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SEPTEMBER 2013
DIGITAL
FOR RETAILERS
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SEPTEMBER 2013 i DIGITAL
4
CONCUSSION
AWARENESS
UPDATE
Senior Business Editor
Thomas J. Ryan
tryan@sportsonesource.com
Contributing Editors
Aaron H. Bible, Fernando J. Delgado,
Bill Kendy, Charlie Lunan, Matt Powell
New tools to
protect the brain
from traumatic
injury
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MAKING NEWS
4 NFL, Under Armour and GE
Invite Innovators to Compete For $10 Million in Head Health Grants
5 Riddell and TGEN
Team Up with Arizonia State University Football Program in Genetic Study of
Concussion Detection and Treatment
6 NFL
Reaches Concussion Settlement
8 Boathouse Sports
Debuts Ice Hockey Uniforms
9 Wrestling
Reinstated for 2020 Olympics
16 Industry Calendar
Feature
10 Holiday Team Sports "Must-Haves" For Retailers
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TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
3
N E W S I c o n c u ssi o n a w a r eness
“This is a perfect
example of our shared
commitment to making
the culture of sports
better and safer –
especially for young
athletes."
- NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell
“We are excited to
harness the power of
innovation and assemble
the best minds in the
world towards an effort
to make the field of play
safer across all sports
and for all athletes."
NFL, Under Armour and GE
Invite Innovators to Compete
for $10 Million in
Head Health Grants
Coming on the heels of the NFL’s tentative $765-million settlement in
concussion-related lawsuits, the NFL, Under Armour and GE announced
the launch of the Head Health Challenge II. The open innovation challenge will award up to $10 million for new innovations and materials
that can protect the brain from traumatic injury and for new tools for
tracking head impacts in real time.
The challenge is part of the Head Health Initiative, an effort to help
speed diagnosis and improve treatment for mild traumatic brain injury.
"We are very pleased to have Under Armour join our work with GE
to help accelerate progress and find better ways to protect the brain
from injury,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “This is a perfect
example of our shared commitment to making the culture of sports
better and safer – especially for young athletes."
Entries are currently being accepted at headhealthchallenge.com.
The deadline to submit entries is January 30, 2014. Up to 10 winners
are scheduled to be selected this month for the chance to receive as
much as $500,000 each. Up to five of the potential 10 finalists will be
eligible to receive as much as $1,000,000 after the second phase of
judging concludes.
"As longstanding partners of the NFL and in collaboration with GE,
we take great pride in our participation in the Head Health Challenge
II,” said Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank. “We are excited
to harness the power of innovation and assemble the best minds in the
world towards an effort to make the field of play safer across all sports
and for all athletes."
4
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
Kevin Plank, Under Armour
founder and CEO with
Roger Goodell (left) NFL
Commissioner
- Under Armour Founder
and CEO Kevin Plank
Specific focus areas for Head Health Challenge II include:
»»
»»
»»
»»
Potential to Improve the Prevention and Identification of
Brain Injuries
Monitoring and Identifying Injury
Protection Against Injury or its Consequences
Training
The winners of the challenges will be selected by a panel of external
judges that include leading experts in brain research and engineering
solutions for training and protocols.
The Head Health Initiative is a four-year, $60 million collaboration to speed diagnosis and improve treatment for mild traumatic
brain injury. The goal of the program, which is guided by healthcare
experts, is to improve the safety of athletes, members of the military
and society overall. The initiative includes a four-year, $40 million
research and development program from the NFL and GE.
In addition, the NFL, Under Armour and GE launched two open innovation challenges to invest up to $20 million in research and technology development to better understand, diagnose and protect against brain injury.
The first challenge launched in March and closed in July with more than
400 submissions from more than 25 countries. That challenge will invest
up to $10 million in technologies and imaging biomarkers that address
identification and management of subclinical and mild traumatic brain injury. Winners of the first challenge will be announced later this year.
