SGBW_1611

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SUN PROTECTION ISSUE 1611 | March 14, 2016

The Weekly Digital Magazine for the Active Lifestyle Market


CEO Group Publisher James Hartford jhartford@sportsonesource.com 303.578.7004

Editorial Director David Clucas clucas@sportsonesource.com 303.578.7007

THE INTERSECTION OF CAREER AND LIFESTYLE THE RIGHT TALENT IS EASY TO FIND IF YOU LOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE

Senior Business Editor Thomas J. Ryan tryan@sportsonesource.com 917.375.4699 Associate Editor | Sports & Fitness Editor Jahla Seppanen jahla@sportsonesource.com 303.578.7008 Contributing Editor Charlie Lunan clunan@SportsOneSource.com 704.996.4463

Creative Director Teresa Hartford teresa@sportsonesource.com

Art Director Chris Loving-Campos chrislc@sportsonesource.com Media Sales Buz Keenan buz@sportsonesource.com 201.887.5112 Circulation & Subscriptions admin@sportsonesource.com 303.997.7302 SGB Media Print Magazine: SGB Digital Magazine: SGB Weekly Executive Newsletters: Sports Executive Weekly, The B.O.S.S. Report Email Updates: SGB Today Daily Emails: SGB Update, SGB Apparel, SGB Footwear, SGB Outdoor, SGB Hook & Bullet, SGB Sports & Fitness SSI Data SSIData.com Career Services SGBJobs.com

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: SportsOneSource, 1075 E. South Boulder Road, Suite 300, Louisville, CO 80027 or email SGBMedia@SportsOneSource.com. Letters and emails should include full contact information. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity. Send manuscripts and photographs to SGBMedia@SportsOneSource.com or to Submissions Editor at the address above. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.

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Sun Protection ISSUE 1611 | March 14, 2016

The Weekly Digital Magazine for the Active Lifestyle Market

Jesse Richmond, Professional Kite Boarder and All Good sponsored athlete. Photo courtesy All Good

MARKET REPORT

INDUSTRY EVENTS

ONE-ON-ONE

5 By The Numbers

8 NYC Underground Basketball, Rugby In Vegas, Arctic Dog Sledding and more

11 Dick Sullivan, CEO, PGA Tour Superstore

RETAILER PROFILE

FEATURE

10 Topgolf Brings Fun Back to Golf Attracting a New Generation to the Sport

14 A Sunny Outlook on Summer Skin Protection From Apparel to Accessories

6 Fast FIVE 7 Movers & Shakers 18 Industry Calendar

Cover photo courtesy All Good and Caroline Woodham

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MARKET REPORT

BY THE NUMBERS

62 Percent Of more than 1,000 Americans who habitually use fitness tracking technology, the top request, according to a survey by Anytime Fitness, is to tell the user if they’re dehydrated or not. Twenty-three percent wish their tracker could report blood-alcohol levels.

400 Miles Distance bicyclists will ride from Asheville, NC to Atlanta, GA, March 30 to April 2 for PeopleForBikes' annual awareness and fundraising bicycle tour. Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson plans to pedal with the group for 130 miles between Asheville to Charlotte, NC on day one.

Actionable Weekly Sales Trend Reporting for the Active Lifestyle Market To schedule a personal demo or to learn more about the SSI Data Point-of-Sale trend-reporting platform, contact SportsOneSource Client Solutionsat 303.997.7302 or email Solutions@SportsOneSource.com or visit SSIData.com

175,000 Square Feet The size of Yeti Coolers proposed new headquarters in Austin, TX. The two-building complex in development might also include outdoor amenities including a roof-top terrace, covered terrace, jogging trail, sports court, archery range, outdoor exercise facility, barbeque pits and a basketball court.

$2 Million Canadian Dollars Invested by Quebec's government to help Pelican International build its second major plastic boat factory in the province, which is expected to create approximately 180 new jobs in the region in the medium term.

