SportsTHE LEADING TRADE MAGAZINE FOR UK SPORTS RETAILERS, MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS £3.50 FEBRUARY 2008 Insight www.sports-insight.co.uk THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPORTS AND PLAY ASSOCIATIONS TURN TO PAGE 20 INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE 28: TOP TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BUSINESS PLANNING IN SEASON INDUSTRY ANALYSIS IMAGE IS EVERYTHING 5 simple steps to a Swimming, hockey, rugby, How sports footwear fared Fine-tune your visual prosperous 2008 football, running and athletics in 2007 merchandising skills mitre’s latest football series As the world’s oldest and leading manufacturer of Footballs, Mitre is proud to launch the newly designed Revolve series of football equipment, including footballs, shinguards, goal keeping gloves and football boots. The Revolve football, as launched at the start of the 2007 football season is being played with by all 72 clubs of the Football League, with the Championship clubs using their own club coloured and club badged version of the ball, and is the most technically advanced football on the market. The outer layer is made of Micro Fibres which offers exceptional player control in all weather conditions, and the perfectly round shape is achieved by Mitre’s patented panel pattern and cincap lining. The revolutionary design has also been applied to Mitre’s professional football boot, aptly named the Revolve Pro. Ritchie Barker of Hartlepool is Mitre’s first professional player to trial the boots, and says ‘’These are such comfortable boots, they are really lightweight but I still feel protected and I love the one piece velcro lace closing at the front, as it gives me a completely clean striking zone which can only help me score more goals’’. High praise has also been given to the Revolve goal keeping gloves by Falkirk FC’s Shane Supple ‘’I love the feel of these gloves on my hands. They fit me perfectly and provide me with all the protection and handling I need to do my job to the best of my ability’’. The Revolve AFP Glove is made of super soft latex which extends onto the back hand to reduce seems, which in turn minimises errors when collecting and releasing the ball. The finger protection technology provides increased stability, and can be completely removed to suit your needs and preferences. For more information visit www.mitre.com or email [email protected] MAX PROGRESS COMPETITION PRO - Beginners - Improvers and recreational players - Club players - Professional & advanced team players - 12% larger - 6% larger - Traditional size - Traditional size - 40% longer hang-time - 20% longer hang-time - 10% longer hang-time - Professional hang-time AVAILABLE IN 3 BALL PACK AND 12 BALL BOX IN THIS ISSUE Sports Insight working with CONTENTS 02.08 ABC Certification Sports Insight has a current ABC certified circulation of 5,186 (audit period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007). 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 62 E-TAILING Dave Howell talks to Jo Morecroft about Sports running a successful online business 26 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS Insight How sports footwear fared in 2007 Editor: Jeff James Tel: 01273 748675 66 UNDER THE COUNTER Email: [email protected] 28 GREEN ISSUES A sideways look at the world of Assistant Editor: Catherine Eade Top tips to reduce your carbon footprint independent retailing Sub Editor: Joe Curtin Advertising Manager: Keith Marshall 30 TURN BROWSERS INTO BUYERS Tel: 01206 505947 Email: [email protected] Fine-tune your visual merchandising skills IN SEASON Fax: 01206 500243. 34 HOCKEY Advertising Sales 61 BUSINESS PLANNING 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Rd, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY 5 simple steps to a prosperous 2008 40 RUNNING & ATHLETICS Group Advertising Manager: Sam Reubin 46 SWIMMING Group Editor: Ted Rowe 50 RUGBY Publisher: Matthew Tudor REGULARS 54 OUTDOOR Art Director: James Philp 06 NEWS 57 FOOTBALL Tel: 01206 508601 Email: [email protected] Latest headlines, key dates and events Art Editor: Lewis Webb Tel: 01206 508602 Email: [email protected] 12 KIT STOP Designer: Debbie Pratt Essential stock for your shop Advertisement Art Director: Brett Glennon Reproduction: Ace Pre-Press. Tel: 01206 797541 18 TALKING SHOP Accounts: 01206 505958 Mark Chamberlaine is the owner and manager of Published by Maze Media (2000) Ltd, 21-23 Phoenix Court, Satellite Sports in Plymouth Hawkins Rd, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY 21 60 SECONDS All contents © Maze Media (2000) Limited. The