Riddell and TGen
Team Up With Arizona State
University Football Program in
Genetic Study of Concussion
Detection and Treatment
Concussion awareness took another step
forward this month with the launch of a new
genetic study intended to advance concussion
detection and treatment. Riddell, a leader in
football helmet technology and innovation,
recently announced that the Pac-12’s Arizona
State University and its Sun Devil football program will participate as the first university research partner in a new study. This potentially
groundbreaking joint research project is the
first of its kind to combine molecular information with the monitoring of head impacts.
Working with the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen) and its research
partners, the Sun Devil football team will participate in the study to identify whether the
effects of sub-concussive hits can be identified through blood-based molecular information. The researchers will monitor the players’
changing molecular information throughout a
season of typical head impact exposure associated with football practice and games.
“Our goal is to be leaders in the community,
on and off the field, and partnering with industry pioneers like Riddell and TGen enables us
to be proactive in helping to advance the game
and enrich the lives of our student-athletes,”
said Steve Patterson, vice president for Sun
Devil Athletics. “Involvement in this study is
consistent with our long-term goals, and also
increases awareness and understanding of
this important topic, as well as furthers the
Pac-12’s Student-Athlete Health and Well-Being Initiative.”
The Riddell Sideline Response System (SRS)
has been deployed for use at Arizona State
University for the 2013 college football season
to obtain real-time head impact data from Sun
Devil football players. Information gathered
from the system will be combined with molecular information from players that experience
concussion. The objective of gathering the
data is to help physicians diagnose concussions and better identify when a player might
be expected to recover and return to the field.
TGen and Riddell announced their research collaboration in May.
The Sun Devils’ medical team, consisting
of athletic trainers and physicians, will not
see the data or interpret any results until the
end of the season, and the student-athletes
Photo courtesy Arizona
State University
Riddell Revolution Speed Helmet with Sideline Response System (SRS)
sensors shown here on the underside. The red and white circles act as sensors
to obtain real time head impact data from players. SRS technology can be
purchased by institutions at the team level.
wearing the Riddell SRS sensors in their
helmets volunteered to take part in the study.
The study is anchored by the process of
merging a player’s molecular information with
real-time head impact information captured by
Riddell’s SRS technology. Riddell, in partnership with Simbex, LLC, was the first to introduce a helmet-based player monitoring and
response system to football. The data output
provides researchers, athletic staff and players with a wide range of pertinent information
– transmitted directly to the sidelines via wireless communication – on the frequency and
severity of head impacts a player receives
during games and practices. Riddell SRS has
captured over 1.8 million impacts from youth
to elite football competition since instituted in
2003 by several well-respected research institutions, leading to important rule changes and
informing new helmet designs.
One key question is whether the effects of
sub-concussive hits are identifiable through
blood-based molecular information that could
unlock new opportunities for innovation and
advancement of the game. Researchers at
TGen, along with their colleagues, hope to find
the answers in the data. During this phase of
the study, TGen faculty and staff have been
working closely with their colleagues at Barrow
Neurological Institute, A.T. Still University and
Desert Testing collecting samples and data.
A baseline sample was collected from all participating players prior to their pre-season workouts. Since then, researchers have followed the
team through their daily workouts and will continue throughout the season, securing samples
the day after each practice or game.
After the conclusion of the season-long
campaign, the researchers will gather postseason baseline data and begin the analysis
process with their colleagues at Barrow Neurological Institute and A.T. Still University. During this process, TGen will work closely with
Barrow, whose B.R.A.I.N.S. (Barrow Resource
for Acquired Injury to the Nervous System)
program treats patients who have sustained
a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. The
Barrow data will provide the researchers with
additional concussion data and allow for comparison between data sets.
“Together with Arizona State University,
TGen and our other important research partners, Riddell hopes to answer a number of key
questions that will lead to improved player protection, inform our continued development of
new helmet innovations and further refine player
monitoring technology,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell.