$70 Million Estimated amount of the now suspended, eight-year sponsored athlete 2010 deal between Nike and tennis star Maria Sharapova, after she recently admitted to failing a drug test.

$15 Million Collectively spent by Vermont ski resorts in 2015 on 2,700 new snow guns, replacing 1,800 old ones, aiding the resorts in what has been a much warmer and less snowy winter this season.

$4.95 Billion Revenue Under Armour still expects to hit in 2016, representing a 25 percent increase, despite Sports Authority’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Court documents show Sports Authority owes Under Armour $23.2 million.

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MARKET REPORT FAST FIVE

Cool New Products That Caught Our Eye This Week

Outdoor Tech Walkie-Talkie App & Chips 2.0

Myzone Sports Bra

Under Armour Architech

Lowepro Droneguard Bp 450 Aw

Myzone Sports Bra with built in sensor

Kelty Trail Ridge Tents

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s we prep for the IHRSA trade show in Orlando, FL next week, the big talk is fitness trackers and connectivity. One of biggest reasons the category has taken off is that the technology has gotten smaller and light enough to fit seamlessly into the consumer athlete’s routine. The latest trackers do their job without being noticed. A good example is the new MyZone Sports Bra, $69, with built-in sensors to monitor heart rate and caloric burn. Link it to the brand’s app for live results. Smart apparel is on its way. Staying connected with your group on the ski slope is key for a good day on the mountain but even with today’s smartphones, fumbling with the devices and missed

calls happen more often than not. Outdoor Tech brings back the old idea of the walkie-talkie to its latest wireless earphone Chips 2.0, $130, that fit under a helmet. Connect them to OT’s new app, invite friends to join the channel and with a push and hold of a button on the chips, users can communicate to the entire group. It works through cell signals, so range is limitless when in service.

times. On March 18, Under Armour launches its first 3D-printed performance training footwear in the UA Architech, $300. The shoe features a functional 3D-printed midsole and 3D upper design. 3D printing will not only improve manufacturing, Under Armour officials said, but also allow designers to create complex structures that mathematically deliver the exact durability, flexibility and weight desired.

3D printing could signal big changes in manufacturing. While still in its infancy, 3D production lines would greatly promote the “made-in-market” concept, where more products are made in the same region they’re sold, slashing transportation costs and lead

Your opinion on drones in the outdoors may vary, but the bottom line is they are growing in popularity, especially among adventurers who want to capture video and images in epic locations without a ridiculously long selfie stick. And with the rise of drones, now comes

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protective carrying solutions for the machines. Lowepro’s new DroneGuard BP 450 AW Backpack, $250, safely and securely carries a quadcopter and accompanying tech gear out into the wilderness. Tents continue to get more spacious and practical, while maintaining great carry weights. Kelty helps bring those advances at more affordable prices. And we dig that. Its new Trail Ridge Tents for 2016, $230 to $490, feature a longer footprint, night light pockets and an easy-to-adjust Stargazing Fly. Near-vertical walls and dual-doors heighten the sense of having space. We also like how they offer models for two, three, four, six, and eight people. Backpackers and car campers, rejoice!


