National Sporting Goods Association

History

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has worked on behalf of retailers and dealers since the association’s founders fought an unjust tax on sporting goods in 1927. South Carolina’s General Assembly had approved a 10 percent tax on retail sales of sporting goods in ’27, and this so enraged the state’s sporting goods dealers that they formed the Sporting Goods Dealer’s Association of South Carolina to urge repeal of the tax. One year later, they accomplished their goal.

Soon after, other regional sporting goods associations began to form. Ultimately, at a meeting in January 1929, in New York City, East Coast sporting goods distributors banded together to form the Athletic Goods Wholesalers Association. Two months later in St. Louis, Mo., Midwestern and Southern sporting goods dealers formed the Sporting Goods Distributors Association.

It wasn’t long before the two regional organizations met in Cleveland, Ohio; the result of this meeting was the merging of the two associations. On May 26, 1929, the Sporting Goods Distributors Association was born. In 1930, the name was changed to the National Sporting Goods Distributors Association. Finally, in 1936, the organization adopted the name National Sporting Goods Association.

NSGA Vision and Mission

Vision: NSGA creates friends for life by providing relevant information and services in an innovative and responsive manner.

Mission: The National Sporting Goods Association supports its members’ efforts to be more profitable and advocates on their behalf.

Membership

NSGA membership consists of retailers/dealers/wholesalers, manufacturers/sales agents and industry associates in the sporting goods industry. NSGA retail members operate more than 22,000 retail and Internet outlets that sell sports, fitness and recreational equipment, footwear and sportswear. NSGA members can renew their memberships in one-, two- or three-year increments, with dues discounts available for multiple-year memberships.

Web and Social Media Presences

Website: www.nsga.org^[1]

Email address: info(at)nsga(dot)org

Facebook: National Sporting Goods Association^[2]

Twitter: @nsgasportinggds^[3]

LinkedIn: National Sporting Goods Association^[4]

Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

For 55 years, the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame has honored the pioneers and leaders of the sporting goods industry. More than 150 retailers, dealers and manufacturers have been inducted since the first group was honored in 1956. Such iconic names as Evinrude, Colt, Remington, Riddell, du Pont, Shakespeare, Coleman, Cramer, Head, Brunswick, Dassler, Easton and Knight are among those whose accomplishments have been immortalized with their Hall of Fame inductions.

In 2011, Jim Baugh, Wilson Sporting Goods Co.; Tom Raynor, Fleet Feet, Inc.; and Ted Stahl, GroupeStahl, were the latest to be inducted into that elite group^[5]. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is conducted annually at the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit, and is co-sponsored by GE Money, Mizuno USA, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. and W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Advocacy

The association serves as the voice of retailers and dealers, and when issues affecting them arise, NSGA will act. Recent examples include ongoing support of retailers and team dealers in delaying implementation of a rule that would change the way high school baseball bat performance is measured (so high inventory levels can be reduced), and successful support of a federal bill that provides tax credits to historically profitable companies that suffered losses during 2008 and 2009.

NSGA also was involved in successfully defeating two legislative efforts to enact taxes on sports products to help finance stadiums. The Association was a member of the Coalition Against Unfair Stadium Taxes(CAUST)^[6] , with which NSGA helped focus the industry’s attention on these unjust taxes and has mobilized its membership to join the fight that eventually convinced the Washington State Legislature to delete a proposed licensed products tax. Similarly, NSGA helped fight against a tax on sporting goods and sports licensed products in Minnesota, which would have helped finance a new sports stadium in the Twin Cities. In addition, NSGA is involved in issues affecting sporting goods retailers through its membership and active involvement in the National Retail Federation.

NSGA continues to lead its membership in support of the Carol M. White Physical Education (PEP) Program^[7] , signed into law on December 21, 2000. This act provides incentive grants to school districts that promote and expand their physical education programs. NSGA works with other industry groups on behalf of PE4Life^[8], which promotes physical education and fitness for school-age children.

NSGA members may track bills as they progress through state and national legislatures by using NSGA’s Advocacy Website, located at www.nsga.org.

Education

The NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit draws hundreds of top industry retailers, team dealers, manufacturers, agents, licensing groups, industry associations and members of the media together in a forum to address industry problems and concerns; increase communication; exchange ideas; and network in a relaxed setting.

The Conference is the premier educational and networking program in the sporting goods industry. The 2011 Conference/Summit took place May 1–4, at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Ariz. Among many positive comments on the event was this one from Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame inductee, Ted Stahl^[9].

A scholarship program to attract more retailers and team dealers to the Conference/Summit annually awards approximately 40 scholarships.

Publications

NSGA Retail Focus magazine is read by senior executives of member companies. The magazine focuses on areas of greatest interest to retailers and dealers – new products, hot markets, management issues and industry news.

NSGA publishes four newsletters. “NSGA Research News” is sent monthly via email to those interested in NSGA market research and to NSGA members. “Team Line-Up” is emailed quarterly to members of the NSGA Team Dealer Division. “The NSGA Huddle” newsletter is sent monthly via email to members and prospective members. It highlights NSGA services and programs and recognizes members’ achievements and activities. In addition, "HockeyVoice" serves specialty hockey retailers who are members of the Hockey Dealers Association (HDA), a division of NSGA^[10].

