About NSGA
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
OUR VALUES
NSGA 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.
NSGA Today
Advocacy 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), 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, 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, 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.
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 2012 Conference/Summit was held May 6-9, at The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Tex. The 2013 event is scheduled to take place May 5-8, 2013 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. A scholarship program to attract more retailers and team dealers to the Conference/Summit annually awards approximately 40 scholarships.
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. The annual 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, the NSGA Sporting Goods Buying Guide contains the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of sporting goods agents and buying groups.
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. Sports Clothing Expenditures indicates how much Americans spent on clothing related to specific sports. The study offers a look at the correlation between participation frequency and clothing expenditures. 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 Dustin Dobrin, (847) 296-6742, ext. 1170, or email: ddobrin@nsga.org. 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 thousands of inquiries annually. NSGA’s Information Department also monitors legislative activities that affect the industry and provides representation on such matters.
In 2012, the late Cliff Keen, Cliff Keen Athletic; Don Lucas, Luke's Locker; Randy Ruch, Schuylkill Valley Sports; and Neil Stillwell, The Game, were inducted into that elite group. In 2013, inductees will include Randy Hooper, Sports Distributors of Canada Limited; John Parish, Sr., Worth, Inc.; and Rusty Saunders, Saunders Consulting. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is conducted annually at the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit.
NSGA also holds an annual meeting of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee. The Committee, chaired by Bob Dickman, Senior Vice President and Director of Acquisitions for BSN Sports, considers nominees and their qualifications before voting on candidates. The Association also manages the National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association, an active group of approximately 250 specialty ski and snowboard retailers.
NSGA Online
NSGA Officers and Directors
Chairman of the Board – Ken Meehan, Dunham’s Sports, Waterford, Mich.
Directors
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