavy discounting already arriving in stores by January to clear bloated inventories of outerwear, insulated boots, skis and other cold-weather goods. Those high inventory levels had set off concerns
among vendors about open-to-buy dollars on spring pre-season and whether cancellations should be expected. Other vendor worried whether winter 2012/2013 orders may be guided down in a kneejerk reaction to a poor winter 2011/2012.
At the same time, after two strong winter seasons in which many stores ran short on inventory and missed opportunities, some retailers may be in the lurch after having ordered too aggressively this past winter season.
Vendors will get an opportunity in the coming weeks and months to support the specialty channel, which will certainly experience liquidity issues. Rocky Mountain retailers were already discounting ski equipment and outdoor apparel in early January and if the snow that started last week did not continue, the regular post-Presidents’ Day markdowns were expected to be especially deep.
Closeouts, which became virtually absent last season, will return, as vendors move to liquidate inventory they had expected to sell as reorders. Vendors will also likely take back some inventory on a case-by-case basis.
“As a snowboarder and skier I’m really bummed out about the weather,” said Cec Annett, chief merchandising officer for theclymb.com, a private sale site that specializes in helping vendors liquidate
NO WEATHER WHINERS AT 2012 OR WINTER MARKETBy Thomas J. Ryan
Photos courtesy of 2012 OR Winter Market
FEB 6, 2012 | SGBWeekly.com 15
surplus goods. “But as a business, I’m happy. In the last two weeks, the phone calls have been pouring in.”
SALT LAKE CITY VENUE PUSHED TO LIMIT
Exhibitors and attendees surpassed record levels and the overall floor space was again bursting at the seams. While some missed the show due to a storm in Seattle,WA, the 21,000 pre-registered attendees marked an all-time record high for the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. Every year roughly there is a 10 to 12 percent increase in new exhibitors.
Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO at Outdoor Industry Association, said at OIA's industry breakfast January 19 that a lack of space at the Salt Palace was driving an effort to solicit the industry's opinion on whether a new venue for the show was needed. The space constraints are limiting the show's ability to attract new product categories and to support on-site demos. He said, "There's a danger that within a couple of years of moderate or even conservative growth, we will outgrow the logistical structures here in Salt Lake City."
A decision on extending the contract past 2014 will likely come later this summer. Just expanding the Salt Palace isn’t the answer either as show management wrestles with lack of available hotel rooms to support the growing event.
EXHIBITORS LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING Many in the outdoor industry saw the demand for space by
exhibitors from a wide range of active pursuits, including several in the running, snow and surf space, as a sign of strength in the industry and of the strong momentum globally for the outdoor lifestyle.
"The brands want to come," said Hi-Tec CEO Ed Van Wezel. "They see how busy it is. The new surf brands are here. The industry has become more sporty and it's appealing to the active consumer. It's no longer just the outdoor guy. It's everyone and that is the exciting thing. It's not just the niche that outdoor was ten years ago."
"I always think this is the healthiest trade show out there," said Todd Spaletto, president, Americas, The North Face. "It's people who are incredibly passionate about the activities that they represent. And I think there's more outside interest, whether it's lawmakers or Wall Street analysts or consumers. The outdoor industry in general is an area where a lot of people are intrigued and interested in what we're up to."
Still, he said many attendees had "December on the brain." Tom Berry, VP of global sales, marketing and merchandising for The Tecnica Group, believed the winter weather dramatically impacted sales. "It's terrible," said Berry. "If anybody tells you it's not a huge drag, they're crazy or unrealistic. You can still have a lot of success
16 SGBWeekly.com | FEB 6, 2012
but your success would have been that much bigger if there was snow."
In his talks with dealers, Spaletto believed outdoor specialty had an "incredibly strong season" overall through November. But December came up short and that had translated into higher on-hand inventories in January than expected. It's almost the opposite situation than last year at the same time. Spaletto said, "When we came out of 2010, it was one of the coldest and snowiest winters and nobody had any inventory in the first quarter of 2012. Everybody was out! People were asking us to ship our spring orders early!"
Regarding The North Face, Spaletto admitted that some retailers did not meet their sales goals of the brand in December but The North Face overall saw an increase in the month, outperforming the industry average. It also had delivered "really strong sell-throughs" through November. He said The North Face was not seeing any impact on Fall/Winter 2012 orders, and he believed they were being helped by sitting among the more coveted brands in the industry.
"I think The North Face is just in a fortunate position in that we had better sell thoughs and we're investing more and more in our marketing,” said Spaletto. “And I do believe in times of uncertainty like this, dealers are going to put more of their eggs in a more reliable basket like The North Face." Spaletto also did not expect a noticeable shift to conservative ordering for the next winter season, believing the majority of The North Face accounts make their buys based on a three-to-five year average.
Said Spaletto, "If you have the warmest winter in 40 years to write your orders, assuming you're going to get the second warmest winter in 41 years, is a little risky."
Harking back to 1976 when he remembered the last time there was no snow in the mountains by January, Scarpa North America CEO Kim Miller believed the industry is now partly buffered against uncooperative winter weather because the ski industry "has figured out how to make snow" to preserve some of the skiing action for hardcore skiers and tourists. But he also noted that poor weather conditions, whether winter or spring, served as a reminder of the need to diversify a business.
Several vendors pointed to the benefit of having both spring and winter product. "You can think about your product line like your financial portfolio," said Miller. "It's really important to be diversified because of the role the weather plays. We're about at parity with summer to winter products so that helps a lot."
Running seemed to have received a small boost by the balmy December weather and the hiker and trail run side also benefited because trails were able to stay open longer than normal in 2011, vendors said.