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
5
N E W S I c o n c u ssi o n awa r eness
NFL
Reaches
Concussion
Settlement
The NFL and more than 4,500 former players
reached a tentative $765 million settlement in
concussion related lawsuits. The settlement is
earmarked to fund medical exams and research
and to provide compensation for ex-players who
are suffering from the debilitating effects of concussions.
Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia announced the proposed settlement late
last month following months of court-ordered mediation. Brody still must approve it at a later date.
The concussion related injuries suit has been
in mediation since July, and the announcement
came just days before the start of the 2013 NFL
season season.
The plaintiffs include at least 10 members of
the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including former Dallas
Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, Super Bowlwinning quarterback Jim McMahon and the family
of Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide last year.
Former U.S. District Judge Layn Phillips, the
court appointed mediator who helped forge the
deal, said in a statement that a trial would have
been costly, long and difficult to address on a
6
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
case-by-case basis with the outcome uncertain for either side.
"This is a historic agreement, one that will make sure
that former NFL players who need and deserve compensation will receive it, and that will promote safety
for players at all levels of football," said Phillips. "Rather
than litigate literally thousands of complex individual
claims over many years, the parties have reached an
agreement that will provide relief and support where it
is needed at a time when it is most needed."
There will be a fund of $675 million to compensate
former players or their families who have suffered
cognitive injury such as dementia, ALS and Alzheimer's
disease. A further $75 million will be available for
basic medical exams. Other money will go towards
research and legal expenses.
Under its terms, the NFL made no admission of
liability or deficiency on its part, nor that playing
American football caused the injuries. The NFL will pay
half of the settlement over three years and the other
half over the subsequent 17 years.
Insurers for the NFL and its players have denied
any obligation or liability in the case, as many of the
plaintiffs participated in different eras, with changes in
rules, equipment and treatment options.
Former U.S. District
Judge Layn Phillips
"This is a historic
agreement, one that
will make sure that
former NFL players
who need and deserve
compensation will receive
it, and that will promote
safety for players at all
levels of football."
- Former U.S. District
Judge Layn Phillips
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TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
7
Boathouse Sports
Debuts
Ice Hockey Uniforms
Achieve
Your
Goals
Photo courtesy Boathouse Sports
Boathouse Sports, the maker of sublimated
team uniforms, debuted its first line of ice hockey uniforms earlier this month. The line includes
two fully sublimated jerseys - the Flight and the
Velocity – as well as sublimated hockey socks
and 420 denier coated nylon Ice Shell pants.
Breadth of Data.
Depth of Data.
Timeliness of Data
As the broadest, deepest and most
timely data available for the U.S. Sports
and Outdoor Active Lifestyle Market,
SportScanInfo is the weekly retail point-ofsale data reporting solution. To learn more
about how we can help your business,
call 704.987.3450 or email
sportscan@sportsonesource.com.
SportScanInfo.com
A Service of The SportsOneSource Group
Doub Tibbetts, President & CEO,
Boathouse Sports
“We are very excited about bringing our custom uniforms, training gear and outerwear to
the world of hockey,” said Doug Tibbetts, president of Boathouse Sports. “No other team supplier can provide the fully custom branded complement of uniforms, outerwear, training gear,
as well as fan and support gear, that we can.”
Boathouse’s jerseys are 20 percent lighter
than traditional cut-and-sewn jersey’s. They also
have double shoulders and elbows with reinforced seams. The Flight Jersey features the
traditional hockey sweater tie neck, while the
Velocity has a V-neck collar. Boathouse’s Ice
Shell Pants, are built from 420 denier coated
nylon oxford with stretch insets for mobility
and an adjustable buckle waistband. All styles
are available in Adult and Youth sizing, including both Adult and Youth Goalie cuts for the
jerseys.
During the 2012/2013 ice hockey seasons,
Boathouse partnered with several teams to
receive extensive feedback, including the New
Trier Men’s Team, which won the Illinois State
High School Ice Hockey State Championships.