MOVERS & SHAKERS Brooks Running Company welcomed 2015 U.S. Indoor Track and Field Heptathlon Champion Jeremy Taiwo to its roster of sponsored athletes. Costa President and CEO Chas MacDonald will retire from the company effective April 30. Carhartt joined forces with outdoor television host Mark Zona to promote its new outdoor apparel line, which will debut this fall. Earth Inc. named Mark Diehl as Executive VP of Earth branded sales. Hibbett Sports Inc. appointed William Quinn as VP of Digital Commerce, where he will lead the retailer's online customer experience and omni-channel initiatives. Hi-Tec Sports introduced its new marketing team for Hi-Tec and Magnum brand boots, adding three new marketing specialists, Tenaya Davis, Erica Davis and Matt Rappleyea. LCI Brands, owner of Lewis & Clark and other travel and outdoor accessories brands, promoted Brian Luczak from Controller to VP of Finance. MSR appointed Sarah Courtney as Category Manager for the brand’s snowshoe and alpine tool division. Prana named its 2016 roster of brand ambassadors as Chris Burkard, CA, Nathaniel Coleman, UT, Savannah Cummins, OH, Anna Ehrgott, CA, and Steve Krojniewski, IN. Princeton Tec named Caitie Caroleo to the role of Marketing Manager, and as the brand’s former Marketing Manager, George Chevalier, was promoted to Product Manager. Roots, the Canadian apparel chain, appointed former Wolverine executive Jim A. Gabel to the position of President and CEO. Skechers Performance - a division of Skechers USA, Inc. - signed pro golfers Russell Knox and Ashlan Ramsey to its roster of rep athletes for Skechers Go Golf. Varsity Brands appointed Matthew E. Rubel as CEO, who formerly served as Chairman & CEO of Collective Brands, the owner of Payless Shoes, Saucony, Sperry Topsider, Keds and others. Zealios, a leader in performance body care products for endurance athletes, welcomed pro triathlete Heather Jackson to its 2016 athlete team.

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INDUSTRY EVENTS

Time To Get Out Of The Office!

Andrew Washington Photo courtesy Fightball

Personal Gold: An Underdog Story Photo courtesy BIFF

USA Sevens Parade Of Nations Photo courtesy USA Sevens Rugby

S

ome of the great perks of working in the active lifestyle industry are the endless events to get us on our feet and moving with brands, experts and athletes. Whether it’s a trade show debuting new bikes, a marathon in the big city, or a kayaking demo at your local specialty retailer, we’re going to bring you a taste every week of the fun industry events happening worldwide. Here are a few highlights from last week. ONE-ON-ONE UNDERGROUND BASKETBALL IN NYC NIGHTCLUB If it sounds like a scene from Zoolander, you’re on the right track. Fightball, a one-on-one basketball competition ripe with Fetty Wap tracks and lofty three-pointers, made its return to NYC nightlife March 3-4 for a bougie underground sports competition exhibiting the true melding of athleticism and vogue. The lineup had some of the best underground basketball players around the world, going head to head to qualify for the championship win of $100K. Marvin Roberts of Brooklyn, NY, was the star of the event, taking away the qualifying win Thursday night, while Andrew Washington out-shot the rest in Friday’s matchup. OLYMPIANS SCREEN PERSONAL GOLD AT BOULDER FILM FEST Olympian Tamara Christopherson was in Boulder, CO March 3-6 to show her directorial debut film, Personal Gold: An Underdog Story, at the Boulder International Film Fest (BIFF). The film follows four “underdog” women cyclists who became America's medal hopefuls at the 2012 London Olympics, when the top male competitors were banned due to the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. 8 SGBWeekly.com | MARCH 14, 2016

New Race Record At TransGC. Photo courtesy Transgrancanaria

Christopherson hung around after the screening for a Q&A session. She was joined onstage by three former female Olympians to discuss how the U.S. Women Track Cyclist team evolved since the London games, and how a film supporting under-appreciated Olympians came to fruition. We won’t give any spoilers, but here’s a trailer. USA SEVENS RUGBY IN VIVA LAS VEGAS The annual USA Sevens international rugby tournament took to the Vegas strip for a weekend-long series of glitzy opening ceremonies and 45 quickhit matches between 16 international teams. Fans from around the world cheered their favorite rugby players as they played seven-on-seven (as opposed to the traditional 15-player match). Australia entered Sunday’s match against Fiji with high hopes, only to be squashed 21-15. NEW RACE RECORD AT THE TRANSGC ULTRA Ultra runners gathered on the island of Gran Canaria the weekend of March 4-6, not to bask on the beach whilst sipping Mai Tais, but to trek the length of the island. The Transgrancanaria (better known as the #TransGC on Twitter) is a footrace for elites and mortals alike (and we think that’s pretty cool). With six distance options ranging between 19 to 125 kilometers, runners are allowed 31 hours to complete their distance. Race organizers said it was one of the most difficult races in years, due to chilly temps at night. At the same time, it was a record run, with Didrik Hermansen beating Gediminas Grinius’s record at 13:41:48. Hermansen came in second to Grinius at last year’s TransGC and that placing swapped this year. Hermansen said on his Instagram account following the win, “What a wonderful experience to cross the finish line as the winner. I love the trails on this great island. I started easy as I tend to do and worked my


