Retailers Cautious After NBA Lockout

When the National Basketball Association players were locked out of training camp last July, it also put a lock on cash registers at sporting goods retailers when it came to sales of NBA merchandise. The news that Chicago Bulls' superstar Michael Jordan retired ? again ? also was not good for retailers of NBA licensed goods and footwear.

Though they admit NBA merchandise wasn't selling through before the lockout, retailers hope the NBA's decision to go to a shortened season helps breathe life into the category the remainder of this season and next fall.

Joel Silverman, president and CEO of Galyan's Trading Co., Plainfield, Ind., says Galyan's will take a conservative approach to bringing in NBA product next fall.

"We will trend it up only 10 percent to 15 percent vs. Fall 1998," Silverman says. "It seems like it takes a couple of years to get the business back to normal (after a stoppage) in these situations."

Ken Meehan, vice president and GMM of Dunham's Sports, Waterford, Mich., says Jordan's departure may make the NBA more competitive.

"Michael certainly helped the athletic footwear industry boom get started," Meehan says. "With the demise of the hero shoe, it's not as big a hit. What's driving shoes now is technology and style."