“The athletes found our gear to be lighter,
quicker to dry and more comfortable to play
in than their old-school jerseys,” shared
Tibbetts.
Boathouse also offers an on-line Team
Store model for easy web-based ordering and
offers a simple platform for organizing team
and supporter purchases. Tibbetts added that
the on-line Team Store model is an ideal tool
for ice hockey teams that are tired of complicated, patched-together apparel purchasing.
Boathouse Sports has been based in Philadelphia, PA, where it manufactures over 95
percent of its custom team apparel products,
since its inception in 1985. Boathouse maintains an exclusive customer base of schools,
universities and teams.
Wrestling Reinstated for 2020 Olympics
The sport of wrestling claimed a huge victory earlier this month, as
the sport has been reinstated for the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo. A
majority of International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates voted to
bring wrestling back to the Olympics, as the sport beat out squash and
a combined baseball/softball bid for the lone remaining spot on the
program for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games. The IOC originally
made a stunning decision back on February 12 to drop wrestling following the 2016 Olympics.
Wrestling drew 49 votes, more than baseball/softball with 24 votes
and squash with 22 votes. The vote at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires came after representatives of each sport under consideration made one final, 20-minute sales pitch about how their sport could
strengthen the 21st century Olympic brand.
The decision to drop the sport was said to be due to frustrations
over the sport’s confusing rules and difficulty drawing TV viewership.
Ever since the decision to drop the sport, wrestling advocates undertook a spirited effort to reinstate the sport, as well as remake it to
appeal to a more diverse, modern audience.
“I would like to offer my congratulations to the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge in a statement. “Wrestling has shown great passion and resilience in
the last few months. They have taken a number of steps to modernize
and improve their sport, including the addition of more women and
athletes in decision-making positions; rule changes to make the sport
more exciting and easy to understand; and an increase in the number
of women’s competitions. We are pleased with their reaction and happy
to have wrestling on the Olympic programme in 2020 and 2024.”
In order to control the size, cost and complexity of the Games, the
Olympic Programme was capped in 2002 at 28 sports, about 300
events and a target of 10,500 athletes. It was also decided that a systematic review of the Olympic Programme would be conducted after
every edition of the Games to keep the Games current while maintaining continuity and consistency.
The President of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling
Styles (FILA), Nenad Lalovic, addressed the IOC members in a separate
statement and welcomed the news. “With this vote, you have shown
that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference,” he said in the statement. “I assure each of you that our
modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the
best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.”
Wrestling is one of the core sports on the Olympic Programme
until Rio 2016, but was not included in the IOC Executive Board’s
proposal for the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Programme,
which was agreed upon by the Session before the decision on the
additional sport.
In the past few months, wrestling has undergone major changes, including new rules and a better sports presentation to attract more spectators
and a younger audience. In addition, FILA had also recently improved its
governance by installing more athletes and women into decision-making
positions and by increasing the numbers of its commissions.
“We did all we could,” commented Lalovic. “We changed our sport,
our federation, and we prepared a good presentation. Wrestling is
not a new sport, but the wrestling we are presenting now is new
wrestling.”
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
9
FOR RETAILERS
By Fernando J. Delgado
10
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
With summer now in the rearview mirror, team dealers and retailers are gearing up for
the holiday season. Retailers can significantly impact their bottom line for the year in a
matter of two months if they make sure to efficiently stock their inventory with the right
team sports equipment. TEAM Business takes a look at Holiday "Must-Haves" that are
sure to fly off the shelves this November and December.
T
raditional team sports such as baseball, football, soccer, and basketball always do brisk business during the
holiday season when it comes to equipment. Growing
sports such as lacrosse and hockey – both ice and field – are
also showing increased strength in sales numbers and represent opportunities for sellers to turn a profit if they stock their
inventory with the right equipment and accessory items, and the
right volume for the market they service. “Sports equipment
always makes for a great holiday gift,” said Neil Schwartz,
VP of market & consumer insights at SportsOneSource. “The
holiday season is right in the middle of everything when it comes
to team sports interest. College and NFL Football are in high
gear, the college and NBA Basketball seasons are just getting
started, and NHL Hockey is also in progress. Interest and awareness is high and kids and adults alike are tuned in and attentive.”