S H A R P E N YO U R P E R S P E C T I V E START SEEING CLEARLY

Biggest Surf Festival Photo courtesy Noosa Festival of Surfing

Iditarod Photo courtesy Iditarod and Sebastian Schnuelle

way up through the field through the night… Gediminas gave me a tough fight all the way. A promising start to the season.” DOWN UNDER AT THE WORLDS BIGGEST SURFING FEST Saturday March 5 set a wave that will last through the 12th as the largest surfing event in the world marks its fourth year. The Noosa Festival of Surfing in Queensland, Australia is a surfing competition meets yoga festival meets SUP ride meets concert beach party. Literally anything and everything beach related is here full force. So while a large part of the world is catching the last days of powder, we’re opting for swells. 2016 IDITAROD TRAIL SLED DOG RACE From surf to snow. The 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race got underway March 6, as mushers set off from Willow, AK for the 1,600 kilometer-race (about 1,000 miles) that takes about nine to 10 days to complete. The more fan-friendly ceremonial start launched March 5 in Anchorage with thousands cheering the racers on. That part was shortened from 11 miles to three miles due to a lack of snow in the region this year. Eighty-six mushers are competing in this year’s race, which will conclude in Nome, AK. Musher Sebastian Schnuelle is providing Iditarod.com with some great insider coverage and photos.

SSI VantagePoint is the only weekly retail point-of-sale reporting platform exclusively for the active outdoor lifestyle industry that swiftly delivers critical trends and detailed business data to brands and retailers. SSIVantagePoint.com ssidata@sportsonesource.com

Send us your photos and descriptions of your brands’ most recent events to sgbmedia@sportsonesource.com and we’ll showcase them in SGBToday. Big or small, we want to see the social happenings you’re supporting and attending to keep our community active!

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RETAILER PROFILE

Bringing Fun Back to Golf Topgolf attracts a new generation to the sport By Neil Schwartz and David Clucas

CLICK TO PLAY

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t this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL, one of the most discussed topics was Topgolf. Topgolf brings what some call “the old bowling experience” to golf by mixing the sport with a fun, sports-bar type environment. It’s one avenue the industry is exploring to attract younger players to the game, and help reinvigorate golf retail sales. As the model picks up steam, SGB take a look at Topgolf ’s history and potential growth drivers for the industry. Taking Boredom Out Of Golf Although parent company Topgolf Entertainment Group is based in Dallas, TX, the business began in 2000 in the U.K., where Founders and Brothers Steve and Dave Jolliffe were bored of the old driving-range. They envisioned a new kind of golf experience that combined competition with entertainment by hitting microchipped golf balls at targets on an outfield. The idea was that players could see exactly where the ball landed and could accurately and easily keep score on who hit the ball farther or closest to the target. “Just picture a larger-than-life-sized outdoor dartboard – but for golf,” Topgolf officials said. “And for a little friendly rivalry, the high-tech balls instantly score each shot’s accuracy and distance.” Add in food, drinks, TVs and lounge seating and the business hit gold.

