Latest Headlines – Page 362
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Under Armour hires an Adidas veteran for its international push
The Baltimore-based sports brand may have become serious about developing its huge potential outside the U.S. It has appointed Karl-Heinz “Charlie” Maurath president of its international operations, with effect from next September. His job will be mainly to expand Under Armour's business in key markets. He will direct the brand's ...
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Russian ski federation will distribute Vuarnet
Vuarnet Sport has developed an interesting partnership with the Russian Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation. The brand, which is named after the famous French Olympic champion Jean Vuarnet, is going to outfit the young alpine ski champions of the Russian federation through 2014, including their participation in the Winter Olympic ...
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Vibram responds to charges on barefoot running
Vibram has been accused of making “deceptive” statements about the benefits of barefoot running with its FiveFingers shoes by a group of five American law firms that purport to be representing more than 100 individuals with claims of more than $5 million.Their lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts on ...
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Are shoes better than bare feet for runners?
When it comes to the human body's use of oxygen and its production of carbon dioxide, running with shoes is more efficient than running barefoot. This is the latest finding of the Locomotion Lab at the University of Colorado, which has studied running and walking for decades. The study found ...
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Taiwanese four-in-one formula works out
A new tie-up of four related trade shows was detailed at Taispo, the Taiwanese sporting goods fair, which was held in Taipei last month. The organizers inaugurated a new formula, whereby Taispo started just one day earlier than Taipei Cycle, the large-scale cycling fair. Two smaller, complementary shows were held ...
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Nike enjoys demand but faces inventory issues
After several feeble quarters in Europe, Nike's expansion has picked up again in the region, with a sales increase of 6 percent in constant currencies for the third quarter ended Feb. 29. The brand's sales in Western Europe reached $962 million in the quarter, up by 4 percent in reported ...
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German Intersport will go online in special ways
On March 19, the general assembly of Intersport Deutschland approved with a vote of more than 80 percent an initial plan to go into multi-channel retailing, including online sales, probably starting with the spring of 2013.The new evisaged e-commerce platform is rather unique due to the fact that Intersport Deutschland ...
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Adidas Group buys Adams Golf
The Adidas Group is reinforcing its position as the world's No. 1 player in golf by acquiring Adams Golf for $10.80 a share or a total of $70 million, a price that represents a premium of about 71 percent on the share price prior to Adams' announcement on Jan. 4 ...
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Golfsmith is apparently for sale
The consolidation of the golf sector is far from over. The latest income statement of Golfsmith International shows that the U.S. company spent $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 exploring a strategic transaction and its possible sale, contributing to a net loss of $5.6 million for the period, ...
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Big growth for ECCO in golf shoes
The big Danish shoe company said it raised its sales of golf shoes by 42 percent last year, but failed to provide a volume or sales figure. Driven by the success of its Golf Street line of hybrid golf shoes and its new BIOM golf shoes, the category was particularly ...
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Basicnet offers to buy 22 stores in Italy
Basicnet continues to invest in the retail sector in Italy to consolidate the presence of most of its brands in a difficult market. It has made an offer to take over 22 outlets and discount stores for €440,000 from Fashion Network, an Italian retailer undergoing bankruptcy proceedings that belongs to ...
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Italian investors take over Spirale
An Italian investment firm, AB Group, and the private equity Ersel Investment Club have bought a 73 percent stake in an Italian manufacturer, Spirale, specializing in injection-molded casual footwear. The shoemaker produces rain and after-ski boots under the Spirale name and safety shoes under the Nora brand. In 2011, Spirale ...
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Falke comes back to Serbia
The German market leader in socks is back in the Serbian town of Leskovac with its own factory. The facility, with a surface of 16,500 square meters, was recently inaugurated in the presence of Serbian President Boris Tadic. The company claims that the facility is one of the most modern ...
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Growing Heelys closes its European office
Heelys says it is closing down its European office in Belgium and transferring most of the business to its French and German offices. Finance will be handled directly from the head office in U.S., where the company recently appointed an international controller.The country managers in Germany and France, Dominik Wieder ...
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Easton-Bell sets up a new European office
Easton-Bell has finalized the legal procedures for the establishment of an office in the western part of Switzerland for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, although it is still looking for the most suitable office space. It is also recruiting new managers for the new EMEA operation, including category ...
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ASG seeks exclusive partnerships with European retail chains
Alan Vickers, the sporting goods industry veteran appointed last year to coordinate the international development of American Sports Goods (ASG), is negotiating exclusive distribution deals for the company's brands – Avia, Ryka and Nevados – with major sports retail chains in various European countries and elsewhere around the world.The new ...
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Local and foreign retailers try out multi-sports formats in China
The tight margins prevailing in the Chinese sports retail market have entailed a significant consolidation, as the two largest Chinese retailers have opened more stores and acquired smaller rivals that could no longer operate profitably.Some sports brands grumble that the situation has reached unhealthy levels, since the share of the ...
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Americans are inspired by the Olympics
The research arm of the U.S. Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association has put out its most recent Study on Sports, Fitness and Recreational Activity Participation, which found that Americans show more interest in being active when there is extensive media coverage of the Olympic Games, especially the Summer Games. A marked ...
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More internet and less Asian sourcing in German bike market
The number of bicycles sold in Germany grew by 1 percent in volume last year to a total of 4.05 million units, mainly due to the continuously growing demand for e-bikes and for high-quality products, said the German bike manufacturers' association, ZIV, at the opening of the VELO Berlin consumer ...
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Design-driven POC sells many helmets, goggles
POC of Sweden continues to collect design awards. It has just obtained the prestigious Red Dot award for the fifth year in a row, this time for two new products. Its EYES Eyewear line is said to focus on performance and optical perfection, and it can be worn for functional ...