Miller also said boots in general seemed to do better than skis partly because people get concerned about possibly skiing on rocks in a low-snow year. Said Miller, "People want to buy at least something every season and it looks like boots are the choice because there are great boots out there and it's a low-snow year."
Looking ahead, Miller said when it comes to possible spring
cancellations, it helps to have a "hot product" that the retailers are more certain can sell through. Said Miller, "They're looking to cancel the things they think are on the periphery. Every shop is different. We have really strong products in our line and this was our biggest winter selling season of ski boots ever. We're hearing a mixed story from our retailers. Most said, 'Not everything sold but your product is checking very well.'"
Miller was more certain that 2012 winter orders would be impacted overall, believing many buyers naturally tend to order based on the memory of sell-throughs from the prior season. Miller said 2011 "was the strongest season I saw in 10 or 20 years. It was record-breaking and that was the frame of reference that was in their mind so when they came into this year the expectation was really high. But it's a dangerous game when you base your forecast just on what you did last year in this business. It doesn't always go well." ■
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2 0 1 2AUGUST 2-5, 2012
Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City, UT
Open Air DemoAUGUST 1, 2012
2 0 1 3JANUARY 24-27, 2013
Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City, UT
All Mountain DemoJANUARY 23, 2013
SEE YOU THERE!
WM12_SGB Future_ad_Layout 1 1/9/12 10:25 AM Page 1
FEBRUARY
3-7 NBS Spring Semi-Annual Market Fort Worth, TX
5-7 EORA Southeast Primary Expo Greenville, SC
6-8 WSA Show Las Vegas, NV
6-9 ISPO Munich, Germany
6-9 MRA Winter Market Boyne Mountain, MI
7-9 EWSRA/NEWSR On Snow Demo Stratton Mountain, VT
7-10 Worldwide Spring Show Reno, NV
13-15 MAGIC Show Las Vegas, NV
13-16 NEWSR Winter Sports Show Providence, RI
14-16 MWSRA February Show Madison, WI
16-19 Sports Inc. Outdoor Show Phoenix, AZ
22-23 WWSRA Inter Mountain Winter Market Salt Lake City, UT
23-24 WWSRA Southern California Winter Market Costa Mesa, CA
28-1 EWSRA Winter Sports Expo Edison, NJ
MARCH
6-8 WWSRA Rocky Mountain Winter Market Denver, CO
6-8 WWSRA Northern California Active Sports Market Reno, NV
12-14 NEWSR Winter Sports Expo Manchester, NHAPRIL
19-22 Sea Otter Classic Monterey, CA
19-22 FIBO 2012 Essen, Germany
MAY
6-9 NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit San Antonio, TX
JUNE
12-14 Licensing International Expo Las Vegas, NV
18-20 EORA Southeast Summer Market Greenville, SC
21-22 NBS Specialty Outdoor Market Austin, TX
25-27 EORA Mid-Atlantic Market Parsippany, NJ
25-27 EORA New England Summer Market Manchester, NH
28-30 Sports Inc. Athletic Show Indianapolis, IN
29-1 TAG Spring/Summer Show St. Charles, MO
JULY
11-13 NBS Summer Market Indianapolis, IN
AUGUST
1 Outdoor Retailer Open Air Demo Salt Lake City, UT
2-5 Outdoor Retailer Trade Show Salt Lake City, UT
9-11 Sports Inc. Outdoor Show Indianapolis, IN
SEPTEMBER
7-9 NBS Fall Semi-Annual Market Fort Worth, TX
OCTOBER
16-17 Let’s Play Hockey International Expo Las Vegas, NV
NOVEMBER
3-4 NBS Fall Athletic Market Indianapolis, IN
7-9 TAG Fall/Winter Show N. Charleston, SC
12-14 ADA Fall Show Las Vegas, NV
18-20 Sports Inc. Athletic Show Las Vegas, NV
CALENDAR For full year calendar go to sportsonesource.com/events
Athletic Dealers of America1395 Highland AvenueMelbourne, FL 32935t 321.254.0091f 321.242.7419athleticdealersofamerica.com
National Shooting Sports FoundationFlintlock Ridge Office Center11 Mile Hill RoadNewtown, CT 06470t 203.426.1320 f. 203.426.1087nssf.org
National Sporting Goods Association1601 Feehanville Drive / Suite 300Mount Prospect, IL 60056t 847.296.6742f 847.391.9827nsga.org
Nation’s Best Sports4216 Hahn Blvd.Ft. Worth, TX 76117t 817.788.0034f 817.788.8542nbs.com
Outdoor Industry Association4909 Pearl East Circle / Suite 200Boulder, CO 80301t 303.444.3353f 303.444.3284outdoorindustry.org
SGMA 8505 Fenton StreetSilver Spring, MD 20910t 301.495.6321f 301.495.6322sgma.com
Snow Sports Industries America8377-B Greensboro DriveMcLean, VA 22102t 703.556.9020f 703.821.8276snowsports.org
Sports, Inc.333 2nd Avenue NorthLewistown, MT 59457t 406.538.3496f 406.538.2801sportsinc.com
Sports Specialists Ltd.590 Fishers Station Drive / Suite 110Victor, NY 14564t 585.742.1010f 585.742.2645sportsspecialistsltd.com
Team Athletic Goods629 Cepi DriveChesterfield, MO 63005t 636.530.3710f 636.530.3711tag1.com
Worldwide 8211 South 194thKent, WA 98032t 253.872.8746f 253.872.7603wdi-wdi.com
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