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Growth Of The Business The Jolliffe brothers worked with a licensee to develop the first three Topgolf locations in the U.K. In 2005, the U.S. licensee, with WestRiver Group as the lead investor, brought Topgolf to the U.S. WestRiver Group was founded and is managed by Erik Anderson, co-chairman and CEO of Topgolf Entertainment Group. As the company expanded, it added Callaway Golf Co. as an investor in 2006 and investor Thomas Dundon in 2011. In early 2016 the business was restructured under the TopGolf Entertainment Group holding company with three divisions: Topgolf (focused on the business in the U.S. and U.K.), Topgolf Media (focused on enhancing experience through advanced digital media, strategic partnerships and sponsorships) and Topgolf International (focused on expanding the business to other nations). Additionally, TopGolf picked up its fourth leading investor, Providence Equity Partners, which took what officials called “a sizable minority investment” in the company. In 2015, Topgolf had 24 locations in the U.S. and U.K., serving 8 million guests, and currently plans to open another nine locations in 2016, with another two already announced for 2017, including Orlando, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; Las Vegas, NV; Nashville, TN; Fort Worth, TX; Roseville, CA; Fishers, IN; Edison, NJ; West Chester, OH; and Hillsboro, OR.

Spurring A New Generation Of Golfers While Topgolf can’t single-handedly revive golf as a sport, it is doing something the industry has chased for years — attracting youth. “While we are a family-oriented business entertainment that brings golf together with eating and drinking, there is really something for everyone,” Susan Walmesley, VP Sales and Marketing, Topgolf, told SGB at the PGA Merchandise Show. “Millennials in particular are embracing the Topgolf concept in a big way.” Based on Topgolf ’s most current research conducted in 2015 by the National Golf Foundation, only half of first-time Topgolf participants have played golf in the past, in one form or another. Walmesley added that the company’s research shows a quarter of Topgolf participants go out and try golf at a traditional course after their Topgolf experience. “In some ways, we believe that Topgolf can be a catalyst of change and growth for the game of golf and help to bring in new players that would have never considered trying golf before,” she said. Many of Topgolf locations offer lessons, and some could potentially get a full golf pro shop in the future. Seeing the big potential for growing the game of golf sparked Callaway Golf to make its investment, officials said. The golf brand currently acts as the exclusive provider of golf equipment at Topgolf locations. Jumping On the Trend In the past, traditional golfers and those running the game have been very hesitant to get behind the Topgolf concept as “good for the game of golf.” But Walmesley said, “the numbers speak for themselves. Topgolf is bringing new people to the game of golf and they are showing their willingness to give it a try beyond their experience at Topgolf.” At the start of 2011, the Jolliffe brothers sold TopGolf International for more than $28 million to a group of private investors. Callaway Golf is among them, as is Tom Dundon, chief executive officer of auto-loan giant Santander Consumer USA Holdings. By 2017, Topgolf plans to have 50 U.S. locations. Australia, Dubai, France, Russia, South Africa, and Spain are also charted to get centers.


ONE-ON-ONE

Photos courtesy PGA Tour Superstore

Dick Sullivan, CEO, PGA Tour Superstore Aims To Build The ‘Total Golf Experience’ At Retail By Neil Schwartz

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t this year’s PGA Merchandise Show, SGB had an opportunity to sit down with Dick Sullivan, president and CEO of PGA Tour Superstore. Founded originally by Home Depot Co-founder and Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank, the golf retail business currently operates 25 stores in 11 states and eyes to double that number by 2020. Sullivan joined the retailer in 2008, and while he admits the sport hit a rough patch after the recession, he’s seen stabilization over the past few years, leading to improved business practices

and innovation from vendors. He shares with us how the retail business is going, what he sees ahead and strategies to attract more youth to the sport. Before we dive right in, I’m curious what originally drew Arthur Blank to the golf business? As an entrepreneur and sports/golf enthusiast, Arthur saw a great opportunity in PGA Tour Superstore because there were many similarities and opportunities as with Home Depot ... namely providing a benchmark in the customer experience — especially on the service side with

knowledgeable associates on the sales floor and empowering consumers. We hire the best in the industry. Our people are not an expense, they are an investment. It is a true competitive advantage if executed properly. How was the past year for the business? It was a good year for PGA Tour Superstore. We have started to see sales in the golf business stabilize after a rocky few years. We were able to grow our year-over-year business overall, with footwear and apparel both positive. Equipment was still slightly down, but nowhere near as much as it MARCH 14 | SGBWeekly.com

