New This Week!

R and R Working Hard for a Dynamic 2011
Collegiate and NASCAR Product Driving Sales

When we last checked in on R and R Imports, the company was preparing for the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show. VP of Licensing Corban Battaglia says a lot has transpired since then. "We've added more schools to our lineup," he explains. "And we're working on acquiring another major licensee. There will be more news on that in the coming months. We've also expanded several of our product lines."

On the collegiate front, R and R signed a slew of new schools in 2010, including Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Boise State. "Part of our plan is to move westward," says Battaglia. "We want more balance in our collegiate offerings."

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Center of At-Tent-ion
Dura-Tent Making Life Easier for Tailgaters

There's nothing worse than the perfect tailgate spread ruined by windy weather or pesky flies. Dan Rothweil believes he has the answer to these problems, and consumers are agreeing with him. Rothweil is the inventor of the Dura-Tent, a mesh-enclosed tent designed to shelter food, drinks, plates and utensils. The Dura-Tent will make its industry debut at the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show in January of 2011.

"The Dura-Tent has already proven to have a significant market," says Rothweil. "There is a real need for this design."

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Open Invitation
Consumers Saying “Yes” to Inviting Company

What if you threw a tailgate party and no one showed up? That’s not a likely scenario thanks to the Inviting Company. In business since 1996, InvitingCo offers a full assortment of invitations and party items, including a complete line of licensed goods.

“We started out doing stationery and invitations,” says Elizabeth Upchurch, vice president of sales. “Eventually, we moved into paper plates and napkins. Just recently, we expanded into gifts items like wine glasses and journals.”

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Licensing Outlook:
Q&A with Perry Senko, President of VIPSeating Global

The U.S. sports landscape wouldn’t look nearly the same without the contributions of our friends north of the border. The latest import comes courtesy of Perry Senko, President of VIPSeating Global in Canada. Senko is the creator of an innovative outdoor seating system with a variety of uses and applications. VIPSeating Global has made inroads worldwide, but the U.S. marketplace is the next major destination. Senko talked to LOGO! about his company’s plans for the rest of 2010 and beyond.

LOGO!: How did the idea for VIPSeating Global originate?'

Perry Senko: I’ve attended a lot of youth soccer tournaments in Canada. When the weather got rough, the kids were fine, but the parents needed protection. I started working on an outdoor chair that would give them shelter. People eventually mentioned that VIPSeating would be great for company logos. I realized that I had a perfect brand-able surface.

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Sweet Dreams
AirBedz a Hit with Tailgaters and Outdoor Enthusiasts

No one knows the drudgery of sleeping on an uncomfortable air mattress better than James Pittman. The president of Pittman Products International, he is a veteran who spent many long nights out in the field. Pittman is also an avid outdoorsman and camper. “I served proudly in the Armed Forces years ago and wanted to create something for not only the soldier, but also something for the weekend warrior,” says Pittman.

He hit the mark with AirBedz, a mattress designed specifically for truck beds. AirBedz come in a variety of sizes that fit trucks of all sizes. An integrated air coil system distributes weight evenly across a 12-inch thick mattress, providing a good night's sleep. AirBedz are also great for indoor use, including sleepovers and the unexpected houseguest.

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Nice Pick Up!
‘Washers’ Devotees Attracted to Willy

It has been observed by more than one outdoor pundit that, regardless of whether you’re camping, tailgating or backyard BBQing, it’s not really a party until someone cracks out the Washers box. The classic tossing game goes by a number of handles (Washoes and Holey Board among them), but what all have in common is that they involve a lot of bending over and picking up. Enter Willy Washers, a telescoping device that uses a powerful magnet to pick up washers no matter how far off-target they’ve gone.

Company owner Daniel Ruggiero, a diehard Washers enthusiast, came up with the idea for Willy after a sore back made it painful for him to retrieve his throws. “I had a bad L4 and L5,” he explains. “I couldn’t bend over.”

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Medical Marvel
Prognosis for Gelscrubs is Continued Success

If you do a Google search on the term “one in 10 working Americans,” you get a wide variety of interesting statistics. Included is this nugget: One in 10 working Americans has a job in a healthcare profession. That stat is among the reasons why Gelscrubs has become a major player in the licensed sports marketplace.

“Many of our end-consumers are healthcare practitioners,” says Gelscrubs owner and CEO David Hunt. “We are also very popular with college students and alumni. But our products really appeal to the healthcare industry.”