views expressed in this Rob Davies, Gilbert Rugby magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products 23 WHAT’S HOT and services mentioned in this publication and details given are believed Maru’s swimwear range to be accurate at the time of going to press. However, no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or 25 FSPA FOCUS repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or The latest news from The Federation of Sports inferred. No part of this publication may be copied, broadcast, and Play Associations interpreted, or stored, in any form, for any purpose, without the written permission of the publisher. ABC certified circulation: 5,186 (audit period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007) UK SUBSCRIPTION: £35 for one year (10 issues) 04 SPORTS INSIGHT TWILIGHT ZONE BACK FS3369 The better way for independent retailers to do business For more information call Ward Robertson on 01793 715 406 Now available: or Spring/Summer 08 07881 828 873 swimwear range. Tel: 0115 985 1212 www.stagbuyinggroup.com www.maruswimwear.co.uk 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 748675 STAG RELEASES POSITIVE NEW BALANCE IN GROWTH FIGURES VITAL PURCHASE The STAG Buying Group has defied the current retail trend New Balance has acquired the Vital Apparel Group, one of the by announcing a 20 per cent increase in growth over the last leading active apparel companies in the United States. 12 months. “Our acquisition of Vital gives us significant opportunities to Says managing director Ricky Chandler: “These are challenging times in the retail industry right now and we believe accelerate the growth of New Balance apparel,” says Rob these results illustrate the importance of what we are offering DeMartini, CEO at New Balance. “We take our responsibility to our members. drive category growth for our retailer’s athletic apparel business “STAG is helping the independent retailer not only survive the very seriously. The New Balance brand can drive incremental current climate, but seize new opportunities and increase profits.” sales for our customers and Vital’s leadership and expertise in STAG undertook extensive rebranding two years ago and the sporting goods channel complements both teams’ core matched its investment with an ongoing commitment to competencies in product innovation and customer service.” members’ interests. Says Chandler: “Our members are Says Kerry Kligerman, president of Vital: “The Vital team is demanding, as they have a right to be. We make sure we exceed their expectations and add value to their businesses in a tight excited to have the opportunity to apply our capabilities and market. experience to help grow New Balance. New Balance is one of “It’s tough out there at the moment, but we’re always the strongest global brands in the athletic industry and has looking at ways to further help our members. It’s a competitive unlimited possibilities in apparel.” market and there’s always more to achieve, but we’re proud to In June 2007 Vital signed an apparel license agreement with reveal our successes to date.” New Balance-owned Warrior to design and develop Warrior- Seven new retail members joined STAG in January. branded apparel. Says managing director Ward Robertson: “We’ve had an incredibly successful past 12 months set against the market trend. More and more independent retailers are acknowledging the benefits of being part of STAG. AQUA SPHERE “Every new member adds to our strength and will benefit us all UNVEILS NEW and we’re delighted to welcome MERCHANDISING them to the fastest growing buying group in the UK.” UNTIS Aqua Sphere has invested in a comprehensive range of merchandising units to further support sell-through in 2008, including compact cylinder countertop displays and larger freestanding floor units. With different units available free of charge dependent on size of order, entry to the scheme starts with orders of £100 (retail). Larger shops are also being supported with comprehensive shop-in-shop slat wall units that can display goggles, swimwear and the full range of Aqua Sphere accessories. For more information call 01254 278873 or visit www.aquasphereswim.com …According to the Equifax Business Failures Sports Report for Quarter 4 2007, despite gloomy predictions for Christmas, the retail market saw Shorts just a 1.8 per cent increase in business failures compared to the same period in 2006. The retail sector saw a drop in businesses going bust for the year as a whole, with numbers down 3.1 per cent compared to 2006…Dunlop has launched the D Squad programme, a scheme that aims to attract top tennis