Taking a look at last years’ sales numbers through the holiday
selling season can help paint a picture of what to expect for
this upcoming holiday selling period. According to point-of-sale
data provided by SportScanInfo, Diamond Sports was up almost
15 percent, a strong increase given that baseball and softball
players tend to make their purchases during the holidays ahead
of the spring baseball/softball season. Bats and Gloves for
both Baseball and Softball were up 20 percent year-over-year
in 2012. Batting Gloves and Training Gear were also up one
percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Last year Basketball Goals were up six percent while Equipment, which usually consists of Balls, was up 12 percent. “Basketball Equipment and Goals are one of the few categories that
actually grow during the holidays,” noted Schwartz.
Lacrosse Equipment also had a nice season, as it was up just
over 21 percent, with Sticks and Helmets leading the way.
Volleyball Equipment was also up close to 20 percent for the
holiday period, with Balls being the big gainer.
According to Mike Miros, owner of First Team Sports in Greenville,
SC, Baseball leads the way in sell-through during the holiday
season. “In the store, we do well when it comes to baseball,
especially gloves with Mizuno and Rawlings, particularly the
new colored gloves that Rawlings has. We think they’ll be a hot
item,” shared Miros. “And then there’s the Mako bat from Easton.
We think that’s going to be a very hot item this year. We feel
very good about the Mako. The early sell-through on it has been
tremendous, and for the holidays it should be really strong.” He
added that he anticipates the Easton Mako contributing to an
increase in bat sales of up to 15 to 20 percent from last year,
while his stores typically sell strongly with ball gloves in the
$100-$199 price range.
Easton’s Power Brigade Mako baseball bat is
primed to be the hottest selling item at retail this holiday season. With a suggested retail price of $450,
the Mako tests the upper limits of the high-end price
point. With a massive barrel and lower MOI, the Mako
incorporates a TCT two-piece design that allows hitters to get their hands in the ideal hitting position,
which results in more balls in the gap and out of the
yard. Despite the lofty price tag, players are lining
up to buy the bat and many more will be asking for it
on their Christmas wish-lists. With a good margin for
dealers, the bat is perhaps the most essential holiday must-have on the market. “This new Mako is going to extremes we’ve never seen before,” observed
Miros. “I’ve already sold about 10 to 15 at $450 a
pop. It blows my mind. I don’t know if parents feel
like they’re helping little Johnny get an advantage,
or if they believe that the product that they’re buying
will help them. It’s a great product – it’s well balance
and the ball does fly off of it. But it seems that for
whatever reason, mom and dad are willing to spend
extra to get it for their kid.”
Other hot bats will include eye-catching, high-performing models from Louisville Slugger and DeMarini.
Louisville Slugger will be swinging for the fences
with its Attack Baseball Bat, which is available for
adult BBCOR at $400, senior league, $300, and
youth, $200, with TRU3 technology, as well as
the LXT Fastpitch Bat at retail for $350, also with
TRU3. DeMarini’s 2014 CF6 Fastpitch Bat, retailing
Easton’s Power
Brigade Mako for $250-$400, depending on barrel size, features
Baseball Bat
breakthrough D-Fusion Handle Technology and was
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
11
Louisville
Slugger
Attack
Baseball
Bat
Photo courtesy Louisville Slugger
redesigned from knob to endcap. The latest version
of the CF6, available starting November 1, has a
new look and feel with a two-piece D-Fusion handle
and a carbon reinforced Paradox composite
handle that is stiffer for more efficient energy
transfer between barrel and ball.
On the fielding gloves side, several leading manufacturers will feature premium items this holiday
selling season.
