In a presentation on the eve of ISPO Beijing, WFSGI Secretary-General Robbert de Kock outlined some of the key trends in the Chinese market based on NPD and GfK research.

Management for the New York parent of a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Ocean Pacific, Mossimo, Starter and Zoo York, says it will be difficult for its Rocawear urban brand to ever return to “peak volume,” but it points out that the brand still represents more than $400 million in annual retail volume.

Rosenbaum has joined the trade organization in Silver Spring, MD, where he’ll provide direction and oversight to marketing, fundraising, membership and program development.

Australia’s Super Retail Group Ltd., which completed a A$610 million ($652.9 mm) acquisition of Rebel Sport and Amart All Sports on Oct. 30, says the two Down Under chains generated positive same store sales growth of 3.5% during the first seven weeks of H2 that began Jan. 1.

Fitness division sales growth was up 17% in the fourth quarter to $94.8 million, but fell slightly short of company expectations due to an inability to ship the Forerunner 910XT in time for the Holiday selling season.

Game Time Sports Goods, based in Canton, GA, and The Jock Shop of Kalamazoo, MI, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Net income was $1,941,000 against $1,767,000 for the period ended Dec. 31.

According to media reports, more than 6,000 workers at the Kaoway Sports factory, which makes footwear for the Big Cat, were tossing rocks at the building to protest unfair working conditions there. Subsequently, three female Kaoway employees were shot by a drive-by gunman.

Angela Owen is elevated to SVP of Marketing and Lee Fromson becomes SVP of Merchandising for the national co-operative.

Golfology in Hanover, MA, North Cover Outfitters in Old Saybrook, CT, and Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney, CA, are closing their doors.

Under Armour is preparing to rollout creative, a commercial called “Cam’s Night Out,” during the NFL Combine telecast to highlight its Heisman Trophy-winning endorser, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.

The company has signed multi-year licensing agreements with partners in 10 countries to broaden the reach of several of its brands in Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, the Czech Republic and five South American countries.

Shimano is recalling approximately 300 mountain bicycle handlebar stems in North America that were made by Taiwan-based Post Moderne Corp. due to faulty bolts on the front plate of the stems.

Net profit was up 12% to RMB 1,730.1 million ($275,862,000) compared to RMB 1,551.1 million for the FY ended Dec. 31 as revenues rose 20% to RMB 8,904.8 million ($1,419,170,000) from RMB 7,408.3 million.

The buying group said the athletic division had more than a 13% sales increase in 2011.