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The Show of Choice
"Workability" Among the Drawing Cards for the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show

As we enter the second half of the year, prospects for a healthy economy appear brighter. Yet as any veteran retailer will tell you, it’s hardly the time to sit back and relax. On the contrary, those who work hard and work smart are positioned to take full advantage of the next economic upswing. Part of this process involves choosing the right trade shows to attend. As the surge in attendance last January demonstrated, more and more buyers are choosing the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show.

It’s a simple business decision, according to David Spearman of Mr. Knickerbocker in Clemson, SC. “I get more work done in the three days the show is open than in ten days in my office,” he says. “I pick up a lot of new merchandise for the Spring and Summer seasons, which gives me an advantage over my competition. I come away from Vegas each year with the greatest new product available—before others see it.”

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Talkin’ Base Ball
K & P Weaver Bringing Vintage Baseball Back to Life

Fear not, baseball traditionalists. America’s pastime is in capable hands. Paula and Ken Weaver, the owners of K & P Weaver, are intent on keeping the history of the game at the forefront of fans’ minds.

“We’re preserving the origins of the sport,” says Paula. “We think it’s important that retailers have a way to offer that to their customers. We do everything from vintage uniforms to old-time equipment to decorative items for the home.”

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Ruffing It
Ruffneck Scarves Making a Name for Itself

Is soccer still a niche sport in the U.S.? Not according to Jeff McIntyre, President of Ruffneck Scarves. The official licensee of unbranded scarves for all 16 MLS teams, the company is one of the more intriguing players to enter the sporting goods marketplace in the last few years. McIntyre sees unlimited possibilities for Ruffneck.

“Soccer may have been a specialty sport in the past,” he says, “but it’s not anymore. Just look at ESPN’s ratings for the World Cup. Soccer is no longer a niche sport.”

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Welcome Back!
Riddell Prepares for Return to Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show

Is the economy really on the rebound? The folks at Riddell certainly think so. According to Michael Oller, Vice President, Consumer Products, the company has committed to exhibiting at the 2011 Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show.

“The last few years, we dialed back on our spending,” he says. “We still sent sales reps and distributors to the show, but that was it. We feel it’s a good time to return as an exhibitor and capitalize on the momentum we’ve been building in consumer products.”

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Game On
Q&A with Carter Wallace, Vice President, Jenkins Enterprises

Retailers and buyers know Jenkins Enterprises for its wide selection of licensed gifts, fixtures, and souvenirs, including its Game Day Outfitters line. And with more than 40 universities in the fold, the company can satisfy just about any college sports fan. We sat down with Carter Wallace to talk about what’s new with Jenkins and where the company is headed.

LOGO: Jenkins took this year off from the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show, so retailers and buyers in Las Vegas didn’t get a chance to check in with the company. How has business been in 2010?

Carter Wallace: Jenkins Enterprises continues to have great success with college merchandise. Items geared towards youth and ladies seem to be our best selling items along with our line of plush items. This year, in fact, we are introducing a plush sock monkey that we are very excited about. The customers that we have shown it to are very anxious for us to get it in stock.

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First and Goal
Fan Creations on the Move with a new NFL License

Fan Creations has always catered to its retail partners. For example, the company never pushes minimum orders. Rather, Fan Creations works with store owners to keep appropriate inventories in stock. “Our growth is built on re-orders,” says CEO Kevin McClary.

That attention to detail is also seen in the approach that Fan Creations takes to licensing. Since the company was founded in 2001, it has steadily increased its reach in this area. Currently, Fan Creations has more than 25 schools in the fold, including Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. But as McClary points out, the company’s focus has been somewhat narrow, mostly the Southeast. That’s why he is so excited to have the ink dry on a deal with the NFL.

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Tuned In to Tailgating
CustomQuest Scores with m.iGrill

What’s a cookout without party tunes? What’s a barbecue without sweet music? What’s a tailgating extravaganza without a little stadium rock? These were the questions that led CustomQuest to come up with an intriguing answer: m.iGrill ("my-grill"), a combination gas grill and iPod/MP3 player. The sleek, colorful m.iGrill has 160 square inches of cooking surface, a built-in speaker module, and runs on a standard one-pound disposable propane container.

The appeal of the m.iGrill is different than other grilling products. Rather than selling the utility aspect, CustomQuest focuses on the value of the experience it offers. “You wont buy it in place of your Weber grill,” smiles CustomQuest CEO Rich Kantor, who notes that the product is carried online by several major retailers. “We promote the tailgate aspect of the m.iGrill, along with all of its unique features.”

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Bead-niks
Innovative Marketing Consultants Finds Success with Sport Beads

The trading card boom of the 1980s gave birth to most than one aspiring entrepreneur, including Shane Erickson. The President of Innovative Marketing Consultants, Erickson started collecting and selling baseball cards in junior high school. From there began a career that has elevated him to one of the leaders in the promotional products marketplace.

