SFIA, Under Armour highlight small business and innovation as the future of sports and fitness
SILVER SPRING, MD (Aug. 14, 2019) – Ahead of the 7th annual SFIA Industry Leaders Summit, hosted in Baltimore, Under Armour is offering an exclusive tour of the UA Lighthouse to attendees. The company’s elite manufacturing and design innovation lab has been a hub for the company’s cutting-edge technology and innovative product development for the brand. The tour will be led by Under Armour’s Chief Innovation Officer, Clay Dean; Head of Innovation Partnerships, Lorin Hamlin; Senior Vice President, Randy Harward; and Chief Design Officer, Kasey Jarvis.
“Under Armour is extremely excited to host the SFIA Industry Leaders at the UA Lighthouse for a fireside talk, as we share a bit of our activities, excitement and thinking around sports and sports innovation, as well as how we are exploring the future in tools, products and manufacturing,” stated Under Armour Chief Innovation Officer, Clay Dean. “Under Armour’s DNA is really born from the pedigree of innovation and solving the athletes’ needs, and also in working with new inventors and creators in the sports industry. We look forward to creating new relationships and having some rich vibrant discussion with our leaders here in Design & Innovation and the visitors to the Summit.”
“We are excited to partner with Under Armour’s Innovation Team and host this special event for our attendees,” said SFIA Vice President of Business Development, John Peters. “This year presents a unique opportunity, where our event will be drawing leading industry executives and start-ups alike to the hometown of one of the biggest, most innovative brands in sports and fitness. We are excited to collaborate on this program, as it provides a mutually beneficial opportunity for networking and education within our industry.”
In addition to the tour, Under Armour will host a fireside chat and Q&A for attendees, covering best practices around innovative processes in manufacturing, design and trends shaping the industry. This program will be a value-add for industry executives and small businesses looking to improve their business model. For all interested parties, please register for the Industry Leaders Summit here, and be sure to indicate your interest in attending the UA Lighthouse tour.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
Finalists present on the biggest entrepreneurial stage in the sports & fitness industry to over 200 C-level executives, experts & investors
SILVER SPRING, MD (Aug. 13, 2019) – Five finalists have been selected by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) to present their start-up company at the 2019 SFIA Start-Up Challenge. The 2019 applicant pool showcased leading innovation in the active lifestyle industry, ranging from training tools to AI-powered accessories to hard good products and equipment. The fourth annual Start-Up Challenge will kick off SFIA’s Industry Leaders Summit in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 25, 2019. To date, the previous 16 finalists have gone on to raise more than $140 million in funding.
Each entrepreneur will receive 10 minutes on the main stage to pitch their new product or idea to the Industry Leaders Summit audience, consisting of industry executives, experts and investors, and a panel of distinguished judges, hand-selected from the industry. Contestants will be competing for a grand prize of $25,000 worth of digital marketing services from Empirika Media Group Inc., as well as one free year of SFIA membership. The Start-Up Challenge winner will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on the evening of Sept. 25, where they will be recognized in front of the full summit audience.
The finalists include:
· Emblem Athletic: A gear and apparel customization company using machine learning algorithms and robotic manufacturing to completely automate the process of designing and delivering a professional personalized look for every team.
· Miro: Miro AI uses computer vision to unlock consumer insights from athletes in motion.
· Perch: Perch uses computer vision and machine learning to enhance the motivation, safety and effectiveness of exercise, solving the problems of those strength training today and creating the gym of the future tomorrow.
· Slinger: Slinger is a brand focused on innovating game-improvement equipment, making tennis accessible and enjoyable to players of all ages and abilities – for new and existing players who have a difficult time finding a playing partner.
· TAU: TAU has created a new category of wearable technology that enhances fitness by elevating physiological loading on the stride, with diagnostic monitoring of performance to enable the design of deficit specific training protocols.
“The Start-Up Challenge represents the best of innovation and entrepreneurship in the sports and fitness industry,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO. “The Start-Up Challenge is something attendees look forward to, and we are proud to deliver intense competition, year after year. A common theme throughout this year’s applicants was the prevalence of artificial intelligence powering new start-ups, which could be a new opportunity to grow our markets and enhance the physical activity landscape.”
