From EverymanTri.com
4/30/2009
See the Original Story Here
Nicole DeBoom, CEO and Founder of SkirtSports, was chosen as a winner of the second annual, Sporting Goods Business (SGB) 40-Under-40 Award, from a pool of over 500 industry nominees. Designed to honor the best and brightest future leaders of the sporting goods industry, nominees for the award included key managers, sales reps, executives and founders who have had an impact on a particular business or the industry as a whole.
Individuals were nominated by their peers and selections were made by a blue ribbon panel of industry executives and SportsOneSource editors and analysts.
With winners from around the industry, DeBoom was one-of-three women chosen as the top 40 nominated for this year’s award.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the future leaders in the sporting goods industry,” said Nicole DeBoom, CEO of SkirtSports. “It’s great to be a part of such an amazing group of people across the board—I am very proud, and appreciate all those who saw my work and SkirtSports in such a light.”
A conventional athlete, DeBoom decided that the gender neutral, drab gear just wasn't inspiring and needed a change. Enthused to be the leader in the women's fitness movement, she sketched her first design of a "fitness skirt" - sassy and red - but totally functional and designed for performance. That same sketch turned into her first prototype, just in time for the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin and brought DeBoom her first Ironman win wearing her bright red running skirt.
Utilizing this idea, DeBoom launched SkirtSports fitness skirts and apparel in 2005, mirroring her ideal that women should never have to sacrifice femininity for performance in their workout clothes. DeBoom and the SkirtSports brand continues to lead the way for women’s fitness wear with product in more than 300 retail stores nationwide, a "Skirt Entourage", and a national race series (SkirtChaser) receiving recognition.
“Nicole’s dedication to the development of women’s fitness apparel is truly inspirational,” said Sarah Vernon, SkirtSports National Sales Manager. “Her constant positive attitude and willingness to do “whatever it takes” makes her a great leader and role model for the industry.”
Award presentations will be made to the 40 recipients during a weekend event and awards ceremony in San Antonio, TX on May 2-3, 2009 at the Westin La Cantera Resort.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Reebok's shine dims post Adidas deal
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Boston Business Journal - by Terry Lefton
Market-research firm SportsOneSource analyst Matt Powell questions Reebok’s brand relevance, also noting that you’ve got to have great product before you can market it. Becker and Hainer cite recent innovations like Reebok’s SelectRide shoe, which switches from a running to a training shoe with the push of a button, or the EasyTone trainers, which claim to provide women a workout just by wearing them, as signs of innovation.
LINK to the Boston Business Journal
Boston Business Journal - by Terry Lefton
Market-research firm SportsOneSource analyst Matt Powell questions Reebok’s brand relevance, also noting that you’ve got to have great product before you can market it. Becker and Hainer cite recent innovations like Reebok’s SelectRide shoe, which switches from a running to a training shoe with the push of a button, or the EasyTone trainers, which claim to provide women a workout just by wearing them, as signs of innovation.
LINK to the Boston Business Journal
Under Armour's growing pains
Baltimore sportswear maker feels effect of market’s slump
Baltimore Business Journal
- by Ryan Sharrow Staff
4/17/2009
Under Armour has used its partners as a channel to grab a 10.9 share of the $13 billion U.S. apparel market, said Matt Powell, a retail analyst with SportsOneSource. Apparel sales so far are down 8 percent across all sportswear companies, Powell said.
LINK to Baltimore Business Journal
Baltimore Business Journal
- by Ryan Sharrow Staff
4/17/2009
Under Armour has used its partners as a channel to grab a 10.9 share of the $13 billion U.S. apparel market, said Matt Powell, a retail analyst with SportsOneSource. Apparel sales so far are down 8 percent across all sportswear companies, Powell said.
LINK to Baltimore Business Journal
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Gun Sales Booming
WLNS TV 6
Posted: April 9, 2009 08:31 AM
A new report shows more people are using their right to bear arms. According to the Sports One Source Research Firm, firearm sales are up 39% from last year across the country. FBI background checks, which are required every time a federally licensed gun dealer makes a sale, rose 29%.
LINK to WLNS
Posted: April 9, 2009 08:31 AM
A new report shows more people are using their right to bear arms. According to the Sports One Source Research Firm, firearm sales are up 39% from last year across the country. FBI background checks, which are required every time a federally licensed gun dealer makes a sale, rose 29%.
LINK to WLNS
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Boom in Gun Sales Fueled by Politics and the Economy
TIME magazine online
By SEAN GREGORY
Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009
According to the SportsOneSource, a research firm that tracks the sports goods industry, firearms sales in large retail outlets are up 39% this year. Shops across the country are reporting ammunition shortages since stores can't meet demand for bullets.
