SportsTHE LEADING TRADE MAGAZINE FOR UK SPORTS RETAILERS, MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS £3.50 JUNE 2007 Insight www.sports-insight.co.uk THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPORTS AND PLAY ASSOCIATIONS INSIDE THIS ISSUE FITNESS & HEALTH CLUBS SPECIAL How cutting-edge products can boost your bottom line IN SEASON Netball, supports, school sports, running & athletics SPORTS FOOTWEAR UPDATE The big three battle it out ISPO SPORT & STYLE Countdown to the new-look summer show BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK Are you maintaining your competitive edge? For recovery? To maintain optimum body temperature? LineBreak's™ scientifically designed and tested garments use gradient LineBreak's™ superior moisture management technology works with compression to improve circulation to muscles affected by Delayed Onset the body's thermoregulatory system to actively warm or cool the wearer Muscle Soreness (DOMS). regardless of exertion levels and ambient air temperature. LineBreak™ Improved circulation speeds up recovery by dispersing lactic acid and is clinically proven to reduce sweat rates by a staggering 30% providing more efficient flow of re-oxygenated blood to the muscles. (Robert Newton et al, 2006). To reduce soft tissue injury? To maximise training and competition performance? During exercise, LineBreak™ products stabilise muscles from the dynamic The key benefits of stabilising muscles and speeding venus blood flow is forces that cause micro-tearing to muscle fibres. Reduced muscle oscillation maximised endurance, power and performance (Bringard A et al, 2005). means the natural degradation that causes fatigue and performance decline is slowed significantly. Balmoral School Sports With bespoke knitted cricket slipovers and pullovers incorporating team colours and logos and a minimum of just 6 garments Balmoral are proving to be an extremely flexible manufacturer for school sports suppliers. Balmoral are also stockists of the top quality Papini range of polo shirts, fleeces, tracksuits and training tops. A bespoke look for teams can be achieved by choosing from the “Elite” range of polos and fleece tops. There are 9 styles of polo and 7 styles of fleece to choose from, all available from stock in sizes S - XXL For further details contact Mike or Ian Tel: 01900 829 229 Fax: 01900 829 009 E-mail: [email protected] IN THIS ISSUE Sports Insight working with Sports Insight WIN one of five Puma v1.06 Messe Munchen’s UK partner match balls, worth £50 each for new media Visit www.sports-insight.co.uk for more information. CONTENTS 06.07 ABC Certification Sports Insight has a current ABC certified circulation of 5,211 (audit period July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006). The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is an independent audit watchdog that verifies magazines’ circulation figures, providing accurate and comparable data for advertisers. ABC Certification demonstrates a media owner’s integrity, in their willingness to be audited and to conform to industry standards. COVER STORIES 20 WHAT’S HOT Sports HILLY range of socks and accessories 24 ISPO SPORT & STYLE Insight Countdown to the new-look summer show 22 FSPA FOCUS Editor: Jeff James Tel: 01273 719900 The latest news from the Email: [email protected] 26 SPORTS FOOTWEAR UPDATE Federation of Sports & Play Associations Assistant Editor: Catherine Eade The big three battle it out Sub Editor: Joe Curtin 66 UNDER THE COUNTER Advertising Manager: Keith Marshall 28 BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK A sideways look at the world of independent retailing Tel: 01206 505947 Email: [email protected] Are you maintaining your competitive edge? Fax: 01206 500243. Advertising Executive: Tim Wilby 31 FITNESS & HEALTH CLUBS IN SEASON Tel: 01206 500240. Email: [email protected] SPECIAL Fax: 01206 505935. How cutting-edge products can boost your 30 NETBALL Advertising Sales bottom line 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Rd, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY 44 SPORTS SUPPORTS Group Advertising Manager: Sam Reubin 46 SCHOOL SPORTS Group Editor: Ted Rowe REGULARS 52 RUNNING/ATHLETICS Publisher: Matthew Tudor Art Director: James Philp 06 WHAT’S NEWS Designer: Lewis Webb Latest headlines, key dates and events FEATURES Advertisement Art Director: Brett Glennon Reproduction: Ace Pre-Press. Tel: 01206 797541 12 KIT STOP 56 HOME FRONT Accounts: 01206 505958 Essential stock for your shop More and more people are creating space Published by Maze Media (2000) Ltd, 21-23 Phoenix Court, in their homes for indoor sports and Hawkins Rd, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY 16 TALKING SHOP leisure Paul Burnham runs the sports outlet Pilch in All contents © Maze Media (2000) Limited. The views expressed in this Norwich 59 LOVE ALL magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is made First-class racquet care is an invaluable to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products 18 60 SECONDS service to any racquet sports shop and services mentioned in this publication and details given are believed Richard Brand, to be accurate at the time of going to press. However, no responsibility European Sales 60 FAMILY AFFAIR or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or Director of Many family businesses can find it difficult repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or Vasyli inferred. No part of this publication may be copied, broadcast, to survive over the long-term interpreted, or stored, in any form, for any purpose, without the written permission of the publisher. 