Mizuno’s MVP Prime SE Infielder Glove at $125
has a sleek look and comfortable,
flexible feel. The glove features a
center pocket design and strong
edge to create a more stable thumb
and pinky. Smooth, professional
style oil plus leather is used in the
construction, leading to a balance
of oiled softness for feel and firm
control that serious players prefer.
Mizuno’s MVP Prime
SE Infielder Glove
Rawlings will also offer gloves
that will be strong sellers, including the Heart of the Hide Dual
Core Fielder’s Glove Series, priced at $350, and GG Gamer RTD
Series, at $135. The Heart of the Hide Series is constructed
Rawlings Heart of the Hide Dual Core
Fielder’s Glove Series
12
Rawlings GG Gamer RTD Series
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
Photo courtesy Mizuno
with USA Horween leather and Rawlings-patented Dual Core
technology, and the gloves are designed with position-specific
break points in the glove pattern so players can achieve top-level
performance customized for their defensive needs. The gloves
are specially-tanned for a softer feel,
allowing for less break-in time.
Wilson has unveiled an all-new line
in time for the holidays, the Wilson
A1K Series retailing for $180. The
A1K series takes Wilson’s Pro Stock
patterns and construction used for
the pros’ gloves and updates them
to offer a more snug fit. The series
is built using major league baseball
Wilson A1K Series
player Dustin Pedroia’s game model
glove specifications, and is ideal for middle infielders looking
for more feel.
Click to play - Easton Mako Catchers Chest Protector in action
So that team dealers aren’t caught off-guard by high
demand, Miros recommends stocking up on certain
categories. “We always do well with catcher’s gear
because it’s so expensive,” he said. “Catcher’s equipment
at that time of the year always makes for a nice present at
Christmas. We always want to have our catcher’ gear like
protectors and helmets, and even bags are good to have.
We don’t want to miss any sales there.”
Easton also offers the Mako Chest Protector, retailing at
$140, which is designed around the athleticism of a catcher
to optimize pop time.
“We’re also trying
to get going with Lacrosse,” Miros added,
referring to the growing sport that contin- Easton
Mako Chest
ues to gain popularity Protector
in the South. “We think
lacrosse might be a
good seller for us this
Warrior Evo
4X Lacrosse
Head
Christmas.” His team dealer
will focus heavily on Lacrosse
Equipment from Warrior and
Brine, along with Under Armour
for the first time. Key items
from Warrior will include the
Evo 4X Lacrosse Head, $95,
and the Rabil Hitlyte Shoulder
Pad, $160.
Football equipment will feature some
must-have helmets.
Riddell’s latest model helmet, the 360,
retailing for $377, boasts cutting edge
technology for maximum protection. The
360 employs a sleek and stealthy design
with extreme detailing. It features oversized
vent holes for more air circulation around
the player’s head, and a hexagonal liner
system with four inflation points to leverage
Riddell 360
energy-managing materials. The 360 also
includes a removable, moisture-resistant,
anti-microbial overliner, keeping players comfortable and safe from
infections.
Photo
courtesy
Riddell
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
13
Schutt Vengeance DCT
Elite Helmet
Schutt will also have a highend helmet for dealers this holiday season. The Vengeance
DCT Elite Helmet, $255, is the
newest helmet from the leading manufacturer (the "DCT"
stands for Dual Compression
Technology). The fourth generation of TPU cushioning contains durometers that are specifically designed to absorb
both high-velocity and low-velocity impacts, highlighting some
of the many technological features of the Vengeance DCT.