Not only will these talented individuals have a chance to take home the grand prize, but all finalists will be granted the opportunity to spend the two-day summit networking with potential partners and mentors in the industry, as well as build awareness of their brand. In addition, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, SFIA and the Under Armour Innovation Team will be hosting a tour of the UA Lighthouse to highlight innovation and recognize small business. The connections made at the Industry Leaders Summit provide these young start-up companies with pathways to success, as they join in on conversations and attend various presentations and panel discussions regarding the current state of the sports and fitness industry.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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The annual conference hosts 250+ C-level executives from the sports & fitness industry
SILVER SPRING, MD (Aug. 6, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Stahls’, the world’s largest manufacturer of garment decoration materials and equipment. The heat printing giant, Stahls’, grew from the Stahl family business, beginning almost 90 years ago. The company serves as an expert in the trade of pre-cut and custom athletic numbers, letters and logos, making them a premier source for sportswear, apparel and promotional products.
Teams, leagues, individuals and businesses rely on Stahls’ for customization of branded apparel and equipment. The art of heat transfer allows customers to bring ideas to life that will help contribute to their success and profitability, whether be on the field or in the conference room.
“The ability to personalize sportswear and equipment is a huge asset to our industry,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO. “Stahls’ innovation allows companies to maximize on partnerships and monetize new opportunities through personal branding. We are proud to partner with a world-leading innovator working day after day to improve our industry.”
“We owe our longevity as a supplier to our ability of providing heat printing solutions for all types of performance fabrics, including highly technical materials. Stahls’ heat printing products, equipment and services make it possible to personalize jerseys under quick-turn deadlines with superior results,” stated Carleen Gray, CEO GroupeSTAHL North America. “We look forward to working with SFIA members, bringing you fast and innovative solutions for team jersey customization.”
The SFIA Industry Leaders Summit is an annual conference for C-level executives in the sports and fitness industry. The event hosts a wide range of speakers from inside and outside the industry to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities pertinent to the market landscape. SFIA corporate partners create a bridge between industry professionals and the companies most closely connected and committed to serving the sports and fitness industry. The commitments made by the select partners support the broad range of member services and professional development opportunities provided to SFIA members throughout the summit, such as networking, educational sessions, thought leadership and relationship building.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
ABOUT STAHLS’: Stahls’, a GroupeSTAHL company, is a world leader specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of heat printing technologies. Stahls’ provides customers with the most cost effective and efficient ways to decorate garments. Stahls’ is located in Sterling Heights, MI, with GroupeSTAHL operations located throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. For more information, go to stahls.com, call 800.4.STAHLS, or email [email protected].
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Tariffs will be imposed on an additional $300 billion in products
SILVER SPRING, MD (Aug. 1, 2019) – After a brief tariff truce with China, President Trump announced a new 10 percent tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports, taking effect on Sept. 1, 2019. These tariffs will target “List 4” products – products that have not previously been subject to tariff increases. However, the U.S. Trade Representative has not yet released the final list by product category. There is a possibility that certain products will be removed from this list, following the public comments and hearing process in June, in which SFIA advocated for its members’ petitions.
“We are disappointed with the President’s action to escalate this trade war,” stated SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “The announcement of the tariff truce between President Trump and President Xi gave us hope that the two nations would continue negotiations in a positive way that would not harm American consumers and corporations. While we see protecting intellectual property as critically important to global commerce, tariffs are not the solution to the problem, and the American economy will suffer.”
SFIA will continue to discourage the President from increasing import duties on Chinese products, as China serves a crucial manufacturing role for many American companies. As more information is provided regarding the final list to face the 10 percent tariff, SFIA will inform all interested and affected parties. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Bill Sells ([email protected]) or Chandler Hoffman ([email protected]) with any questions.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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SILVER SPRING, MD (July 25, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is releasing a total of 90 Single Sport & Fitness Reports. The first collection of reports is now available, which includes reports for 52 different activities. These reports provide an in-depth analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics, and by specific sport or fitness activity.
“In this day and age, everyone wants the ‘data behind the data,’ the deep insight that can influence decision making,” said SFIA CEO & President, Tom Cove. “SFIA Single Sport Reports are intended to address this level of desired depth, in a targeted and easily accessible presentation.”
Each report tracks participation as defined by gender, participation frequency, age, geographic region, market size area, income, education level and cross-sport/activity participation. Here are the top 52 reports from 2018, which are now available: FULL LIST CAN BE ACCESSED HERE.
Results for the 2019 SFIA Single Sports and Fitness Reports were gathered by Sports Marketing Surveys USA.
To gather this data, the US Online Panel, operated by IPSOS, conducted 20,069 online interviews in a nationwide sample of individuals and households during the 2018 calendar year.