62 HOW THEY BUILT IT Dave Howell discovers how Up & ABC certified circulation: 5,211 Running’s continuing success has been (audit period July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) built UK SUBSCRIPTION: £35 for one year (10 issues) 04 SPORTS INSIGHT Brands Exhibiting... 1000 mile K-Swiss Ronhill Apollo Leisure Kappa Rucanor Asics Karakal Samsonite Bank of Scotland Kelme Saucony B C E Kooga Shock Absorber Burton McCall Lotto Skechers Canterbury LP Supports Speedo Columbia McDavid Stateside Skates Diadora Maru Stiga Dita Mercian Timberland Dunlop Slazenger Merrell Timex Elle Socks Mitre Top to Toe Emsmorn Mizuno Trezeta Fitness Mad New Balance U K Leisurewear Footie Chick Nike Vision uhlsport UK Ltd Gardiner Bros Nomis Umbro Gymphlex Ltd Pineapple Pix Unicorn Products Ltd Harrows Darts Petron Archery Vasyli Head Puma UK Vulkan Hilly Clothing Ransome Winmau Hi-Tec Reusch Woodworm Jack Wolfskin Reydon Sports Yonex Joma UK Rieker Zoggs www.sports-insight.co.uk 05 WHAT’S NEWS ALL THE VERY LATEST IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY... Send your news stories to the Sports Insight news desk at [email protected] or call 01273 719900 Taylor unveils new Precision Training range Former England manager Graham Taylor was the headline act at the recent unveiling of Precision Training’s new textile range for 2007-08. Meadow Lane, home of Notts County FC, provided the backdrop for the fashion show and football challenge event to commemorate the launch of Precision’s new catalogue, with Taylor managing a Precision Training IX comprising independent retailers and stockists from around the UK. Says Reydon’s National Sales Manager, David Sanderson: “The event was a tremendous success. Our customers and retailers were delighted to have the opportunity to play at Meadow Lane and be managed and coached by Graham. “Our biggest-ever range of Precision Training textiles was also extremely well received and promises to be another best-seller.” During the fashion show, Precision Training also unveiled the new 07- 08 Notts County strip, for whom Precision is the official technical sponsor. Precision Training also announced its new official partnership with Nottinghamshire CCC and national ladies’ hockey champions Leicester Ladies at the event. …Bill Beaumont has announced his retirement Transfer as vice chairman and treasurer of the 6 Nations following his recent election as vice chairman of Market the IRB. Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering has been appointed as Beaumont’s replacement…Winmau has appointed Fiona Bluck as its new sales manager. Bluck has been working for the company for the past year and brings with her a wealth of sales experience from organisations such as NTL and Welsh Water.The newest member of the sales and marketing division is Andy Jones, who is responsible for the DartArt personalised division…Life Fitness has announced four new appointments within its sales and marketing divisions. Lawra Joseph has been recruited to the position of marketing manager, Nick Mennell joins as territory manager for the Midlands, Matt Morton has been promoted to the role of sales executive in the Midlands and Charlie Adams has re-joined the company as consumer business manager…Vans EMEA, a subsidiary of the VF Corporation, has appointed Kevin Charles as its new sales director EMEA. Charles comes to Vans from another VF brand, The North Face, after a stint with TNF. He will join the rest of the Vans European Team at the VF office in Lugano, Switzerland and takes responsibility for the entire EMEA region… 06 SPORTS INSIGHT “Guinness ability, that’s why they picked me for the team, there was no other reason whatsoever.” Darren Clarke explains why he was selected for the Ryder Cup INSOLE KEEPS Diary Dates 2007 APPRENTICES NISTEX IN THE JUNE 22 RUNNING Cranmore Park, Solihull A heat mouldable insole from SOLE, designed to improve performance and protect against injury, has helped one of the teams ISPO SPORT & STYLE win a recent challenge on the BBC programme The Apprentice. JULY 8-10 Five countries pitched three products to each team, who then had New Munich Trade Fair Centre to select a country based on which products they felt they could sell for most profit to the London retail trade. THE TENT SHOW @ The Stealth team chose Canadian products, which included SOLE Custom Footbeds - identified by the Canadian Trade Commission as a STONELEIGH brand with lucrative potential in the UK. SEPTEMBER 2-7 “I just sold 100 SOLEs,” screamed advertising sales manager Stoneleigh Park Naomi Lay to her team-mates after her call to a sports retailer in Chelsea.