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has been. Over the past five years, golf equipment sales have declined by as much as 40 percent. We have seen a number of factors contribute to this change. • The number of golf rounds played each year has stabilized. Golf rounds were essentially flat in 2015, as reported by the National Golf Foundation. • Manufacturers continue to drive sales with major advances in golf equipment technology. • Manufacturers have gotten more sensitive to the product lifecycles for their newly released products. This has translated to higher revenue from these categories along with better gross margins. What do you see ahead for 2016? It will be our best year ever at PGA Tour Superstores. First, we plan to open five new stores this year. We have carefully selected those markets with high concentrations of avid golfers, who represent our core customers. While our average stores tend to run in the 45,000- to 50,000- square-foot range, this year we will open a few selected stores in the 25,000- square-foot range. We recognize that a one-size fits all retail strategy is just not a sound business decision. Smaller markets will get smaller format stores. Our goal is to be at 50 stores by 2020. The recent trend for golf retailers to close stores and/or shrink their gold departments. What does PGA Tour Superstores know that everyone else doesn’t? First and foremost, we truly understand our core customer, the avid golfer. Everything we do in terms of marketing

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and merchandising is directed towards these special customers. As an example, we are finding out that 70 to 80 percent of our customers are engaged with some sort of golf club customization when they make a purchase. It can be anything from adding a golfer’s favorite grip or as extensive as selecting a custom shaft option. We make sure this desire is met with the best golffitting professionals and clubmakers. Second, we understand that consumers are not just looking for a place to buy golf equipment; they are looking for a total retail experience. We have found that PGA Tour Superstore consumers come to us for the total experience. Golf is a game and we want to bring as much excitement and fun to the consumer experience as possible. That is why our stores have the latest in golf simulator equipment that lets consumers try before they buy. We are constantly looking to make the PGA Tour Superstore fun, informative and engaged for our customers. Earlier you mentioned new products. What are some of the stand out products that are catching your attention? The new M1 and M2 drivers from Taylor Made are surely getting a great deal of attention. Other manufacturers like Callaway and Cobra have added wonderful new products to their lines for 2016. There are also a lot of new entries on the softlines side of our business from various brands that are taking their place alongside the traditional ones. We are very sensitive to how trends from within the game of golf affect the trends in apparel and footwear. We are seeing that our consumers want more than just great golf shoes, they are also looking for after-golf footwear, especially

for women. We have found that in many ways our business is price-point driven. That means we have to test and then offer products at various price points to ensure that we are “hitting the sweet spot” for sales across all categories of business. A lot has been made about the fact that golf is losing more golfers than it gains every year. Can PGA Tour Superstores be part of the cure to engage new people to golf? We are in fact engaged in the process of bringing new players under the golf tent. What we are finding is that like our stores, there is no one solution to this problem. As an example, we focus on the entertainment experience at our stores. That means that we need to look for new ways to bring the fun and excitement to the experience. Millenials in particular are looking for the fun and social experience and we are looking at ways to leverage this desire and preference. In some recent surveys, alternative golf options like Top Golf and AGE, (Foot Golf), are resonating with specific groups of consumers and we are looking at ways to leverage these alternative golf experiences. What are your favorite places to play golf? First I think that every avid golfer should have Pebble Beach and Augusta on their golf bucket list. They are both very special places, and I have been lucky to play at both. That being said, I have to say that my two favorite places to play are my home course, The Golf Club at Cuscowilla (Eatonton, GA), which was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It’s ranked one of the top golf courses in Georgia. My other favorite is the Mid-Ocean Club on the Island of Bermuda.