All 2019 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are $99 (per report) to all current SFIA members and $245 for non-members. More information about these reports can be found by clicking here.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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SILVER SPRING, MD (July 15, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has announced the winners of the 7th annual Future Industry Leaders Scholarship Program. The 2019 scholarship has been awarded to Tommy Acchione (Engineering Manager, STX), Brian Dietrich (Coordinator of Marketing & Sales, Rapsodo), Kelsey Ping (Marketing Operations Manager, Riddell), Susan Riley (Director of Brand Marketing, BSN Sports), Hewan Teshome (Corporate Counsel, VICIS) and Matthew Weiss (Director of Marketing, Retail, Events & Sports Marketing, Brooks Running).
The program rewards young, hard-working individuals in sports and fitness, who aspire to lead future generations of business executives in the industry. The scholars receive complimentary access to SFIA’s annual Industry Leaders Summit, where they are recognized and applauded for their dedication to the world of sports and fitness. This year, the summit will be held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 25-26. For the second year in a row, SFIA has expanded the program to award six deserving individuals with the scholarship. While all applicants are required to be employed by an SFIA corporate member company, this year’s scholars represent the diversity of the industry, as they come from all different backgrounds, company sizes and product categories.
“We are proud and excited to highlight terrific young talent in the sports and fitness industry,” stated SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “This SFIA program is a win win: bringing new leaders to the Industry Leaders Summit helps their professional trajectory, while also injecting the event with new ideas and energy.”
In addition to the many educational aspects of the summit, the scholarship recipients will also contribute a fresh, new perspective to the discussion. The focus of the Industry Leaders Summit is to address and explore the most prominent issues and trends in the industry, allowing the scholars a unique platform to provide insight from current and future generations, helping to further guide the conversation.
To learn more about the 2019 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit, click here.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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The PHIT Act continues to build bipartisan support for a more active America
SILVER SPRING, MD (July 9, 2019) – Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA), lead sponsors of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, sent a letter to all members of the House yesterday seeking additional support of their bill to make activity more affordable. The U.S. is facing an inactivity crisis, with more than a quarter of the population abstaining from any physical activity, and the PHIT Act (H.R. 1679) would allow individuals to pay for activity-related expenses using pre-tax dollars.
This bipartisan bill has garnered the support of 33 republicans and 36 democrats in the House, showing that the widespread need for a healthier nation extends across party lines. The “Dear Colleague” letter, sent by Kind and Kelly, outlines expenditures that would qualify as a form of disease prevention, allowing individuals and families to save money on gym memberships, youth camps, sports leagues, equipment and fitness classes, among other things.
“Earlier this year the CDC reported 90 percent of health expenditures are used to treat chronic disease and mental illness, the incidence of both conditions is lower in the active population,” stated Congressman Ron Kind. “Engaging in regular physical activity can improve people’s health and quality of life to reduce the incidence of preventable and costly chronic diseases. The PHIT Act lowers the financial barrier to activity to encourage healthier lifestyles, which in turn, will reduce overall health care spending.”
The income disparity among active Americans continues to grow. Lower-income households are becoming more inactive each year, and the opportunity to participate in activity and lead healthy lifestyles is becoming a privilege only available to the wealthy. More than 66 percent of the population in households making less than $75,000 are inactive. In contrast, only 16 percent of individuals in households with an income of more than $100,000 are inactive. Since the PHIT Act benefits would operate through individual’s Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and the average household income of HSA holders is $57,000, PHIT would give lower-income consumers the ability to reduce their activity expenses via the use of pre-tax dollars. Physical activity leads to prevention of chronic disease, and that is worth the investment.
To read the full letter, click here.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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President Trump and Chinese President Xi agree to temporarily hold off on new tariffs
SILVER SPRING, MD (July 1, 2019) – President Trump announced this weekend that no additional tariffs will be imposed on imports from China at this time. This is positive news for the sports and fitness industry. American and Chinese officials will return to negotiations and suspend any immediate action on new tariffs, as a result of President Trump and Chinese President Xi’s meeting at the G-20 Summit in Japan.
“We are relieved with the President’s decision,” stated SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “While the decision to avoid new tariffs is temporary, negotiations in this direction are a good step. We see this as a positive sign for the industry, but not conclusive. The industry is struggling to overcome China tariffs that are already in place, so we hope this tariff truce leads to tariff reductions, as well. SFIA supports President Trump’s efforts to bring China into compliance with international intellectual property laws, but we do not view excessive tariffs to be a successful solution.”
The 25 percent tariff on all products included on List 3, announced earlier this year, still stands, and the exclusion process for List 3 began on Sunday, June 30, 2019. SFIA will organize industry petitions requesting exclusions from the proposed tariffs to assist the industry in navigating these difficult challenges. If you’re interested in learning more about the petition process, please contact Chandler Hoffman, at [email protected].
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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SFIA Will Select Five Finalists to Highlight Small Business Innovation in Sport
SILVER SPRING, MD (June 25, 2019) – After hosting 16 start-ups over the last three years, the SFIA Start-Up Challenge returns to SFIA’s annual Industry Leaders Summit on September 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. This competition, which garners national media attention, has created an unparalleled opportunity for start-ups in the sports and fitness industry. From a pool of hundreds of applicants, from all over the world, the top five most innovative, forward-thinking companies are selected to compete on the big stage. Each of the five finalists pitch their business to the entire Industry Leaders Summit audience, as well as a judging panel comprised of major industry leaders and investors, including executives from lululemon, Topgolf, Amazon, Intel Capital, Under Armour and Walmart.
“We are thrilled to bring back the SFIA Startup Challenge for a 4th consecutive year,” said John Peters, SFIA Vice President of Business Development. “It is equally exciting to see the overwhelming demand for a platform like this, and the myriad of innovations we’ve seen from early stage companies in our industry. We’ve worked hard to create a diverse group of executives to serve on the judges panel, and they are all excited to provide mentorship, feedback and other opportunities to entreprenuers. In years past, we’ve seen companies raise capital on site, form brand partnerships and create relationships that have been conducive to business. We’re excited to create an even bigger impact this year for small business and innovation for our industry.”
This year’s grand prize is provided by the SFIA Start-Up Challenge sponsor, Empirika Media Group Inc., featuring $25,000 worth of Empirika digital services, allowing the winner to choose from four different digital branding, marketing and product development categories to enhance their business and online presence. In addition, the winner will also receive one free year of SFIA membership and spotlights in 2020 Start-Up Challenge marketing and promotional materials.
“The SFIA Start-Up Challenge represents an incredible opportunity for forward leaning start-ups to obtain a high degree of industry visibility, leadership mindshare and potential for investment,” said Empirika Founder and CEO, Joel den Engelsen. “We’re excited by the sponsorship opportunity and look forward to providing the winner with world-class digital services.”
All finalists will receive complimentary registration for the Industry Leaders Summit, taking place on September 25-26, 2019 at the Baltimore Four Seasons Hotel. The Start-Up Challenge offers great exposure to all finalists, not only the winner, as each company presents on stage in front of the Summit audience, which largely consists of C-level executives, as well as a carefully-selected panel of judges. Aside from the Start-Up Challenge, the five finalists are encouraged to participate in all networking opportunities, discussions and presentations provided throughout the two-day event.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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SILVER SPRING, MD (June 24, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Empirika Media Group Inc. to enhance digital efforts and overall strategy for the industry. The digital agency has worked with major corporations to create legendary experiences and further brand identification.
Empirika’s experience ranges from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. The agency’s ability to elicit the desired purpose, look and feel of the client and bring brands to life across digital platforms has enabled them to also span across various industries, including automotive, retail, electronics, media, finance and travel. Approaching each new project with a thoughtful design-led and insight-driven perspective, Empirika has helped the SFIA to re-brand the Start-Up Challenge, among various other sports and fitness ventures aiming to promote innovation, industry vitality and competition.
“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Empirika to offer best-in-class digital services to our industry members,” stated SFIA Vice President of Business Development, John Peters. “We’re confident our brands will only benefit from working with someone like Empirika, who has worked with many clients in our space like Nike, REI, Vans and many more. Having previously run global design and digital innovation teams at Adobe, Joel and his team are well-equipped to provide value to our industry.”
“Empirika is thrilled to be partnering with the SFIA. Through the partnership, we aim to elevate SFIA’s presence across digital vectors and provide members with access to the full spectrum of our digital strategy, branding, and product design services,” stated CEO and Founder of Empirika Media Group Inc., Joel den Engelsen. “Our team partners with brands of all sizes to differentiate, innovate and discover their unique lightning in a bottle. We can’t wait to do the same for the SFIA and its members.”
This year, Empirika will be sponsoring the SFIA Start-Up Challenge at the annual Industry Leaders Summit in Baltimore on September 25-26. Empirika will grant the Start-Up Challenge winner with the grand prize of $25,000 worth of Empirika digital services. The winner will have the option to choose from one of four categories, including an “Identity Package,” a “Launch Package,” a “Social Media Package” and a “Digital Futures Package,” depending on the current stage of their business and where they would reap the greatest benefit.
The SFIA Corporate Partner Program creates a bridge between industry professionals and the companies most closely connected and committed to serving the sports and fitness industry. The monetary commitments made by these select Corporate Program Partners support the broad range of member services and professional development programs created, funded and offered by SFIA to its members.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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