The NSGA Sporting Goods Buying Guide, available online, lists more than 5,000 manufacturers of sporting goods products, which are listed by more than 70 major categories and 1,200 subcategories. In addition, it contains the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of sporting goods agents and buying groups.

Research & Information

The NSGA Cost of Doing Business Survey, compiled by Industry Insights, Inc., provides income statements, productivity ratios and other useful operating data for various types of sporting goods stores.

The Sporting Goods Market, based on an annual consumer survey of over 40,000 U.S. households, is the most comprehensive original research available on consumer purchases of sports equipment, footwear and clothing. The market study is published each spring.

Purchases of Used Sports Equipment report tracks sales of used sports equipment, using the same reporting panel that provides data for NSGA’s Sporting Goods Market consumer purchases report.

Sports Participation provides data on total sports participation, new participation and frequency of participation, segmented by four major demographic categories: age, gender, household income and region. Series I and Series II survey more than 40 sports and activities. State-by-state data is provided for activities with a national participation rate of six million or more.

Lifecycle Demographics analyzes sports participation in the continuum from affluent singles to seniors. This study is particularly useful in analyzing income/household structure relationships.

The Research Department also prepares Brand Share Reports that indicate consumer brand preferences by specific product line. These are available to members on a subscription basis. It also publishes Sporting Goods Stores Sales, Number & Distribution, a state-by-state analysis of sales in full-line sporting goods stores, specialty sport shops and specialty athletic footwear stores. The report is based on data extracted from the U.S. Census of Retail Trade.

To purchase any of these reports or request additional information, contact NSGA Director of Research & Information Dan Kasen, [phone], Ext. 108, or email [e-mail].

NSGA’s state-of-the-art Information Center provides members with information on manufacturing, retailing, sports participation and other data useful in conducting their daily business. The computerized Information Center responds to approximately 5,000 inquiries annually. NSGA’s Information Department also monitors legislative activities that affect the industry and provides representation on such matters.

Divisions and Committees

The NSGA Team Dealer Division provides services to team dealers who specialize in supplying equipment to high schools, colleges and organized teams. The Division acts as a liaison with rule-making bodies and with national high school and college federations. The Team Line-Up newsletter is sent to members with up-to-date information important to team dealers. A Team Dealer Advisory Committee provides guidance and feedback to NSGA staff on issues important to team dealers.

New NSGA divisions created in 2010 include the Hockey Dealers Association (HDA)^[11] and the Fitness Industry Dealers Association (FIDA)^[12], which serve their respective specialty retailing niches.

NSGA also holds an annual meeting of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee. The Committee, chaired by Bob Dickman, General Manager of the Sport Supply Group Team Dealer Division, considers nominees and their qualifications before voting on candidates.

The Association also manages the National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association^[13], an active group of approximately 250 specialty ski and snowboard retailers.

Trade Shows

Prior to exiting the trade show business in 1999, NSGA had served the sporting goods industry with an international trade show in Chicago for nearly 70 years and a regional trade show in Southern California for more than 40 years.

NSGA Officers and Directors

Chairman of the Board – Jeff Rosenthal, Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, Ala.

Treasurer/Chairman-Elect – Ken Meehan, Dunham's Sports, Waterford, Mich.

Past Chairman – Bob Dickman, Sport Supply Group Team Dealer Division, Richmond, Ind.

Directors

Jeff Brusati, T & B Sports, San Rafael, Calif.

David Campisi, The Sports Authority, Inc., Englewood, Colo.

Buddie Clendenin, The Sport Mart, Inc., Charleston, W.Va.

Dale Donaldson, Mallard's Source for Sports, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada

David Labbe, Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, Maine

Randy Nill, Nill Bros. Sports, Kansas City, Kan.

Pete Schneider, Athletic Dealers of America, Melbourne, Fla.

Joe Wood, Brown Retail/Famous Footwear (Retired), St. Louis, Mo.

President & CEO

Matt Carlson, National Sporting Goods Association, Mount Prospect, Ill.

References

1. ^ "NSGA on the Web". http://www.nsga.org. 
2. ^ "NSGA on Facebook". http://www.facebook.com/nsgasports. 
3. ^ "NSGA on Twitter". http://www.twitter.com/nsgasportinggds. 
4. ^ "NSGA on Linkedin". http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3543462. 
5. ^ "Baugh, Raynor and Stahl Inducted into Hall of Fame". http://www.dbusiness.com/DBusiness/March-April-2011/Sporting-Goods-Industry-Hall-of-Fame-Elects-Ted-Stahl-of-GroupeSTAHL-in-St-Clair-Shores/. 
6. ^ "NSGA Stands with Others to Fight Unfair Stadium Taxes". March 21, 1997. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1997/03/17/daily19.html. 
7. ^ "Carol M. White Physical Education Program". http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/index.html. 
8. ^ "PE4Life". http://www.pe4life.org/. 
9. ^ "Ted Stahl Blog Post on NSGA Management Conference". http://tedstahl.com/2011/05/face-to-face-networking-and-lifelong-learning/. 
10. ^ "Hockey Dealers Association". http://www.hockeydealersassociation.org. 
11. ^ "Hockey Dealers Association". http://www.hockeydealersassociation.org. 
12. ^ "Fitness Industry Dealers Association Launches". http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Fitness_dealers_association_launches_by_NSGA_071910.html. 
13. ^ "NSSRA". http://www.nssra.com.