Team Insight

Rawlings Purchasing Easton Diamond Sports In a major acquisition in the team sports business, Rawlings Sporting Goods is acquiring Easton Diamond Sports, a merger of two of the country's leading softball and baseball sporting goods companies. Rawlings and Easton will remain separate com- panies and continue to operate independently. Existing share- holders of Peak Achievement Athletics Inc., the parent of Easton, will continue to partici- pate as minority owners in the combined organization. In a statement, Rawlings said the purchase will strengthen both the Rawlings and Easton brands, enhance product innovation and enable investments to grow the game. "Over the years, Rawlings and Easton have shared a dedication to being best in class, which is the one constant that ultimately inspired our coming together and what will create the best baseball and softball company in the world," Rawlings president and CEO Mike Zlaket wrote on the company's website. "Whether it's our products, innovation and technology, relationships with our customers, players and consumers, or our service to the game, Rawlings has never compromised. That will be especially true moving forward with the many opportunities and advantages our new integrated operation will provide everyone who loves baseball and softball." Sporting Goods Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open Nominations are now open for the Class of 2022 of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. The nomination period lasts through February 19, 2021. The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame is comprised of more than 170 manufacturers, retailers and deal- ers and industry influencers. For seven decades it has been a way to honor the best of the best who have significantly impacted the experience for anyone who par- ticipates in sports. Nominees must have been involved in sporting goods for at least 20 years and made sig- nificant contributions to the industry, supported the industry, conducted business profession- ally, honestly and with integrity and have a good community standing. The most recent classes show the variety of Hall of Famers. Class of 2021 inductee Eric Bezanson is a prominent retailer in Canada. The Class of 2020 featured Klaus Obermeyer from the snowsports industry, Skechers' Robert Greenberg in footwear and licensing guru Peter Capolino. For more: www.nsga.org/hall-of-fame. Augusta Sportswear Brands Makes Canadian Move Already a major player in the U.S. team sports market, Augusta Sportswear Brands is expanding its global footprint by opening a Canadian sales office, showroom and website to serve the Canadian market. Chad Currah is its director of sales. The company's brands include Augusta Sportswear, Holloway, High 5, Russell Athletic and Pacific Headwear. The company has simplified the process by invoicing and importing products directly into Canada and with the opening of the new office, products will be priced in Canadian dollars and supported by Augusta's "Fair & Simple" shipping program. "The goal with launching the Canadian website was to pro- vide clarity, transparency and simplification for our Canadian customers when ordering and seeking information," the company said in a statement. "They will now be able to view and order products and access resources like catalogs, flyers and FAQs, all with Canadian spe- cific information and Canadian pricing." PHIT America Challenges Team Sports Business According to the UNICEF 2020 Report Card, children in the U.S. are ranked dead last in physi- cal health. Because of this, PHIT America, the national charity for kids' health, is challenging the sports world, in particular its 200 million sports participants and fans, to step up to get kids more active and healthier. PHIT America has launched a national campaign, Which America Do You Want?, showing both "Today's America" com- pared to a "PHIT America." Sports fans and players in tennis, basketball, soccer, running and six other activities are being targeted. "Most Americans, especially serious participants are not aware that our kids are in bad shape," points out Jim Baugh, founder of PHIT America. PHIT is asking all Americans to sign The Petition For Healthy Kids. This petition states: "Every Child Must Have At Least 30 Minutes of Physical Activity 3 Days A Week In School Every Week." For more: PHITAmerica.org. Markwort Receives Green Award Markwort Sporting Goods was recently honored by the city of Creve Coeur, MO, for making sustainability a major part of its business practices. Markwort received the 2020 Green Business Award as part of the fifth annual Creve Coeur Business Awards. The Green Business Award recognizes a Creve Coeur busi- ness that has made sustainability an integral part of its business practices. Markwort was cited for its history of environmental initiatives and one of its biggest achievements was a packaging redesign for its softball safety mask. Markwort redesigned the packaging to remove all use of plastic and created a new packag- ing design that uses a single piece of recyclable cardboard. n 42 Team Insight ~ November/December 2020 teaminsightmag.com END ZONE

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