Team Insight

END ZONE 34 • Team Insight ~ May/June 2023 teaminsightmag.com Omega Closing Its Doors Aer 45 years in business North Carolina-based retailer and team dealer Omega Sports is going out of business, includ- ing its e-commerce operation. In a statement the owners pointed out that "the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the subsequent supply chain shortages, wage and cost inflation, and economic uncer- tainties have taken their toll on our business." e company in- tends an orderly wind-down of operations from now through early summer. Founded in 1978 by Phil Bowman and om Rock and later joined by Robert Hager, Omega Sports grew from a single store in Greensboro, NC, to 14 locations in the Triad, Triangle and Charlotte areas, as well as Burlington, Greenville, High Point, Morrisville, Wilmington and Wilson. In 2017, Craig Carlock, the former CEO of the Fresh Market, purchased Omega Sports, Inc. Bowman stayed with the company, but Rock retired. NFL, NFLPA Approve QB Helmet e NFL and NFL Players Association recently approved a Vicis helmet for quarterbacks that is the first for the position specifically designed to reduce concussions. NFL quarterbacks will not be required to wear the helmet so the immediate impact on sales is uncertain, but it does follow a similar design for offensive and defen- sive linemen that was intended to limit concussions. "We've now analyzed with our engineers and with the Players Association more than a 1000 concussions on field, we have a pretty good database of how these injuries occur," NFL executive Jeff Miller told the Associated Press. "is helmet performs better in laboratory testing than any helmets we have ever seen for those sorts of impacts." Easton, Little League Extend Partnership Little League and Easton Diamond Sports have extended their Official Partnership through 2028. Following the merger between Rawlings and Easton in January 2021, the extended agreement with Little League also now incorporates Rawlings as the Official Glove of the Little League World Series starting in 2023. Over the years, Easton has been a supporter of Little League at every level of the program, from offering incentives and discount op- portunities at the local league level to providing equipment distribution experiences at the Little League Baseball and Soball World Series. As part of the World Series experience, participants in Williamsport, PA, and Greenville, NC, are provided with a variety of equipment, including bats, gloves, backpacks, batting gloves, catcher's gear and hel- mets courtesy of Easton. In addition to their efforts to support the players and volunteers of the Little League program at every level, Easton will also continue to participate in the Little League World Series Fan Zone activations, providing fun and exciting experiences for all fans in at- tendance at the world's largest youth sports tournament and other Little League events. UA and Steph Renew Under Armour has both extended and expanded its contract with the Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (le in photo with UA founder Kevin Plank) that marries the two together well into his retirement years. e key ele- ment: Curry becomes president of the Curry Brand. Curry had joined Under Armour in 2013 aer leaving Nike. "e enhanced partnership is designed to capture market share, fuel business growth and create new business opportu- nities globally," according to a statement from Under Armour. e new partnership takes Curry beyond basketball into product for golf, women, youth and sportstyle. Gared Names Johnson Gared Holdings has hired Marcus Johnson as chief exec- utive officer of Gared Holdings, succeeding Kevin Hinkamper. Most recently, Johnson was VP–operations for Greenville Technology, headquartered in Anderson, IN. "I am extremely excited and humbled to return to the company in this new capacity," says Johnson. "Being part of a company with such history and a brand that has earned such respect and appreciation in the market is a privilege." Gared Holdings also pro- moted Don Carle to chief revenue officer of Gared Holdings and president of Gared, Gared International and PSS divisions of Gared Holdings. n NSGA Speakers To Talk the Talk Five-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-time World Champion swimmer Missy Franklin highlights a trio of speakers with diverse backgrounds who will share stories of leadership and success at the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit on May 21-23 at the W Nashville in Nashville, TN. Franklin, former NFL quarterback Tom Flick, entrepreneur Marcus Whitney and specialty retail expert Dan Mann will all deliver messages for attendees. is year's event will also look at key issues impacting the industry, provide numerous networking opportunities highlighted by the popu- lar Speed Networking and recognize four legendary figures at the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "The program for this year's NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit brings the energy and excitement that comes with holding the event in Nashville's vibrant, urban setting," says Matt Carlson, NSGA president and CEO. "e stories of the different paths Missy Franklin, Tom Flick and Marcus Whitney took to achieve success are inspiring and will give attendees great messages they can bring back to their teams. " • Flick kicks off the program on Monday morning with "e Heart of Leadership: Inspiring People to Excellence." • e Monday morning session, "Building a Roadmap for Success," will feature Mann (president of e Mann Group) and Karl Salz (president and CEO of Sun & Ski Sports). • Whitney gets the program started on Tuesday morning with " There is No Innovation Without Failure." • Franklin provides the closing keynote early Tuesday aernoon with "Relentless Spirit: Staying Afloat rough Life's Ups and Downs." n Franklin Flick Whitney Mann

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