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A Sunny Outlook On Summer Skin Protection Natural ingredients, apparel accessories and cooler headwear top trends to ward off the sun. By Courtney Holden

Photo courtesy All Good and Caroline Woodham

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ong gone are the days of lathering up with baby oil before an afternoon at the community pool. Today’s consumers understand the dangers of too much sun, and they’re actively taking steps to prevent it. “People in general are much more aware of their skin and melanoma,” said Lisa Day, sales, development and support for Glacier Glove. “They want to cover up, whether it be men or women.” As a result, the sun protection category is exploding with a range of new products and buzzwords that are more than just buzz. Retailers should keep an eye on mineral-based sunscreens that guard skin from harmful rays without all the “yucky stuff,” accessory items like sun sleeves and sun gloves outfitted with UPF 50+ ratings, and playful summer hats that offer needed protection without skimping on style. Bottom line, these lotions and layers enable consumers to hit the crag, trail or fishing hole without worrying about the long-term danger of skin cancer. “All we want you to do is get out there and have fun, and if this helps you do it, great,” said Jordan Wand, VP product & marketing for Outdoor Research, which has invested heavily of late in its sun protection lines of hats and clothing. Sunscreens Go Au Natural When we take a product and smear it all over our bodies, it just makes sense that we want it to be free of toxins. Consumers are waking up to that fact, as companies report an increased demand within the active lifestyle space for sunscreens that rely on minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide rather than oxybenzone and other potentially dangerous substances. Oxybenzone,


ACCORDING TO SSI DATA SPORTS & FITNESS, SALES OF SUNBLOCK/TANNING ARE UP NEARLY 20 PERCENT IN UNITS AND 10.5 PERCENT IN DOLLARS FOR THE TRAILING 52 WEEKS, SUGGESTING CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY HEEDING DOCTOR’S WARNINGS. Photo courtesy Coppertone

for example, has been linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage that may lead to skin cancer. At the same time, consumers expect that product to perform. “People want high-performance products that they can rely on in the most extreme conditions on earth, yet they also want healthy recipes, without the crappy, harmful ingredients,” said Joshua Tree Skin Care President and CEO David Lawrence.

Brands like All Good and Sol Sunguard up the ante by avoiding ingredients known to damage coral reefs. Moisturizing properties have also become a must with companies adding in organic oils and waxes, as well as olive oil and shea butter to recondition the skin as it gets exposed to punishing wind and sun. Kiss My Face capitalizes on the cooling properties of aloe and cucumber, which offer a touch of relief from the heat.

Accessories Provide Additional Protection Sun sleeves, sun gloves and neck gaiters may look like a gimmick (and a dorky one at that), but keep that skepticism at bay. These stealthy mega-sellers of late have been flying off the shelves, brands and retailers report, leading to more competition in the space. “People love the notion of being able to take their favorite shirt or their favorite apparel and turn it into a piece that they can wear

all the time,” Outdoor Research’s Wand said. “By using [those favorites] with these sleeves or gloves, now they have full coverage.” The accessories’ more practical benefits: They pack away easily, provide instant protection and there’s no need to reapply after a few hours in the elements. High UPF ratings have also become a mainstay in more traditional summer apparel. “In past seasons, many people saw UPF protection as simply a ‘nice-to-have

Columbia Men's and Women's Pilsner Peak Short Sleeve Shirt Photo courtesy Columbia

MARCH 14 | SGBWeekly.com

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feature’ in a shirt, but today, more and more people are specifically looking for sun-protective benefits, and it’s become a critical feature for them and their families,” said Woody Blackford, Columbia’s VP of design and innovation. Now brands are pairing those sun-deterring properties with additional cooling benefits. In addition to moisture-wicking fabrics and ventilating armhole gussets, garments are often treated with xylitol, a naturally occurring chemical — also used in chewing gum — that reacts with moisture to create a cooling sensation. “Sun protection plus enhanced cooling technology seemed like a natural fit,” said ExOfficio Design Materials Manger Johanna Rundquist. “First, we provided protection from the sun. Then we wanted to increase the wearer’s thermal comfort by keeping them cooler so they can enjoy the outdoors longer on their trip.” Pack And Play With Summer Headwear Head toppers have always offered protection for the face and eyes, but now they’re upping their equity with added cooling features. Look for perforated side panels, which create constant airflow around the crown, and wicking sweatbands that keep moisture off the forehead. Packability is another must-have in headwear, and you’ll find more brands incorporating a foldable Photo courtesy ExOfficio

