SGMA Adds Team Sports Buyers

Following an agreement made between the two groups, Team Athletic Goods will incorporate its summer buying event into the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Assn.'s SGMA Spring Market, June 11–13 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The SGMA was the owner of the now-defunct Super Show, a former Tradeshow Week 200-ranked event that took place for the last time in January.

SGMA President Tom Cove said industry changes led the association to shutter the horizontal event and instead offer its members a place to meet small and midsized independent and specialty retailers.

"We used to be all things to all people," said Cove. "We had a big show, and it was fabulous. But the tradeshow environment has evolved, and now we're more focused and more dedicated to a channel that's viable going forward."

The SGMA's original announcement about the change included plans to hold both a fall and spring market, but Cove said the fall show had been shelved due to feedback from members.

TAG's support lends a positive note to the evolution. It's a buyer group made up of team dealers, both retailers and independent distributors, who sell team equipment and uniforms to institutions such as schools and the YMCA.

TAG has agreed to hold its national sales training seminar as part of the SGMA Spring Market. In the past, the seminar has included a vendor fair, where TAG members can see equipment from select manufacturers. It will be folded into SGMA's exhibition.

Bringing the two together, Cove said, exposes both TAG and SGMA members to buyers and manufacturers they might not see otherwise.

In addition, SGMA will include a conference with sessions designed to appeal to independent and specialty dealers, including those who are members of TAG.