State your business IV: athletic industry executives talk about the present and the future.THE ATHLETIC BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS RELIANT upon high school and college athletic directors Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic and coaches, can be fickle fick·le adj. Characterized by erratic changeableness or instability, especially with regard to affections or attachments; capricious. [Middle English fikel, from Old English ficol, . The economy, participation numbers, budget restraints, customer satisfaction, and personal preference all have a lot to do with the final buying decision. And there is no one more conversant CONVERSANT. One who is in the habit of being in a particular place, is said to be conversant there. Barnes, 162. with the trends and vagaries of the business than the key executives of the sports-related companies. That said we asked a new select group of industry leaders to once again, "give us the business." COACH COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS Marc Archer Director-Strategic Marketing, Sports Communications TELEX COMMUNICATIONS Telex Communications was a Burnsville, Minnesota-based manufacturer of hearing aids and audio equipment. Founded in 1936 as a maker of hearing aids, it merged in 1998 with Electro-Voice, a competitor founded in 1930 which provided John Glenn's microphone during his orbit of earth What's the state of the market? Telex Communications enters 2006 in an extremely positive mood. The Telex brand's football heritage and technological innovations during a 20-year working relationship with the NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga have helped the game evolve to levels of intensity and action that would have been unimaginable in the 1930's, when our "Electric Voice" system first helped legendary coach Knute Rockne Knute (pronounced "kah-noot") ("noot" is the anglicized nickname) Kenneth Rockne (March 4, 1888 – March 31, 1931) was an American football player and is regarded by many as the greatest coach in college football history. . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Starting in the mid-1980's, Telex has powered the voices of the NFL and Division One NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association football with headset Headphones combined with a microphone. Used in call centers and by people in telephone-intensive jobs, headsets provide the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation. Many people use headsets at the computer so they can converse and type comfortably. and wired intercom technologies. In 1991 Telex provided the first wireless intercom A wireless intercom is an electronic device that enables room-to-room or building-to-building voice communication. The first intercom systems communicated over a set of wires installed in the walls of a building. solutions to the NFL for instant replays, making the game a more dynamic, interactive experience for television viewers. Introduced in 1999, the revolutionary BTR-600 has provided reliable encrypted en·crypt tr.v. en·crypt·ed, en·crypt·ing, en·crypts 1. To put into code or cipher. 2. Computer Science wireless performance for the last seven Super Bowls, and the BTR-1 "Lombardi" system--an evolution of the BTR-600--is set to replace it in 2006. The list goes on. Simply put, as the intercom demands of NFL coaches and referees become more and more sophisticated, so does Telex technology. In 2006 Telex Communications will provide all 32 NFL teams and 97% of all NCAA Division 1 football programs with Telex products and technology. What's the next great advance? 2006 is going to be an exciting year for Telex communications. Building on the legacy of Telex intercom products used by today's football and sports professionals, Telex continues to demonstrate its dedication to the high school and collegiate game with revolutionary products like the new, aptly named Legacy[TM] wireless system. In extending their heritage of excellence on the football field into the future, Telex is pleased to offer the Legacy[TM] to assist today's football coach in reaching new heights of performance at the high school level and beyond. Employing the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. 802.11 wireless standard, the Legacy[TM] series offers full duplex (Computers) arranged so that the information may be transmitted in both directions simultaneously; - of communications channels between computers; contrasted with The Legacy[TM] system offer fast and easy setup, complete wireless solutions for 2 to 7 coaches per sideline sideline See on the sidelines. , durable belt packs, 64 bit audio encryption The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. , professional grade headsets (like those used by the NFL) and a 3-Year Warranty. In addition, the Legacy[TM] base station offers a state of the art automatic channel selection feature called ClearScan[TM], that automatically sets the Legacy[TM] system to the clearest, cleanest channel for operation. Where's the business going? Telex Communications will concentrate its focus in 2006 on penetrating the high school football market with the new Legacy[TM] series system. By offering the latest in technological innovation and performance, our great brand heritage, and working closely with hard working dealer partners, Telex