6 minute read
CEO NOW
by NSGA
INow·
NSGA OFFICERS
NSGA OFFICERS Chairman of the Board Pat Donnelley Chairman of the Board Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID David Labbe Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Cathy Pryor Greg Miller Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, Past Chairman AL Past Chairman David Labbe Randy Nill Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME Nill Bros. Sporting Goods, Kansas City, KS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Bezanson Kevin Bezanson Cleve’s Source for Sports, Cleve's Source for Sports, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rhett Johnson Canada Pat Donnelley Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID Rhett Johnson David Lynn Dunham’s Sports, Troy, MI Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC Greg Miller Jeff Miller Scholastic Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Jeff Miller Mick Montgomery Denver Athletic Supply, Englewood, CO Scholastic Ron Rugal Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY John Oehler B&R Sporting Goods, Shelby Charter Dunham's Sports, Troy, Township, MI Ml Jerry Williams Jerry Williams Schuylkill Valley Sports, Pottstown, PA Schuylkill Valley Sports, Pottstown, PA NSGA TEAM LEADERS NSGA TEAM LEADERS Matt Carlson President & CEO Matt Carlson President & CEO Marty Maciaszek Marty Maciaszek Team Dealer Division, Director, Team Dealer Division and Communications and HDA HDA Julie Pitts Julie Pitts Director, Business Development Director, Public Affairs and and Research Larry Weindruch President, NSSRA Director, Public Affairs Nick Rigitano Dan Wiersma Director, Insights and Analysis Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Shaffer Comptroller
NSGA works with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to keep you informed on important news and rule changes.
It is not a Normally at this time, we would be sharing the excitement secret that many independently owned sporting goods and final details about the NSGA Management retailers and dealers have been under siege over the Conference and Team Dealer Summit, the premier last several years. sporting goods industry networking event.Consumers turn to the internet, thinking it's a better option Unfortunately, those plans are on hold for a few months for their purchases. The labor market is increasingly tight. because very little has been normal since March of 2020. We are as eager as everyone to return to in-person shows Manufacturers try to go directly to the consumer and narrow their distribution of products. Those are a and meetings. We do have some exciting news about few of the biggest challenges independent retailers and dealers face. The an NSGA event which provides some timely information effects are evident throughout the industry as struggling to help fill the void between now and the Management Conference on September 26–28 in Naples, Florida. 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 55th Annual Management Conference & 21st 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 NSGA presents “The Sporting Goods Rebound,” at 11 a.m. Central time on Wednesday, May 19. “The Sporting Goods Rebound” will cover important topics as our industry continues to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading experts will offer their perspectives on today’s issues affecting your business in a fast-paced interview format. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been vital to many NSGA member businesses. Our session on PPP will look at the dos and don’ts of navigating the loan forgiveness process so you understand how to be fully prepared to do it successfully and efficiently. A survey we conducted last fall about the Management Conference showed one of the biggest topics of interest concerned the return to sports from COVID-19 disruptions. The NSGA Team crafted a group of youth and high school sports experts led by Dr. Karissa Niehoff, the Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), to assess challenges with youth sports during the pandemic and peer into the crystal ball to identify opportunities. We will also pick up where we left off late in 2020 when we did a series of Q&As with suppliers regarding distribution chains, inventories, and what retailers and team dealers can do to be prepared. This update from the last few months will have a bit of a twist, however. Not only will we have a session for the general NSGA membership covering hard goods and soft goods, but we will also have sessions targeted specifically to hockey dealers and ski and snowboard retailers. Suppliers in these specialty areas will provide insight and advice that you can apply in your business environment as well. “The Sporting Goods Rebound” will run approximately 90 minutes and provides the flexibility to view the sessions of greatest interest to you. Registration is limited so it is important you do so quickly by going to nsga.org. We look forward to having you with us at NSGA’s exciting first virtual event.
Best regards, Matt Carlson | President & CEO
NSGA NOW® (ISSN1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods
Association, 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035; Phone: (847) 296-NSGA (6742); Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of $50per year is included in membership fee. 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 the USA. NSGA NOW (ISSN 1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, IL 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, IL 60515. © NSGA 2021 all rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
Your Voice Matters!
NSGA advocates for important issues on behalf of the sporting goods industry. But we need your help! Advocacy is not politics but a way to influence policies. 5 steps to successfully advocate:
1. Be clear and concise 2.Identify who you are and why you are contacting your elected representative 3.Establish your connection to the issue and how it affects your business and greater community 4.Make your request –
What do you want the elected representative to do? 5.Thank them for their attention and consideration
