Leading Sports and Fitness Retailers Coming To SGMA Spring Market

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 17, 2007 – Thousands of trendsetting retailers will be in Las Vegas for the SGMA Spring Market (June 11-13, 2007, Sands Convention Center) to preview products from more than 350 leading sports and fitness brands across apparel, footwear, and equipment. For event specifics including show hours, special events, and the conference session schedule, visit: www.sgmamarkets.com.
From the specialty sports/fitness retailer to mass merchandisers and everyone in-between, the sporting goods business will be well represented when the SGMA Spring Market event opens next month. With buyers already signed up from Academy Sports, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Chicks, Costco, Dicks, Eastbay/Footlocker.com, Fitness Quest, Fleet Feet, Hibbett Sports, Modell’s Sporting Goods, The Sports Authority, The Athlete’s Foot, and Wal Mart, the top retail names in the industry will converge with the most innovative brands to make SGMA Spring Market the event of the year for the industry.

“We’re excited by the strong retail and manufacturer commitments to SGMA Spring Market,” said Tom Cove, President and CEO, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. “The industry needs an environment to push innovation to the market, and the manufacturers and retailers have really come together to create an important annual community event.”

Hundreds of team dealers will also be on the show floor as part of the Team Athletic Group (TAG) event which has co-located with the SGMA Spring Market. Several important industry meetings will take place in Vegas to coincide with the show, including The Athlete’s Foot Global Franchise Convention, Play Ball USA, NOCSAE (National Organizing Committee for Standards in Apparel and Equipment), the World Federation of Sporting Goods (WFSGI), and the Sporting Goods Agents Association.

Said Cove, “SGMA Spring Market is shaping up to be the show to attend for buyers who want the first glimpse at the product trends coming in the Spring buying season. It’s an innovation experience that’s not to be missed.”

SGMA Spring Market is a focused sporting goods industry event showcasing full lines of footwear, performance apparel, equipment and accessories for fitness, running, spring team sports and licensed products. SGMA Spring Market brings together the industry’s leading brands, specialty, independent and trendsetting retailers, and team dealers—all under one roof. The event also provides sporting goods industry professionals with in-depth educational training. SGMA Spring Market is presented by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) and is managed and produced by Universal Event Management. For more information on the event, please visit www.sgmamarkets.com or call 1-888-535-5199.

SGMA, the trade association of leading industry sports and fitness brands, enhances industry vitality and fosters sports and fitness participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion and public policy. SGMA produces signature industry events including the Spring Market trade show, Sports + Technology Convergence, Industry Leaders Summit and National Health-through-Fitness Day on Capitol Hill. More information about SGMA membership and SGMA’s Sports Research Partnership can be found at www.sgma.com.