Vendor Briefs

ï The Ozer Group, Needham, MA, has been retained to divest a portfolio of more than 100 fitness patents held by Will Wilkinson. The patents have been used in about 30 exercise equipment SKUs. Wilkinson, who has been around the fitness business for about a quarter century, was a lead inventor of NordicTrack and co-founded Step Reebok. Ozer, which recently consulted in the NordicTrack bankruptcy and sale to ICON, will spend the next few months identify-ing buyers and fielding offers. Wilkinson plans to focus his attention on DuPont PowerGear, Lycra-based resistance clothing that enhances the aerobic/weight loss effects of a workout. He also believes the sale will benefit a turbulent market. ìThe fierce competition is squeezing margins and cutting market share, pushing companies into bankruptcy and driving consolidation,î said Wilkinson. ìThe key way for sporting goods companies to insulate themselves from these pressures is through quality patented products.î
ï Rick White, who had been GM of Nikeís subsidiaries, has left the company, reportedly to take a job at Reed, the trade show/publications producer. White used to run Major League Baseball Properties in the early í90s.
ï Asics signed a multi-year agreement with the New York Road Runners Club to become the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the New York City Marathon. Asics will create a co-branded NYC Marathon apparel collection, including jackets, tights, t-shirts and singlets. Asics also will outfit more than 16,000 marathon volunteers.
ï G-III Apparel signed a four-year agreement with Overland Workwear Ltd. for the sale and distribution of menís and womenís apparel in the U.S. bearing the licensed marks of Caterpillar. UK-based Overland is the global licensee of Caterpillar apparel and accessories.
ï Bolle has launched bolle.com, which will offer company and product information. The site will permit online purchases of accessories, including bags, clothing, replacement lenses and spare parts. It also will be hyperlinked to online retailers that offer Bolleís entire line. (Eyewear, Financial, Internet)