http://www.snewsnet.com/ If it happens in the outdoor and fitness markets, SNEWS® is there so you can listen in. Always insightful, sometimes humorous, absolutely invaluable. No one covers the outdoor and fitness markets better than we do, period. In print since 1983, on the web since 2000, and now in audio for your listening pleasure. Interviews, special reports, event coverage, and more. en Copyright SNEWS® LLC, all rights reserved Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:00:02 -0600 60 http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/15313.html Now well-established, the fifth-annual Health magazine awards for fitness and gear for active people include a number of core manufacturers from both outdoor and fitness. Called “America’s Healthiest Fitness Awards,” the awards pick top products in six categories, including fitness equipment, apparel, shoes, gear, fuel and DVDs. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/15313.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Power_Players_Lounge_Opportunity_knocks_do_you_hear.html Each week, through the end of October 2009, a new column will be posted to the Power Players' Lounge. It's intended to be a place where our industry friends can gather to read and hopefully discuss ideas for improving business -- especially important during these challenging economic times. We encourage you to interact with others while hanging out in the Power Players' Lounge and it's our hope their columns will inspire imagination and debate. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Power_Players_Lounge_Opportunity_knocks_do_you_hear.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Business_Solutions_Forum_emergencies_breaking_the_cycle_Jun2009.html Our Business Solutions Forum tackles the issues presented by retailers and business executives: I recognize the need to focus on the big picture, but everyday when I walk into work I am confronted with a non-stop stream of emergencies. I never have the luxury of spending time on the things that will make my business more successful in the future. How can I break this vicious cycle? http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Business_Solutions_Forum_emergencies_breaking_the_cycle_Jun2009.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Sport_Chalet_062909.html For both the fourth quarter and FY 2009, Sport Chalet (Nasdaq: SPCHA and SPCHB) reported decreases in sales as well as a net loss hurt by "macro economic conditions." Plus, Hibbett shares dip after analyst downgrade. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Sport_Chalet_062909.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Will_we_be_holding_a_Retailer_of_the_Year_party_09.html Last year, SNEWS® and Backpacker put out a call for nominations seeking the best outdoor retailers in the United States. The response was overwhelming -- but that was 2008. This is 2009 and we are putting out the call for nominations again. Do you think your store is worthy? Do your customers? Will we be holding a customer-appreciation party in your store to celebrate next year? Only if you are nominated because you have to be nominated to win. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Will_we_be_holding_a_Retailer_of_the_Year_party_09.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/EU_iodine_ban_worries_SNEWS_provides_the_facts.html On June 12 on its own website, and then on June 17 on the SNEWS® website, Steripen posted a news release with the headline, "European Union to Ban Iodine for Use in Disinfecting Drinking Water." It did not take long for SNEWS to begin getting calls and emails wondering about the news and what, if any, impacts this decision might have upon U.S. sales of iodine-based, water-purification products or other chemical treatments. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/EU_iodine_ban_worries_SNEWS_provides_the_facts.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/hotel_rooms_at_OR_or_HFB_Travel_House_Services.html If you or anyone at your company booked hotel rooms for either Outdoor Retailer Summer Market or Health & Fitness Business for 2009 using Travel House Services (www.travelhouseservices.com), your room reservations do not exist and you do not yet have hotel rooms for either show -- even though your credit card has likely been charged! http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/hotel_rooms_at_OR_or_HFB_Travel_House_Services.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Power_Players_Lounge_Open_communication_essential.html Today, the 2009 SNEWS Power Players' Lounge opens in SNEWS. Each week, through the end of October 2009, a new column will be posted to the Power Players' Lounge. It's intended to be a place where our industry friends can gather to read and hopefully discuss ideas for improving business -- especially important during these challenging economic times. We encourage you to interact with others while hanging out in the Power Players' Lounge and it's our hope their columns will inspire imagination and debate. Inaugural Power Players' Lounge columnists include: Bill Gamber, Joe Hyer, Jennifer Mull, Brad Werntz, Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, John Sterling, Josh Guyot, Mike Wallenfels, Beaver Theodosakis, and Sally Grimes. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Power_Players_Lounge_Open_communication_essential.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Rethinking_Retail_Midwest_Mountaineering_Jun2009.html Considered one of the most successful and highly respected outdoor specialty stores in the country, Midwest Mountaineering has succeeded in part because its owner and employees are willing to take risks and explore activities that are emerging, or not traditionally supported by outdoor shops. In its 39 years, the store has embraced a wide range of things, from adventure racing to Nordic walking and snowkiting and, now, yoga and Tai Chi. New customers, more community exposure and increased sales and profits are, of course, the ultimate goals. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Rethinking_Retail_Midwest_Mountaineering_Jun2009.