We were not able to include this notice in the last TeamInsightExtra because of space constraints, but we would be remiss to not acknowledge the passing of one of the sporting goods industry’s true gentleman — and a good friend of Team Insight through the years.

Savvy team dealers know that there is more to their customer base than traditional sports — and the hundreds of members of school bands are one of the hidden secrets. There’s a lot of money to be made selling uniforms, accessories and gear to all those...

Proving its ability to still spot a need from athletes and to react rapidly, Under Armour last week unveiled its new reusable and water-resistant Sportsmask, only to see it sell out within one hour, according to CEO Patrik Frisk. He promises the unique mask, which is designed for...

Kobe Bryant was a transformational figure in all facets of basketball and life. His dedication to both the game of basketball and endeavors off the court reflected what came to be known as the Mamba Mentality. In 2019, the release of the...

There is no doubting that the mandated shutdowns of youth sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic this spring and summer have greatly impacted the business of team sports. Team dealers and their vendors certainly know that.That impact has also been felt by the...

The proliferation of online Uniform Builders being offered by almost all of the major apparel, sock and headwear vendors is perhaps the most effective use of technology for team dealers. When combined with online team stores, dealers can offer their customers services unheard of even a few...

The importance of having goals has taken on a whole new meaning in the time of COVID-19. Stay-at-home has meant an uptick in sales of backyard goals and nets, but with distribution turned upside down and entire seasons cancelled, vendors and dealers are looking ahead to a time when...

With much of the team sports business grinding to a halt over the past two months, Team Insight and Team Insight Extra, our digital newsletter, have been busy chronicling the myriad efforts being made by suppliers to the team industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With more girls and women taking up the sport, and with manufacturers making uniforms that facilitate their participation, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee 2020-21 high school wrestling rules changes are headlined by...

Another excellent opportunity to sell football product is coming soon as women’s flag football is on its way to becoming an official National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) varsity sport by 2021.

Holding out the increasingly likely possibility that there will, indeed, be collegiate sports in the fall, the NCAA this week released Action Plan Considerations to help schools mitigate risks of COVID-19 spread as staff and student-athletes return.

In a somewhat unexpected move that drastically limits the market for its product, Light Helmets, the Carlsbad, CA– based manufacturer of football helmets and flag football headgear, is making a strategic move by banning the sale of all of its products to NFL teams.

Not letting the closing of schools and suspension of athletic programs this spring slow down its quest for exclusive equipment and uniform deals with some major and minor college programs, BSN Sports, in partnership with Nike, recently announced a number of new deals.

Reflecting the increasing role the team business is playing within the organization, three recent changes to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Board of Directors involve a trio of team dealers.

Although team sports sales have taken a massive hit as a result of school closings and the cancellation of spring sports throughout the country, the general category of sporting goods, along with home fitness and bicycles, actually fared fairly well in the midst of the pandemic...

Even with many of its fall seasons still in doubt, the rules-making arms of the major amateur sports associations continue to look ahead to make sure there is no disruption in play when sports do inevitably return.

The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) announcement last month that Wilson Sporting Goods Co. will replace Spalding as the official game ball of the NBA starting with the 2021/22 season certainly did not sit well with Spalding.

The multi-million dollar question for team dealers across America is simple: Will high school sports return in the fall? While the answer certainly varies from region to region across America, no one is sure their crystal ball is telling them the right answer.

Cathy Pryor, the former VP-store operations at Hibbett Sports and former chairperson of the NSGA, has been named president of Franklin Retail Solutions, the provider of in-store services within major retailers in the sports, outdoor and fitness industries.

As a result of the recent global pandemic, youth sports groups across the country are at a standstill and many are seeking new, safe ways to raise the money required to sustain and successfully run their programs.

With every vendor worried about their team dealer customers not paying their bills — not to mention trying to survive the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 crisis themselves – a letter sent in April by BSN Sports/Varsity Brands to all of its suppliers caused...

The thought is on every team dealer’s mind these days: What is the future of their most important sport — football in America? Hearing that call, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) recently published a document outlining its projections for...

With Spring sports cancelled and thousands of high school athletes missing out on their varsity seasons – and the chance to purchase that always-important Varsity Jacket to mark the occasion – Mike Blythe has come up with a...

Companies around the team sports business are certainly struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spring and summer sales, but many are finding ways to stay open and to reward loyal employees that have made that possible.

While there still remains some small hope that some of its regular season games will be played this summer, last week Little League International decided to cancel its World Series and Region Tournaments for the first time in the organization’s history.