LINK to TIME magazine
By SEAN GREGORY
Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009
According to the SportsOneSource, a research firm that tracks the sports goods industry, firearms sales in large retail outlets are up 39% this year. Shops across the country are reporting ammunition shortages since stores can't meet demand for bullets.
LINK to TIME magazine
outdoor DIVAS Founder, Kim Walker is honored as one of the SGB 40 under 40
Sporting Good Business has named their top 40 under 40 professionals in the Sporting Goods Industry. Kim Walker, outdoor DIVAS Founder and Co-owner, was nominated and selected as one of the top 40 under 40 in the Sporting Goods Industry.
LINK to Outdoor Divas
LINK to Outdoor Divas
Monday, April 6, 2009
Successful Rays May Still Be 'Cash-Flow Negative'
By MICHAEL SASSO
Tampa Tribune
Published: April 4, 2009
Merchandise royalties: It doesn't have a Red Sox Nation fan base yet, but the Rays saw some modest gains in merchandise sales last year.
Where the Rays accounted for a measly 0.3 percent of all Major League Baseball merchandise in 2007, the team generated 1.1 percent of sales last year, said Matt Powell, an analyst with merchandise tracker SportsOneSource.com. The Yankees were the league leaders, accounting for 20 percent of all team gear sold.
LINK to The Tampa Tribune
Tampa Tribune
Published: April 4, 2009
Merchandise royalties: It doesn't have a Red Sox Nation fan base yet, but the Rays saw some modest gains in merchandise sales last year.
Where the Rays accounted for a measly 0.3 percent of all Major League Baseball merchandise in 2007, the team generated 1.1 percent of sales last year, said Matt Powell, an analyst with merchandise tracker SportsOneSource.com. The Yankees were the league leaders, accounting for 20 percent of all team gear sold.
LINK to The Tampa Tribune
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Can a Golf Shoe Help GEOX Beat the Recession?
TIME Magazine
By SEAN GREGORY Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2009
Why have golf shoes proven recession resistant? For one, all that walking around in the grass (and for many, the sand) really wears down your spikes. "Golf is very hard on shoes," says Matt Powell, an analyst at SportsOneSource. "Grass creeps in them, they get wet, and they can even get moldy. It's easier to play in an old golf shirt than play in old, rotten shoes." While you can send weary brown shoes to the repair shop, it's harder to fix up a pair of sneakers. Plus, consumers might be trading down from expensive golf equipment to shoes. Instead of splurging on a $700 set of new clubs, which rarely wear out to the point you can't use them, golfers can buy new shoes for a fraction of that cost. This way, they feel like they're saving money while getting a necessary upgrade. (See pictures of shoes worn by Olympians.)
Despite this favorable environment for golf shoes, GEOX's success is no gimme. First, the shoes are expensive, ranging from $160-200. Some golf shoes in the market cost even more, but that's still a steep price during down times. Plus, golf is a crowded marketplace; in the U.S., for example, Nike owns 56% of the market. With Tiger Woods returning to the course, in his usual Swoosh-clad clothes, an upstart like GEOX is unlikely to make a serious dent. "It's not like the industry is crying out for a new brand or a new idea," says Powell. "It will be a very difficult challenge for GEOX."
LINK to TIME online
By SEAN GREGORY Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2009
Why have golf shoes proven recession resistant? For one, all that walking around in the grass (and for many, the sand) really wears down your spikes. "Golf is very hard on shoes," says Matt Powell, an analyst at SportsOneSource. "Grass creeps in them, they get wet, and they can even get moldy. It's easier to play in an old golf shirt than play in old, rotten shoes." While you can send weary brown shoes to the repair shop, it's harder to fix up a pair of sneakers. Plus, consumers might be trading down from expensive golf equipment to shoes. Instead of splurging on a $700 set of new clubs, which rarely wear out to the point you can't use them, golfers can buy new shoes for a fraction of that cost. This way, they feel like they're saving money while getting a necessary upgrade. (See pictures of shoes worn by Olympians.)
Despite this favorable environment for golf shoes, GEOX's success is no gimme. First, the shoes are expensive, ranging from $160-200. Some golf shoes in the market cost even more, but that's still a steep price during down times. Plus, golf is a crowded marketplace; in the U.S., for example, Nike owns 56% of the market. With Tiger Woods returning to the course, in his usual Swoosh-clad clothes, an upstart like GEOX is unlikely to make a serious dent. "It's not like the industry is crying out for a new brand or a new idea," says Powell. "It will be a very difficult challenge for GEOX."
LINK to TIME online
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