“I eventually opened a few sports cards stores,” says Erickson. “When Beanie Babies became big, I moved into promotional products. I brought them to the retail environment and continued to expand. IMC was founded in 1999.”

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Seeing the Light
Never Graduate Turning Heads with College Highlites

For Dave Bursin, the president of Never Graduate, the light went on—quite literally—about a year ago. That’s when his company launched its flagship product, College Highlites. “I went to the University of Tennessee, and I’m still crazy about the football team,” he says. “After I decorated my house with orange and white lights, it occurred to me that this might be a viable business.”

Bursin was right. With the help of his business partner, Jeff Federman, he created College Highlites. “There is obviously a tie-in to the holidays,” says Bursin, “but we don’t market them that way. College Highlites appeal to all sports fans. They can be used year-round.”

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Top Dog
Designcast Specialties Turns Grill Topper Into Its Own Brand

The first time we reported on Designcast Specialties, the company was launching its flagship product, the Grill Topper. What a difference a year makes! According to Division Manager Jory Dyvig, the Grill Topper has become its own brand. In fact, at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show in January, Designcast Specialties introduced a full line of products under the Grill Topper banner, including gloves, aprons and various grilling tools.

“Branding the Grill Topper has opened a lot of doors,” says Dyvig. “We can now cater completely to tailgaters. There’s a sense of comfort in rolling out new products.”

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Pan-Tastic
Bakins Ventures Has Something Cooking with FanPan

Leave it to a small business owner to find the perfect, homey way to describe their product. Take Connie Baskette, for instance. She’s the president of Bakins Ventures. Here’s what Baskette says about the company’s flagship product, the FanPan. “It’s like taking a drink from a fire hydrant,” she explains. “People are overwhelmed by it.”

The FanPan is a licensed collection of silicone bakeware and kitchen items, including a cake pan, muffin pan and ice cube tray. Each comes in the colors and logos of collegiate teams. “FanPan products are geared to college sports fans and alumni,” says Baskette. “They are something different, and at less than $30 retail, they are great gift items.”

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A Full Plate
The Snack Palette Finds Receptive Audiences in Tailgating and Licensing

There’s a learning curve when launching into any new industry, particularly sports licensing and tailgating. The keys to success include understanding how your offering fits into the vast product landscape and knowing how and when to leverage your marketing muscle. Duane Ebesu, the Managing Partner of Ebesu Corp., has gained much greater insight into both, thanks to his appearance at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show in January.

“It was a great show,” he says. “We were happy to somewhere that takes tailgating seriously. We were able to showcase our products in our element.”

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Planning a Party? Think Margaritaville!

Lindy's Sports reports that Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville was prominent at this year's Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show—operating one of the most visible exhibit areas.

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Warming Up to the Licensed Business
Fabrique Innovations Turning Heads—and Profits—with the Snuggie

What were the showstoppers in Las Vegas at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show this year? No doubt that the licensed Snuggies from Fabrique Innovations was among them. “Every major retailer came by to see us,” says Sy Garfinkle.

Fabrique’s Snuggies were a follow-up to two other successful lines, the Bagamore collection and Scrub Dudz. According to Garfinkle, the Snuggie line is outpacing both. “Sell-throughs last year were 98 to 99 percent,” he says.

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Tailgating and sports licensed products industries on the upswing

Lindy's Sports reports that the strong presence of retailers and manufacturers at this year's Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show is an "especially good sign."

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Sports Fans Changing Their Stripes
Overall, Game Bibs Likes What It Sees

Five years ago, Josh Coenen, Luke Helbing and Brian Helbing made the brave move to take on the t-shirt and sweatshirt giants and tackle the college sports market with a new apparel concept—classic overalls striped in bright school colors. Fast forward to 2010, and you need only watch an ESPN broadcast (or pick up a copy of SI) to see the results of the Game Bibs gambit. They are everywhere.

The company now stocks 34 color combos (and customizes others) and sells into more than 100 markets. Still, there are hills to climb. “We have established markets in which we've been doing well for years,” says Coenen. “Now our biggest challenge is getting new retailers to test Game Bibs out.”

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Tailgating, parties and products: They're alive and well

Lindy's Sports reports that this year's Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show shows that "sports licensed products and tailgating are stronger than ever.".

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Nominations Begin for Industry Retailer Awards
Vote for the Next Round of ‘Rising Star’ Finalists

Excellence and innovation at retail do not come easily. There are no shortcuts, no magic buttons. Recognizing excellence and innovation is a little easier...thanks to the annual Sports Licensing and Tailgate Rising Star Retailer Awards. In fact, nominating outstanding retailers in the Sports Licensing and Tailgate industries now has a “magic button.”

The Rising Star Retailer Award recognizes the achievements of one retailer or individual in each state—in the Sports Licensed and Tailgate arena—for their progressive approach to marketing, merchandising and customer service.

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View from Vegas: Licensing out of 'deep freeze'

Smith & Street's Sports Business Journal reports on the decidedly upbeat mood at this year's Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show.

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Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show Breaks New Ground
Final Numbers Show Record Rise in Attendance

The official numbers are in on the 2010 Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show, and they confirm what all the buzz was about. From January 20–22, 4,250 buyers jammed the aisles at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

That represented a 41% rise, from 3,025 retailers who picked up their badges for the 2009 show. Overall attendance—including buyers, exhibitors, manufacturers reps, industry suppliers, media, and VIPs—rose from about 5,500 to 6,250.

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Two Industries on the Upswing Propel The Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show to Its Finest Hour
Trade Show Fulfills Early Promise Despite Challenging Economy

The final numbers have yet to be tallied, but judging from the tired smiles on exhibitors¹ faces and the weary legs of retailers and buyers‹many of whom were still writing orders as the doors closed‹ the 2010 edition of the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show was a resounding success. With attendance exceeding all pre-show estimates and expectations, and the aisles energized for three solid days, the two sister industries are looking at a very promising year.

"When we merged Sports Licensing and Tailgating into a single trade event four years ago, we expected great things" says Show Director Stanley Schwartz of Showproco LLC, the event's producer.

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Cool Idea
Cooler Coozies Set to Make Industry Debut

Sports fans never turn down an opportunity to show their team spirit. Any manufacturer with a finger on the pulse of the licensed industry knows this to be true. That’s why Cooler Coozies promises to be one of the best product launches of 2010.

“The Cooler Coozie is like a t-shirt for your cooler,” says company owner Greg Sanchez. “It’s the only custom cooler cover in existence. It completes the tailgating experience.”

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Grill Seekers
Jackson Grills Hoping to Make Inroads in the U.S.

Grilling is to tailgating as hockey is to Canada. Nobody knows this better than Roger Ketch, Sales Manager for Jackson Grills, which operates out of British Columbia. The company is celebrating 10 years of making some of the best specialty grills on the market.

“We started with a basic model back in 1999,” says Ketch. “From there, it evolved into a family of products. Our first portable grill debuted in 2003. Today, we offer the Versa 100 and Versa 75. We designed them specifically for tailgating.”

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Good Sports
Q&A with Scott Pederson, President & CEO of The Positive Companies

It’s no secret that recent headlines haven’t been particularly kind to those in the sports world. Is there a way to turn that negative energy around? Scott Pederson thinks so. He’s the mastermind behind International Positive Week, which will be introduced at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show. Pederson talked to us about the event and how those in the licensed sports and tailgating industries can get involved.

LOGO: You’re heading up the launch of International Positive Week from September 19th to the 25th later this year. What is the program all about?

Scott Pederson: International Positive Week is dedicated to celebrating the positive contributions made by individuals, businesses and communities throughout the world. One area of our focus is the sports industry, which as we’ve seen with recent events is not immune from negative publicity. The media pays more attention when bad things happen. Through International Positive Week, we hope to reverse this trend. There are many athletes, leagues and corporations that don’t get the credit they deserve for their good deeds.

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Cold, Hard Facts
Duck House the Leader in Licensed Freezer Drinkware

It’s hard sometimes to predict where a business idea is going to take you. For example, when Duck House launched in 1981, the mission was to provide collectible dolls of the finest quality at affordable prices. The company has enjoyed breakout success in this area, but over the years sports licensing has become a vital part of the Duck House story.

“Back in the 1990s,” says Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeff Sherman, “we gained access to a revolutionary freezer mug. There was no market for it yet in the U.S. We went with it, and the freezer mug has exploded since.”

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Tribeca Has Electronics Market Covered
College Licensed Flash Drives, Netbook Covers, Phone Cases Will Star in Vegas

In four short years, Tribeca has become a one-stop shop for sports-oriented consumer electronics. If a fan wants a flash drive, laptop or netbook sleeve, computer bag, iPhone, Droid or Blackberry case—or just about any other electronic accessory emblazoned with a college logs and colors—they know that Tribeca probably makes it.

“Electronics are increasingly mobile and more fashion-oriented than ever,” says founder and CEO Albert Oh. “This is a great opportunity for retailers.”

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