For serious soccer players, Puma has rolled out two new
soccer cleats that will be popular at retail: the evoSPEED 1.2
and PowerCat 1 FG Football (Soccer) Boots. Both boots are
being worn at the professional level by popular stars, and both
models help players maximize their speed, while also being
14
Puma athlete Sergio Aguero
wearing evoSPEED 1.2
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
Photo courtesy Puma
designed to enhance the agility and maneuverability that allows
wearers to reach their top speed as quickly as possible. Puma
athlete Sergio Aguero first appeared evoSPEED 1.2 when
Manchester City took
on FC Viktoria Plzen
earlier this month. The
PowerCat 1 FG Football
Boots at $180 retail
offers highly-developed
technology along with
Puma PowerCat 1 FG
striking aesthetics. The
Football Boots
boot puts power behind
the player’s foot to maximize kicking power and strength, while also
improving accuracy on the pitch. Puma athlete Cesc Fabregas
wore the new PowerCat for a matchup between FC Barcelona
and Ajax.
Protective accessories in particular make for great stocking stuffers. Even though the protective category doesn’t gain
steam over the holiday season as much as other sport-specific
categories such as baseball bats, gloves and catcher’s gear
and lacrosse sticks and helmets, it remains a steady seller yearround and various protective pieces can serve as complementary items for parents to buy their kids. No matter the sport, an
athlete can always use extra protection.
A few new protective items stand out as ideal for sellers to
have in stock on the sales floor.
Shock Doctor has produced a flavored mouthguard for the
first time with its Gel Max Flavor Fusion Mouthguard, suggested
Photo courtesy Shock Doctor
retail $13. Available in six flavors,
including diverse options such as fruit
punch, orange, blue raspberry and
bubble gum, the mouthguard combines
performance, protection and Flavor
Fusion technology. At an affordable
price point, the Gel Max Flavor Fusion Shock Doctor Gel
makes for a great stocking stuffer Max Flavor Fusion
Mouthguard
offering both needed protection and
the unique flavoring feature that young
players gravitate towards.
Shock Doctor has also seen heightened demand for its performance insole line. Yet another ideal stocking stuffer that can
be purchased for any athlete for a variety of team sports, Shock
Doctor’s insoles are designed to meet the specific needs of athletes depending on the sport they play. The line includes insoles
for Cleats (football, baseball and soccer), Court (basketball, tennis), Skate (hockey, inline) and Active (running, hiking, walking,
training) starting at a $20 retail price point.
▲
Click to play - Shock Doctor Cleat Insoles
As with other Shock Doctor items and protective equipment
overall, the insoles leverage technology to provide athletes with
the best performance, comfort and protection. Shock Doctor’s
Adaptive Arch technology works with all foot shapes and arch
heights, while features such as a control bar, a full-foot foam
and integrated shock pads help athletes protect their feet and
joints from injury while maximizing performance. They make
for a good item for team dealers and retailers to prominently
place on their sales floor, either as part of a point of purchase
display close to the register, or a display strategically placed
near footwear such as cleats and running shoes. “While other
insoles force wearers to choose between comfort and support,
Shock Doctor’s innovative, game-changing technology incorporates the perfect balance of shock absorption, stability and support into every model eliminating the need for compromise,”
explained Tony Armand, president and CEO of Shock Doctor.
Cutters Gloves will be offering new baseball batting gloves
that will also make for excellent stocking stuffers. Starting
in November, Cutters is launching four gloves made with the
company's exclusive C¬TACK Performance Grip Material.
Among them is the Prime Command B030, suggested retail
$40, and an adult glove with a lightweight all-leather construction
Brandon Allen
with a unique
batting glove
colorway from
Cutters.
for traditional feel and comfort. Other
models in the line include the Leadoff,
Power Control, and Prime Hero.
Franklin Sports offers practice equipment that can be marketed as gift sets
for kids aspiring to become serious players. Franklin’s NHL Team Mini Hockey
Goal, Stick & Ball Set, suggested retail
$35, is a two-player mini hockey set
equipped with two-player sticks with
Cutters Gloves Prime
team logos and colors, pre-curved
Command B030
blades, one soft EVA foam two-inch mini
ball and a goal. Franklin’s MLB 2 in 1 Power Spring Batting Tee
& Pop Up, meanwhile, is perfect for helping kids starting the
game of baseball to learn their swing.