Photo courtesy Chaos Headwear

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brim in their ball cap silhouettes. Even straw hats are crushable now thanks to a cotton/polyester composition. Best of all, brands like Chaos and Sunday Afternoons are incorporating 40+ UPF properties into more stylish designs like buckets and straws. “There’s a move toward hats that are sun protective and yet can be worn all the time, so that you’re not having to switch from a protective hat to a stylish one,” said Karen Phelps, marketing manager at Sunday Afternoons. “By bumping up the style points, you’re more likely to wear it, thus improving sun protection.”


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sports & fitness Actionable Weekly Sales Trend Reporting for the Sports & Fitness Market

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INDUSTRY CALENDAR

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS BUYING GROUPS Athletic Dealers of America 1395 Highland Avenue Melbourne, FL 32935 t 321.254.0091 athleticdealersofamerica.com National Shooting Sports Foundation Flintlock Ridge Office Center 11 Mile Hill Road Newtown, CT 06470 t 203.426.1320 nssf.org National Sporting Goods Association 1601 Feehanville Drive I Suite 300 Mount Prospect, IL 60056 t 847.296.6742 nsga.org Nation’s Best Sports 4216 Hahn Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76117 t 817.788.0034 nbs.com Outdoor Industry Association 4909 Pearl East Circle I Suite 300 Boulder, CO 80301 t 303.444.3353 outdoorindustry.org

Photo courtesy Kiss My Face

MARCH

JULY

8-9 SFIA National Health Through Fitness Day Washington, D.C. 17-19 Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) Atlantic City, NJ 21-24 IHRSA Orlando, FL

13-17 IDEA World Fitness Convention Los Angeles, CA

APRIL

25-28 NBS Fall Market Fort Worth, TX

1-2 SFIA Litigation & Risk Management Summit New Orleans, LA 12 SFIA/NFHS/NCAA Rules Conference Indianapolis, IN 19-21 Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) Nashville, TN

MAY 22-25 NSGA Management Conference and Team Hilton Head Island, SC

JUNE 23-25 Sports Inc. Athletic Show Minneapolis, MN 24-26 SGB 40 Under 40 Awards Boulder, CO 18 SGBWeekly.com | MARCH 14, 2016

AUGUST 11-13

Sports Inc. Outdoor Show Minneapolis, MN

OCTOBER 28-30 ADA Fall Buying Show Phoenix, AZ

NOVEMBER 17-19

Athletic Business Conference & Expo Orlando, FL

Sports & Fitness Industry Association 8505 Fenton Street I Suite 211 Silver Spring, MD 20910 t 301.495.6321 sfia.org Snow Sports Industries America 8377-B Greensboro Drive McLean, VA 22102 t 703.556.9020 snowsports.org Snowsports Merchandising Corp. 235 Cadwell Drive Springfield, MA 01104 t 413.739.7331 Snowsportsmerchandising.com Sports, Inc. 333 2nd Avenue North Lewistown, MT 59457 t 406.538.3496 sportsinc.com Sports Specialists Ltd. 590 Fishers Station Drive I Suite 110 Victor, NY 14564 t 585.742.1010 sportsspecialistsltd.com Tennis Industry Association 1 Corpus Christi Place I Suite 117 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 t 843.686.3036 tennisindustry.org Worldwide 8211 South 194th Kent, WA 98032 t 253.872.8746 wdi-wdi.com


40 UNDER 40 Honoring the Industry's Best Young Talent The nomination period for the 2016 40 Under 40 Award is now closed. SportsOneSource and SGB Magazine will recognize the industry's talent who have performed exemplary service to the active lifestyle industry. The 40 Under 40 Award is among the highest award an industry executive can receive and this year is no exception. All submissions are being reviewed and honorees will be announced in the coming weeks. Thank you for submitting your nomination for this extraordinary honor! For more information call 303.578.7004 Under40@sportsonesource.com


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