feels that it can assist the modern day football coach with an affordable, application-specific communication solution designed for professional football coaches at all levels. Professionals who demand excellence in the long shadow of Knute Rockne and the game's greatest coaches ... All of whom used Telex or Electro-Voice equipment. Towards the end of 2006, Telex Communications will continue to look at the latest technological innovations, adapt our products accordingly, and also begin to look at other sports markets where we feel we can provide critical communications solutions. Rick Meyer, CEO/President RPM SPORTS, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control What's the state of the market? Wide open! Telepath tel·e·path n. One who communicates by telepathy. is a completely new concept in coaching. By that I only mean as a product. Many of the inquiries and orders I have received are from coaches that have admitted thinking about having something similar, but never had a product available to accomplish what Telepath does. There is a great variety of training tools for the players that help them improve their agility and coordination, and for coaches that give them training drills and philosophies. Telepath is the first tool that allows the coach to take the player and coaching tools and put them together in real time. The coach can communicate philosophy, strategy, style of play and opportunity, instantly and clearly without whistles and shouting. The flow of practice is not disrupted by starting and stopping. The coach can now instruct from the best vantage point, not just from where they can be heard. Telepath has applications in a variety of sports including: soccer, football, lacrosse lacrosse (ləkrôs`), ball and goal game usually played outdoors by two teams of 10 players each on a field 60 to 70 yd (54.86 to 64.01 m) wide by 110 yd (100.58 m) long. Two goals face each other 80 yd (73. , field hockey field hockey: see hockey, field. field hockey or hockey Game played with curve-ended sticks between two teams of 11 players. It is played on a field 100 yd (91.4 m) by 60 yd (55 m) in size. , ice hockey ice hockey: see hockey, ice. ice hockey Game played on an ice rink by two teams of six players on skates. The object is to drive a puck (a small, hard rubber disk) into the opponents' goal with a hockey stick, thus scoring one point. , softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' , and baseball. The market is very good. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the next great advance? Telepath is the next great advance! I believe the next change for me will be to add an earpiece to the system receivers. This would not be for use by players but for referees during training sessions and games. I have already had a few inquiries about this application. It is also a system that is widely used in other parts of the world for rugby matches. The technology is starting to come to the states but is not used here nearly as much as in Europe, Australia and South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. . Where's the business going? RPM Sports is a newer company formed just about a year and a half ago, so for us we are just now hitting stride. 2006 will be our year to grow and expand. We have really started our marketing campaign and are focusing on soccer, lacrosse and football for the first part of next year. I believe those sports are the ones that can best be benefited by Telepath. Those sports, with their wide appeal and participation, also represent the largest target base for our product. This year is about attending conventions and shows where coaches will gather, to really introduce Telepath and it's applications. Currently we have conventions scheduled from Philadelphia to Anaheim, and from Chicago to Dallas. We are going to continue to look at more forums where we can introduce Telepath hopefully on a state-by-state basis to a wide variety of sports and their coaches. RPM Sports is also going to look at certain catalogues as another avenue of introduction to Telepath. We are new, the response has been great, and we have an order going to Africa, so I guess we are international now. We have a Big Ten school using Telepath for its lacrosse team. Where is the business going, up! SPORTS APPAREL/UNIFORMS Pete Kafka, V.P. Sales & Marketing FERGO ATHLETICS What's the state of the market? More and more athletic programs are insisting on quality team apparel. Fergo Athletics is uniquely positioned in that we are a custom uniform and athletic apparel manufacturer who works directly with the team. Be it on the collegiate, scholastic or club & park team level, Fergo provides the newest fabrics and customized embellishment at direct to the customer pricing. Eliminating multiple layers of distribution saves the team money while keeping quality, detail and service at a consistently strong level. Fergo's business model allows us to meet any quote or bid and then provide a royalty back to the team. The hue and cry hue and cry, formerly, in English law, pursuit of a criminal immediately after he had committed a felony. Whoever witnessed or discovered the crime was required to raise the hue and cry against the perpetrator (e.g. of the athletic industry is rapidly embracing this approach. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the next great advance? The next great advance is here: complete customer coverage for all of their uniform and athletic apparel needs, in-house manufacturing to optimize art work, embellishment and quality control while being able to ship in timely fashion. Fergo is the future. "One Stop Shop" is the ideal for the consumer if all of the consumer's needs are met for that category. Fergo has manufacturing, sublimation sublimation, in chemistry sublimation (sŭblĭmā`shən), change of a solid substance directly to a vapor without first passing through the liquid state. , screen-printing, embroidery embroidery, ornamental needlework applied to all varieties of fabrics and worked with many sorts of thread—linen, cotton, wool, silk, gold, and even hair. Decorative objects, such as shells, feathers, beads, and jewels, are often sewn to the embroidered piece. , and twill twill One of the three basic textile weaves (see weaving), distinguished by diagonal lines. In the simplest twill, the weft crosses over two warp yarns, then under one, the sequence being repeated in each succeeding shot (row), but stepped over, one warp either to the embellishment, enabling us to meet every customer's athletic apparel requirements. Having manufacturing facilities in three locations allows Fergo to handle any size job providing channeled inventories and responsive shipments. Where's the business going? Fergo has four distinct business segments. Collegiately, we are working with many schools on the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels and of course Fergo has an exclusive contract with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
abbr. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes ) as their Official Provider of on field and off field athletic apparel through the NAIA Drive program. NAIA Drive is a trademarked brand with Fergo maintaining exclusive rights of production. Scholastically scho·las·tic adj. 1. Of or relating to schools; academic. 2. often Scholastic Of, relating to, or characteristic of Scholasticism. 3. Adhering rigidly to scholarly methods; pedantic. , Fergo has done extremely well in our local market in all sports and intends to advance on a more national level. The Internet has brought Fergo substantial opportunities, solidifying so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. our responsive customization capabilities and rapid turnaround times (1) In batch processing, the time it takes to receive finished reports after submission of documents or files for processing. In an online environment, turnaround time is the same as response time. for our customers. Fergo is also a recognized uniform and athletic apparel provider with other national organizations and retail chains. John Sabol, Director of Marketing RUSSELL ATHLETIC TEAM SPORTS What's the state of the market? The institutional market for sporting goods Noun 1. sporting goods - sports equipment sold as a commodity commodity, trade good, good - articles of commerce sports equipment - equipment needed to participate in a particular sport apparel, uniforms and equipment is consolidating and getting more focused on the athlete. Manufacturers, dealers and retailers are all battling for a share of the 'athletic budget' and are doing so with better products, programs and promotions. Russell is taking a portfolio approach to the market by leveraging our unique portfolio of authentic, athletic brands to provide solutions to today's athletes, teams and dealers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the next great advance? The next great advance in the uniform and athletic apparel market will be a move to lighter weight performance fabrics that not only wick moisture but enhance performance with graduated compression and protective characteristics. Russell is working on a number of key innovations that will help athletes perform at their peak level, protect them, and recover from strenuous stren·u·ous adj. 1. Requiring great effort, energy, or exertion: a strenuous task. 2. Vigorously active; energetic or zealous. competition. Where's the business going? The business is going towards a more performance & technical benefit focus. Athletes are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. an edge wherever they can get it. As a result, manufacturers of sports apparel and equipment are moving quickly to provide the best, cutting-edge solutions to key issues, wants and needs on the fields of play. INDOOR SPORTS FLOORING John Gilman, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. FIELDTURF/TARKETT SPORTS What's the state of the market? The indoor market is currently in a major growth period and this is very positive for both manufacturers and facilities. An increasingly competitive market has helped to develop better quality products at affordable prices and thus greatly benefiting the end user. Synthetics are now a true alternative for multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective facilities that require convertibility between sporting and non-sporting events. Hardwood hardwood: see wood. hardwood Timber obtained from broad-leaved, flower-bearing trees. Hardwood trees are deciduous trees, except in the warmest regions. systems are ever popular and continue to dominate the market with highly engineered products moving the market forward. All of these advancements are to the benefit of schools, Rec centers, and private clubs with high quality products, no matter what the budget. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the next great advance? The next great advance is uniformity across the board for quality. A product is only as good as its raw materials and FieldTurf Tarkett understands that the key to this success is vertical integration. Only the best quality materials are used to allow for consistently high quality end products that meet international standards every time. Certified installers are vital to ensure that quality products perform at an optimal level. A certification program allows the manufacturer to be able to warrant their product for a prolonged pro·long tr.v. pro·longed, pro·long·ing, pro·longs 1. To lengthen in duration; protract. 2. To lengthen in extent. period of time. FieldTurf Tarkett is breaking down barriers by offering the best warranties in the business. Finally, but equally important is pricing, where again vertical integration allows for the best possible price on quality sports surfacing solutions. Most of the producers in the industry do not take ownership of the process and fault typically lies on the installation company and not the company that supplied the materials. It is our belief that this needs to change! Where's the business going? With the creation of FieldTurf Tarkett, facility owners, architects, and consultants can come to one company for all their sports surfacing needs. From synthetic turf, to resilient and polyurethane polyurethane Any of a class of very versatile polymers that are made into flexible and rigid foams, fibres, elastomers (elastic polymers), surface coatings, and adhesives. flooring, hardwood flooring, and weight and fitness room flooring FieldTurf Tarkett has the ability to supply top of the line products for every sport. FieldTurf Tarkett will also install them to a high standard, leaving the customer with the peace of mind that their job is being done right. The client benefits from the strong relationship with the manufacturer and installer by being informed every step of the way. Timelines become more reliable and external costs are cut significantly. In our opinion this is the way the business needs to go--a one-stop-shop philosophy, with a focus on quality, pricing, and warranty. Jim Stalford, Director Track and Field MONDO mon·do Slang adj. Enormous; huge: a mondo list of pizza toppings. adv. Extremely; very: a mondo big mistake. USA What's the state of the market? More and more clients in the education market are looking for quality. A common phrase I hear is what is the total cost of ownership? This indicates that we are dealing with a more educated purchaser. These owners can no longer justify paying to renovate their facility every few years. This has happened in part due to several companies in the recent past going out of business and owners left with facilities that were in disrepair and with no warranty. Others have been the issue of the material used in the surfacing is not the same material that was available in the past. What's the next great advance? The great thing about this industry is that the educated purchaser is looking for high quality products and projects not just the low bid. This transition in mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. has forced a greater awareness in the industries manufactures and contractors on building better, more adaptable and longer lasting facilities. The better facilities we can build today the better athletes we will have in future. Where's the business going? This industry is moving forward in most areas. There are those clients and contractors (as in any industry) that will be focused on the low-end bid. We need to keep the grass route facilities adequate. With more and more sports coming online there needs to be a reason for students and athletes to participate and stay with Track and Field as a sport. If they have a facility they can use that do not pose health or injury issues (one that is not riddled with inconsistencies and holes) there will be a better chance of them sticking with the sport. I feel we will see higher end Coordinates: For other places with the same name, see Billinge. Higher End or Billinge Higher End is a district of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. facilities in the grass routes area if nothing else than the end user is feed up with constant expenditures on their facilities just to make them usable. AUDIO/SOUND SYSTEMS David Jacobs David Henry Jacobs (born April 30, 1888 in Cardiff, Wales - died June 6, 1976 in Aberconwy, Wales), was a British athlete. At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Jacobs won a gold medal as the first leg in the British 4x100 m relay team, in spite of finishing second , President & CEO ANCHOR AUDIO What's the state of the market? The market for public address systems and intercoms is changing due to customers' budget constraints A Budget Constraint represents the combinations of goods and services that a consumer can purchase given current prices and his income. Consumer theory uses the concepts of a budget constraint and a preference ordering to analyze consumer choices. . It is now clear that market shares are shifting because new products have been developed which can do a better job at lower prices. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All organizations have fixed costs fixed costs, n.pl the costs that do not change to meet fluctuations in enrollment or in use of services (e.g., salaries, rent, business license fees, and depreciation). such as wages, pensions, insurance, energy and interest, which are increasing in the current economy. These fixed cost increases are outside of the control of the organization. Therefore, the discretionary costs such as sports equipment, maintenance, marketing, PA equipment and the like, come under increasing pressure to balance the budget. Anchor Audio has experienced a significant growth in sales to high school and college coaches and sports facilities See:
adj. 1. Capable of being understood: an intelligible set of directions. 2. Capable of being apprehended by the intellect alone. , reliability and simplicity. What's the next great advancement? Anchor Audio is currently introducing two new patent pending products that will change the market for public address and wireless intercoms. The Beacon[TM] combines the clear sound of a line array speaker system with a sub-woofer base cabinet in a portable package. The clarity of sound and the ease of use are unmatched in the audio industry. A removable handle and wheels allows you to transport the Beacon, and there is no need for a speaker stand. In AC power the Beacon can cover a football field with 300 watts of power. In a second, industry-changing move, Anchor has introduced the PortaCom Pro wireless intercom system which provides full duplex communication for an unlimited number of users, and up to 15 separate groups, within a 700 foot range. PortaCom Pro eliminates the problems of fixed base stations, complex operating procedures, and limits on the number of users that characterize the existing products on the market--at a fraction of the price. Just like the portable sound systems, PortaCom Pro requires no installation labor or sophisticated sound professionals to operate the system. If you're the football coach who wants to communicate with the spotter above the stands, the PortaCom Pro is the affordable system for you. The head football coach can set 2 users on offense on channel one, and 2 users on defense on channel two. He can switch back and forth between the two channels to hear conversations. If the head coach wants all coaches to hear him, he just turns to the ALL CALL channel and begins speaking. Everyone will hear him. Where's the business going? Anchor Audio is not going anywhere! The company was founded in Torrance, California over 30 years ago and intends to remain as a successful, privately-owned U.S. manufacturing company. Manufacturing is done in the company's own factory using the latest concepts in lean manufacturing Lean manufacturing is the production of goods using less of everything compared to mass production: less human effort, less manufacturing space, less investment in tools, and less engineering time to develop a new product. in order to have a cost structure which is lower than the company's competitors in Asia. Engineering is done in the same building in order to optimize the technology of the products within the factory's manufacturing constraints. Sales and marketing are also in the same building so the engineers can hear what the market is saying--first hand. In fact, everyone is in the same building, which allows Anchor to eliminate the entire wasted overhead of communication and transportation among remote locations. Anchor's lean manufacturing structure allows the company to transform raw materials into a finished product within 1 hour at a labor cost of under 6% of the cost of the product. The result is a high level of customer satisfaction with the product, the delivery time and the price. Anchor Audio business model is designed to serve the needs of its customers for high value solutions in the portable sound system and intercom markets. Don Roth, CEO/President AMPLIVOX SOUND SYSTEMS What's the state of the market? Everywhere sporting activities take place, voice amplification is needed to make announcements, call play-by-plays, give instructions, or play the National Anthem before a game. Athletic Directors and Coaches use the Wireless Half-Mile Hailer hail·er n. 1. One that greets, acclaims, or catches someone's attention. 2. A bullhorn. Family designed and engineered by AmpliVox Sound Systems for all outdoor activities, including sporting events, team sports, and band practice. State of the art wireless technology gives the coach freedom to move around while speaking. AmpliVox uses solid-state technology to create clear, powerful sound that carries across football fields and stadiums for up to 3,000 people. The powerful 60 Watt PA horn delivers 108 dB sound pressure level over the 450Hz to 4 kHz audio range crucial for voice clarity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the next great advance? The Wireless Half-Mile Hailer Family has grown so that it can accommodate a variety of playing fields in one location. It will cover baseball and football fields, running tracks, and tennis courts. A school or park district can set up one system with multiple speakers that will do the job that used to require several systems. Not only will the Coach have flexibility, he will not have to worry about cords and cables underfoot hampering the action. AmpliVox has developed wireless powered speakers Powered speakers (or active speakers) are speakers that have built-in amplifiers. They can be connected directly to a mixing console or sound source, without the need for an amplifier. Such speakers are available with passive or active crossovers built into them. that can be used both indoors and out. Where's the business going? AmpliVox has developed technology through its proprietary sound engineering that has brought down the price of covering multiple athletic areas with crowd-pleasing sound. Today AmpliVox can provide quality amplification with its Half-Mile Hailer Family for approximately $5,000.00 instead of $20 - $30,000 that schools and park districts often pay. AmpliVox's proprietary technology has also developed powered wireless speakers for under $500.00, enabling the user to expand coverage without unsightly un·sight·ly adj. un·sight·li·er, un·sight·li·est Unpleasant or offensive to look at; unattractive. See Synonyms at ugly. un , messy cables. SOCCER Don Wetmore, VP/Sales & Marketing KWIK KWIK Cross Wind Integrated Concentration GOAL What's the state of the market? The explosive growth the sport of soccer experienced in the early nineties has certainly leveled off and we now see smaller participation increases at the various levels of play. However, we see a modest, steady growth in soccer participation continuing for a few reasons. Soccer provides a very easy solution to parents and administrators trying to fight the child obesity issue. It also continues to be a tremendous vehicle for female athletic participation as it relates to Title IX legislation. In addition, the success soccer is having in our country at the professional (Major League Soccer) and international (U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. ) levels will continue to influence participation and overall interest in the game. The big question right now, and for the next five to ten years, is if the demand for new playing fields can be met. Some progress is being made in this area, particularly with the efforts of the U.S. Soccer Foundation The U.S. Soccer Foundation is the main charitable arm of soccer in the United States. It was established in 1995 to manage surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup competition, which was held in the United States. The Foundation supports the development of U.S. . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Significant private and/or public sector funding will still be needed to meet the needs based on modest participation increases. What's the next great advance? It seems right now, more so than ever, that many of the great technological advances coming out of other industries are finding their way into the highest levels of soccer. These advances are, and will, change how professional teams train, how young players are identified and developed, how teams scout, how matches are televised and possibly officiated. As is always the trend in all sports, these advances at the upper echelon of play will trickle down Trickle down An economic theory that the support of businesses that allows them to flourish will eventually benefit middle- and lower-income people, in the form of increased economic activity and reduced unemployment. into the college, high school and even competitive club levels in the near future. The more obvious advancements will occur as a result of the boom in the installation of the latest artificial surfaces (like Field Turf). New opportunities will be provided to not only varsity sports at the college and high school levels, but also to intramural intramural /in·tra·mu·ral/ (-mu´r'l) within the wall of an organ. in·tra·mu·ral adj. Occurring or situated within the walls of a cavity or organ. , middle school and even youth sports as a result of these new fields. Goal and field equipment manufacturers will have to provide equipment that functions properly on this surface and also meets the needs of the various groups potentially using it. Where's the business going? The consolidation we've seen in sporting goods in the last few years has not been a huge factor in the goal and field equipment category. In fact, it seems a new company enters the market each year, particularly at the middle and lower price point/quality levels, despite the rising costs of raw materials. We'll continue to see a large majority of manufacturers offering goals and field equipment as a compliment to their core sporting good product offering, or as a spin-off The situation that arises when a parent corporation organizes a subsidiary corporation, to which it transfers a portion of its assets in exchange for all of the subsidiary's capital stock, which is subsequently transferred to the parent corporation's shareholders. from their non-sporting good manufacturing business. Athletic directors, coaches and other purchasers of goals and field equipment will continue to ask for better overall customer service from their manufacturers and sporting good dealers. They'll also be looking for products that maximizes their staff's (coaches, grounds men) effectiveness and provides increased safety and liability safeguards for their institutions. Interview By Kevin Newell |
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