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s shaping up to be
a profitable selling season. Whether it’s stocking up on a good
volume of baseball equipment, or finding the right product mix of
growing sports like lacrosse and ice hockey, dealers can be sure
of a successful end to 2013 by stocking up on must-have items. ■
Franklin Sports NHL Team
Mini Hockey Goal,
Stick & Ball Set
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
15
CALENDAR
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS | BUYING GROUPS
For full year calendar go to
sportsonesource.com/events
Athletic Dealers of America
1395 Highland Avenue
Melbourne, FL 32935
t 321.254.0091
f 321.242.7419
athleticdealersofamerica.com
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Flintlock Ridge Office Center
11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
t 203.426.1320
f. 203.426.1087
nssf.org
National Sporting Goods Association
1601 Feehanville Drive / Suite 300
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
t 847.296.6742
f 847.391.9827
nsga.org
Nation’s Best Sports
4216 Hahn Blvd.
Ft. Worth, TX 76117
t 817.788.0034
f 817.788.8542
nbs.com
Outdoor Industry Association
4909 Pearl East Circle / Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80301
t 303.444.3353
f 303.444.3284
outdoorindustry.org
Photo courtesy Puma
SEPTEMBER
DECEMBER
25-26
Sports & Fitness Industry Assoc.
Industry Leaders Summit
Baltimore, MD
4-6FFANY
New York, NY
26-28
Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS)
Ft Worth, TX
11-12
Atlanta Shoe Market
Atlanta, GA
JANUARY
OCTOBER
10-11
The Retailing Summit
Dallas, TX
29-31
Sport Source Asia
Hong Kong
16-18
Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show
Las Vegas, NV
17-19
Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS)
Long Beach, CA
FEBRUARY
NOVEMBER
1-3
NBS Fall Athletic Market
Austin, TX
5-7
TAG Fall/Winter Show
St. Louis, MO
15-17
A.D.A. Fall Show
San Antonio, TX
24-26
Sports Inc. Athletic Show
Las Vegas, NV
16
SEPTEMBER 2013 I TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
5-7
FFANY
New York, NY
MARCH
14-16
Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS)
Atlantic City, NJ
Sports & Fitness Industry Association
8505 Fenton St., Suite 211
Silver Spring, MD 20910
t 301.495.6321
f 301.495.6322
sfia.org
Snow Sports Industries America
8377-B Greensboro Drive
McLean, VA 22102
t 703.556.9020
f 703.821.8276
snowsports.org
Sports, Inc.
333 2nd Avenue North
Lewistown, MT 59457
t 406.538.3496
f 406.538.2801
sportsinc.com
Sports Specialists Ltd.
590 Fishers Station Drive / Suite 110
Victor, NY 14564
t 585.742.1010
f 585.742.2645
sportsspecialistsltd.com
Team Athletic Goods
629 Cepi Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63005
t 636.530.3710
f 636.530.3711
tag1.com
Worldwide
8211 South 194th
Kent, WA 98032
t 253.872.8746
f 253.872.7603
wdi-wdi.com
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inventory levels based on current
sales trends
Find sales data on all sporting goods
categories, brand market-share, and
top selling products
Over 11,000 Reporting Retailer
doors from 12 channels across
the U.S.
Identify product seasonality
Intuitive user interface helps users
quickly and easily find what they are
looking for
Reporting systems for Footwear,
Apparel, Licensed, Sports & Fitness,
Outdoor, and Sportsman’s
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browser
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color information
Identify Average Retail Selling Price
for all products
Determine promotion ROI using
weekly sales data
SPORTSCANINFO.COM
sportscan@sportsonesource.com • 303.997.7302
TEAMBUSINESSDIGITAL.COM
17
THE INTERSECTION OF CAREER AND LIFESTYLE
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caliber professionals in the
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Contact Jeremy Freed at 303.997.7302 or email SportsJobs@sportsonesource.com.