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NSGA OFFICERS Chairman of the Board David Labbe Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Cathy Pryor Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, AL Past Chairman Randy Nill Nill Bros. Sporting Goods, Kansas City, KS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Bezanson Cleve's Source for Sports, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Pat Donnelley Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID Rhett Johnson Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC Greg Miller Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Jeff Miller Scholastic Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY John Oehler Dunham's Sports, Troy, Ml Jerry Williams Schuylkill Valley Sports, Pottstown, PA NSGA TEAM LEADERS Matt Carlson President & CEO Marty Maciaszek Director, Team Dealer Division and HDA Julie Pitts Director, Business Development and Research Larry Weindruch Director, Public Affairs Dan Wiersma Chief Financial Officer NSGA OFFICERS Chair of the Board Cathy Pryor Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, AL Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Pat Donnelley Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID Past Chairman David Labbe Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Bezanson Cleve's Source for Sports, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Rhett Johnson Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC David Lynn Dunham’s Sports, Troy, MI Greg Miller Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Jeff Miller Scholastic Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY Mick Montgomery Denver Athletic Supply, Englewood, CO Jerry Williams Schuylkill Valley Sports, Pottstown, PA NSGA TEAM LEADERS Matt Carlson President & CEO Marty Maciaszek Director, Team Dealer Division and HDA Julie Pitts Director, Business Development and President, NSSRA Nick Rigitano Director, Insights and Analysis

Jennifer Shaffer Comptroller

The end of 2019 resulted in a lot of reflection on the past decade. What were some of the most memorable occurrences of the last 10 years? What were the top movies and songs? Who were the best players in a particular sport? The transition to 2020 also leads to a look at what’s ahead in the upcoming decade. Where will we be personally and professionally when we arrive at this point in 2029? Where will our industry be when the National Sporting Goods Association celebrates its 100 th anniversary? A lot of where NSGA is depends on you as members of the association. Particularly for our core of retail and team dealer members because NSGA belongs to you. NSGA cannot succeed without you and your involvement. Our ability to speak on your behalf, regarding issues that impact our members nationally and internationally, to those that affect only a member or two locally, depends on you embracing NSGA as the trade association that represents YOU. There is strength not only in numbers but in engagement. The more involved NSGA members are, the better it is for us to make an impact on industry issues. One of our best opportunities for involvement with NSGA is the Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit. If you don’t already have the dates May 17 through 19 circled on your calendar, we hope you will make your plans to join us in Phoenix. It’s an excellent way to get together with people from all areas of the industry and share ideas and concerns. NSGA research shows that members who have attended and participated in the annual Conference & Summit have a better understanding of what, why and how NSGA does things. They get more ROI for their membership investment. If you can’t attend the Conference & Summit, there are other ways to get engaged and involved. The NSGA Scoreboard, Hockey Voice and National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association newsletters are excellent sources of valuable information. So is NSGA NOW and our website. NSGA also keeps an active presence on social media to share news and information. Whichever ways work best for you, the key is to stay as active and involved with NSGA as possible. We know you are busier than ever running your own businesses, but taking some extra time to stay on top of what’s going on in the industry could make a big difference for you and all of your fellow members. Here’s to hoping you had a busy and successful holiday season and a great start to a new decade with many challenges ahead. Best regards, Matt Carlson | President & CEO It is not a secret that many independently owned sporting goods retailers and dealers have been under siege over the last several years. Consumers turn to the internet, thinking it's a better option for their purchases. The labor market is increasingly tight. Manufacturers try to go directly to the consumer and narrow their distribution of products. Those are a few of the biggest challenges independent retailers and dealers face. The effects are evident throughout the industry as struggling businesses consolidate or close their doors entirely. Our colleagues at NSGA's benchmark associations, the American Booksellers Association and the North American Retail Hardware Association, echo those concerns, but none of us is throwing in the towel! We always search for ways to help our core members in their ongoing battle to succeed. Our new 'Verified Independent Dealer Program" hits the bullseye. The idea for the program was sparked by a group of NSGA-member team dealers who wanted to emphasize how their experience, knowledge and service differentiates them from their competition. Getting the public to understand the importance of working with a quality independent dealer is one of the critical components to the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer Program. NSGA will assist Verified Dealers by sharing and explaining what it means to be part of this program with their current and potential customers. The details about the criteria for the MVP and All-Star categories of the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer Program, along with applications and other important information, can be found at www.nsga.org/verified. You can also read more about it on page 22 of this edition of NSGA NOW. We encourage team dealers, full-line retailers and specialty retailers involved in hockey, skiing, running and other sports to apply. Another benefit of the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer Program will be programming for the group at the 55 th Annual Management Conference & 21 st Annual Team Dealer Summit. This will be an excellent opportunity for verified dealers to get together and share ideas and concerns with their peers. The Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit held May 19-21 in Braselton, Georgia, is right around the corner. Some of the best aspects of the sporting goods industry's premier event are illustrated on page 11 of this issue. Register now by completing the form in the magazine, or, online at www.nsga.org/events. We hope everyone had a happy holiday season with family and friends and that you closed out 2018 on a high note. Don't forget that NSGA is here to support you in making 2019 even better! Fight the good fightl Best regards, Matt Carlson I President & CEO

NSGANOW® (ISSN1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite300, MountProspect, IL 60056-6035; Phone: (847) 296-NSGA (6742); Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of$50per year is includedin membershipfee. Non-member subscription information available frompublisher. Periodical postage paid at Mount Prospect, IL 60056 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NSGA NOW,® 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite 300,Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035. © by NSGA 2019. Printed in theUSA. NSGA NOW (ISSN 1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515. Phone: (847) 296-NSGA (6742); Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of $50 per year is included in membership fee. Non-member subscription information available from publisher. Periodical postage paid at Downers Grove, IL 60515 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NSGA NOW,® 3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515. © NSGA 2020 all rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Nominate a deserving Retailer, Dealer, Manufacturer or Industry Influencer for the 2021 Class of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. Nominees can come from any area of the industry. Must have been in the business for at least 20 years.

Submission deadline is February 21, 2020

Learn more and nominate at nsga.org/halloffame

The Sporting GoodsIndustry Hall of Fame was created in 1955 by the NSGA Board of Directors to honor the pioneers, innovators and leaders who built the sporting goods industry and to help recognize and encourage excellence within the industry.