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/In_memoriam_Andy_Knapp_has_departed_on_his_next_grand_adventure.html Andy Knapp is off on another adventure. At 3 a.m. on June 22, Knapp ended his six-year battle with renal cell cancer and left his body behind. Who knows where he is headed, but for those who know Knapp well, and even for those who don't, the SNEWS team can assure all that the trip is certain to be a grand one and doubtless beer is involved -- hopefully, they serve it where he's going. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/In_memoriam_Andy_Knapp_has_departed_on_his_next_grand_adventure.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/SNEWS_Readers_Choice_top_products_last_quarter-century.html Game-changing, pioneering, inventive -- all are ideal words to describe the innovative products that helped fuel the development and growth of the outdoor industry over the last 25 years. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we at SNEWS® compiled a list of gear, apparel and footwear from the editors' archives at SNEWS. Then we turned to an industry vote to decide the top 25, presented here as the SNEWS Readers' Choice (the top 10 appear in our printed magazine, and will be revealed online on July 1, 2009 when our digital version of the magazine goes live). For the stories behind these groundbreaking products, we talked to the companies that created the industry's most recognized products still in use today. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/SNEWS_Readers_Choice_top_products_last_quarter-century.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Eddie_Bauer_062209.html Eddie Bauer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said it received notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market it will be delisted, and a Barclays Capital analyst raised his earnings estimates on Garmin. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Eddie_Bauer_062209.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Free_NSGA_retail_seminars_stress_thriving_in_economy_Jun2009.html Especially in today's economy, retailers can use every opportunity to fill their war chest with information that will help them do better business -- getting it for free makes it even better. The first in a series of regional retail education seminars by National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) will be June 30 in the Chicago area, aptly titled, "How to survive and thrive in today's economy." http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Free_NSGA_retail_seminars_stress_thriving_in_economy_Jun2009.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Business_likely_through_year_for_bankrupt_Karstadt_Jun2009.html After declaring bankruptcy June 10, things have only gotten worse for the venerable German retailer Karstadt, which was forced into the action when the German government declined to give it a bailout with a loan guarantee of EUR 650 million (USD $902 million). http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Business_likely_through_year_for_bankrupt_Karstadt_Jun2009.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/GOA_Early_Show_offers_trends_products_preview_Jun2009.html Grassroots Outdoor Alliance's Early Show, held last week in Salt Lake City at the Snowbird resort, brought together 31 retail stores and 26 vendor companies. GOA President David Matz told SNEWS®, "Each year, the shows get better and this year is no different. I think what impresses me most about the Grassroots Early Show is the level of company leadership that attends to meet with our retail members. There just isn't that level of interaction anywhere else in the industry." http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/GOA_Early_Show_offers_trends_products_preview_Jun2009.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Rethinking_Retail_Appalachian_Ski_Outdoors_and_BGI_Fitness_2009.html If you're looking to add a little buzz to your store's community vibe and a bit of kick to your bottom line, you might do well to start focusing on the ladies. As two retailers SNEWS® recently chatted with have found, when it is ladies' night, the feeling's right and it makes for quite a night -- with apologies to Kool & the Gang, naturally. Both Pennsylvania's Appalachian Ski & Outdoors and Bicycle Garage Indy (BGI Fitness) have attracted sell-out crowds to women's-only events that offer education, seminars and networking. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Rethinking_Retail_Appalachian_Ski_Outdoors_and_BGI_Fitness_2009.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Think_About_It_OIWC_best_way_to_negotiate.html How can people be more successful at getting what they want? Good communication skills go a long way, but we've laid out six effective tactics to help you negotiate or persuade someone to accept your point of view -- whether it's getting your project approved or finagling a pay raise. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Think_About_It_OIWC_best_way_to_negotiate.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Eddie_Bauer_061709.html Eddie Bauer filed for bankruptcy protection, and an equity firm entered a bid for its assets, while Amer Sports, parent of Salomon and Arc'Teryx, said its full-year outlook is "clouded by the uncertainty in consumer demand in general." http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Eddie_Bauer_061709.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/SNEWS_Mini-Survey_stores_view_customer_buying.html The SNEWS® Mini Survey that ended June 15, 2009 asked, “What do you feel most motivates your customers to buy from your store?” We asked retailers to select from a list of 20 categories the top five motivating factors they believed drove customers to buy from them and not elsewhere. We were happy to see that 85 percent chose “customer service.” http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/SNEWS_Mini-Survey_stores_view_customer_buying.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Wolverine_061509.html Wolverine shares rose on an analyst upgrade, VF reported that its markets were stable for '09, adidas said it is focused on restructuring Reebok and growing the Outdoor brand, Sport Chalet topped the list of "biggest percentage price gainers" on Nasdaq, and Rocky adopted a shareholder rights plan. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_financials_Wolverine_061509.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT