We have covered the sporting goods industry for nearly 40 years now, and the last 10 have been by far the most challenging as both internal industry forces and macro changes in the retail economy have combined to reshape the industry. Sporting goods is hardly recognizable from the 1970s when the gate-keepers to the consumer were generally locally owned independent sporting goods and team retailers. Brands crossed them at their peril back in the day when factory outlet stores were actually outlet stores attached to factories and sold seconds and Al Gore had not yet invented the Internet.

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