Sports Trend and SGB Magazines Merge

Posted on November 9, 2000

Sports Trend and SGB magazines have merged to provide one combined resource for the sporting goods industry. This new magazine, which will keep the name Sporting Goods Business, will re-launch with the Jan. 19, 2001 issue. It will be published 16 times annually.

The decision to combine the brands is a result of market research and analysis of the sports market conducted by Bill Communications following its acquisition of Miller Freeman. As part of the reorganization, the two companies' Sports Groups are merging into one united group, which will be called the Bill Communications Sports Group. The company will also integrate Bill's Sports Trends' Retailer/eTailer Newswire with Miller Freeman's Inside Sporting Goods and will join the SGBLink and Sports Trend websites. Bill's Sporting Goods Dealer, re-launched several years ago to serve the team dealer market, will continue to publish six times annually.

``Our vision is to lead the sporting goods industry into the 'New Millennium,''' said Tina D'Aversa-Williams, Sporting Goods Business publisher. ``With the re-launched Sporting Goods Business, we will do this by continuing to deliver retailers and manufacturers with the latest in industry news, trend analysis, new product information and the same exclusive stories behind the headlines. When we combine this with Sporting Goods Dealer and our integrated websites, eSports Report and Inside Sporting Goods, we've got the industry covered.''

The Sporting Goods Business team will be led by: John Failla, division president; David Loechner, VP, Sports Group; Tina D'Aversa-Williams, publisher; Steve Rosenstock, associate publisher; Michael J. Pallerino, editorial director; Hilary Cassidy, executive editor; and Jeff Gruenhut, national sales manager.

The new Bill Communications' Sports Group now includes the following brands: Sporting Goods Business, Sporting Goods Dealer, eSports Report, Equitana USA, Inside Sporting Goods, ASR Trade Expos, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, Fly-Fishing Retailer, Golf Retailer, Health & Fitness Business, Interbike, Outdoor Retailer.