ASSOCIATION NOW

Looking Ahead at 2020 and Looking Back at 2019 with NSGA

By Lizz McCrindle NSGA Marketing Coordinator

Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon for 2020 and some of the things that happened with NSGA in 2019.

Research

NSGA successfully con

ducted its annual participa

tion study for the 35 th consecutive year, the longest

Retail Audit Insights

standing study of its kind in the sporting good industry. New editions to the NSGA research lineup this year

Published September 2019

Guide to a Better Retailing Experience

are two reports based on

the findings compiled from

14 retail audits performed

Published September 2019

by retail design expert, Matt Nurre, in 2018. The reports, Retail Audit Insights and Guide to a Better Retailing Experience, are free to NSGA members and can be downloaded from the NSGA website.

The sports participation study will continue to be one of the centerpieces of NSGA research in 2020. Plans are also in the works for research products that will help retailers and dealers have a better understanding of the manufacturers they are working with.

Advocacy

NSGA members and staff took to Washington, DC on April 3, 2019 to lobby

PHIT Act Personal

Health Investment TODAY place for members logo or business card here

in favor of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The PHIT Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that will allow the use of pre-tax medical accounts, such as Flexible Saving Accounts (FSAs) or What is the PHIT Act? The PHIT Act will allow Pre-Tax Medical Accounts, also known as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), to reimburse costs associated with physical activity expenses, up to $2,000*. That is a projected savings of 20-30% on fitness related costs. The passage of the PHIT Act will make a healthy lifestyle attainable for millions of Americans, increasing the physical activity rate for children and adults and building positive lifelong habits.

PHIT Act has strong bipartisan support thanks in large part to Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Thune (R-SD) who reintroduced the bill in the Senate (S.680) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) who reintroduced the bill in the House (H.R. 1679) in March 2019. *$2,000 return for head of household or joint return

What does the PHIT Act cover? • Youth & adult sports league fees • Health club membership dues • Exercise classes & personal trainers • Sports & fitness equipment • Youth camps • Pay-to-play school sports fees • Organized running event registration fees • Martial arts • Gymnastics & more! • Golf • Horse back riding • Sailing • Items that can be used outside sports/exercise (ex: sneakers, yoga pants) Annual health care costs are increasing exponentially the PHIT Act legislation will work to lower health care spending by allowing more individuals to lead healthy and fit lifestyles, thus reducing health care spending. IMPACT OF THE INACTIVITY PANDEMIC 67% OF CHILDREN ARE NOT ACTIVE TO HEALTHY LEVELS BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 28% OF AMERICANS ARE SEDENTARY AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION 48% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE NO PHYSICAL EDUCATION 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0%

2011 2021 2031 2041 2051 Health Care Spending Social Security Discretionary Spending Other Mandatory Programs Source: www.phitamerica.org

Source: http://www.phitamerica.org/Leglislation.htm

Help Spread The Word The PHIT Act is a widely accepted piece of legislation with support from both sides of the aisle. 1. Contact your local Member of Congress (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members). 2. Email, call or write your local representative explaining the importance of the PHIT Act and encourage their support of the legislation. 3. Participate with the PHIT Act campaign on social media by using the hashtag #PHITAct to spread awareness among your local community. 4. Spread the word to friends and family and encourage them to do the same.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), to reimburse physical activity expenses. The third annual NSGA Lobbying Day was successful with substantive and impactful conversations as well as establishing

actionable next steps for both parties. NSGA will continue to fight for member interests on a variety of fronts in 2020. NSGA also created PHIT ACT resource materials for any to use in social media posts and for handouts with their customers’ supporting organization.

Conference & Summit

The 55 th Annual Management Conference & 21 st Annual Team Dealer Summit took place May 19–21, 2019 at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia. As the premier event of the sporting goods industry, the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit offered attendees educational and informative sessions as well as numerous opportunities to connect and network. Jim Hunter kicked off the 2019 conference with a session on The Power of Servant Leadership.

Other notable sessions included Strategies and Tips for Reducing Corporate and Individual Tax Expenses by Gene Marks and the

>> Anita Adam of 2 nd Time Sports left, greets speaker and former NFL coach Jen Welter.

Sporting Goods Retail Experience by Mike Cosentino, Paul Kim, and Matt Nurre. Lastly, Dr. Jen Welter closed out the event with a powerful session on developing a championship mindset. The 2020 Conference & Summit will be held May 17–19 in Phoenix, Arizona. The popular Speed Networking session will give retailers and dealers a chance to have a series of meetings with manufacturers in one afternoon. Education sessions will continue to get attendees to look at issues that will impact them in the future. >> Jim Hunter talks about Servant Leadership at the 2019 Management Conference.

Communications Changes are taking place at the beginning of 2020 with the NSGA Scoreboard e-newsletter to make it easier to consume information and also make it more interactive and engaging. The NSGA Scoreboard is a great way to get the most up-to-date information on rule changes, stories on issues affecting the industry and important events taking place at NSGA. The start of 2019 marked a new chapter in the look, layout and design of NSGA NOW, our membership magazine. Design elements have been carried over from the magazine to our website for a cohesive look and consistent branding style, while providing readers with clear and unparalleled sporting goods industry content.

Volume 7 | No. 3 | May/June 2019 A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL SPORTING GOODS ASSOCIATION

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE & TEAM DEALER SUMMIT ISSUE

Volume 7 | No. 5 | September / October 2019 A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL SPORTING GOODS ASSOCIATION

THE 2020 CLASS OF THE SPORTING GOODS INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME

Peter Capolino MITCHELL & NESS NOSTALGIA COMPANY

Hockey Dealers Association The 34 United States members of HDA in the collaboration with NSGA and the Sports Distributors of Canada (SDC) continued to take advantage of an excellent return on their investment in 2019 with access to special makeup products, purchase discounts and group rebates. The opportunities for the participants in the collaboration should continue to grow in 2020. HDA will also be working in the new year to address specific issues and concerns the collaboration participants and other hockey retailers have and to help with services they need. Getting more hockey dealers to participate in the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer Program will also be a priority. ®

Verified Dealer Program One of the highlights from the Team Dealer Division was the launch of NSGA’s Verified Independent Dealer Program. The program recognizes independent dealers and retailers for their service and experience and helps differentiate themselves from their competition. Fourteen companies have achieved this status since June 2019. NSGA also continues to keep members informed of rule changes and other issues that could affect their products and sales. NSGA is going to emphasize that Verified Dealers’ current and potential customers understand the value of working with them in 2020.

Robert Greenberg SKECHERS

Klaus Obermeyer SPORT OBERMEYER

The NSGA website is also a go-to resource for all things sporting goods. Regularly updated, the NSGA website provides easy access to industry news and member updates whether at home or on the go! Visit the site at nsga.org.

NSGA On the Move NSGA moved into its new headquarters in Downers Grove, IL, a western suburb of Chicago in November 2019.