Patagonia is our main feature in this issue, with two pages on this environmentally-aware company; the piece is actually two interviews, one on the apparel side and one on footwear. You can find that on page 10, and it's followed by an interesting piece about mystery shoppers and a company with a positive slant on this.

Most athletes, at whatever level, however serious, use moisturiser of some kind or other, for different reasons at different times of year. I'm no different, though my needs are more demanding than most thanks to dry skin on my face and hands; this means I use moisturiser all year round, and I'm constantly trying new ones out to find what works best for me, especially in the context of exercise.

Global sports footwear brand HI-TEC has expanded its experienced European team with the announcement of two new Sales Directors and a new Sales Manager. 

Dunlop has signed teenage tennis stars Gastao Elias, Xander Spong and Tiago Fernandes on endorsement agreements to provide them with Dunlop tennis equipment. These three youngsters are now members of the growing Dunlop D Squad programme, a scheme that aims to attract top tennis players worldwide at a junior level, and identify talent for future international player sponsorships with the Dunlop Brand.

Sportswear chain JJB Sports has reacted to a fall in profits last year by closing 72 of its 420 stores, which is almost one in six. It's a total loss of about 800 jobs and, analysts claim, reflects a general downturn in high street sales overall. Of course, it has not been helped by the England team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, but this is far from the only reason.

Armadillo Sports Design Limited, who recently announced the launch of their breakthrough calf and Achilles Protector, are delighted to announce that they have signed a commercial agreement with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA).

Queens Park Rangers FC has announced a deal with Lotto Sport Italia which makes the Italian sportswear company the Championship team's  official kit supplier.

Partnership with UK show confirmed

Ispo has formed a partnership with The Metro Ski & Snowboard Show, which takes place annually in London and is the largest consumer event of its kind. The 2007 show saw an ever increasing number of visitors - but it is an exhibitor attendance comprising more than 200 companies from all aspects of the ski and snowboarding world that forms the basis of the communications partnership.

Reydon Sports have teamed up with former soccer international David Johnson in a bid to discover the next generation of England football stars.

Reigning U19 English National Champion, Victoria Lust, has signed with Wilson to use the new [K]Pro squash racket.  Following in the footsteps of established players like the Botwright sisters, the 18-year-old has switched to use the new exclusive technology which provides unprecedented levels of control.

The Prince's Trust has announced details of its annual celebrity golf tournament which will be held in the North East on June 26th to raise valuable funds to change young lives across the region.

The Association of Professional Sports Agents (APSA) is extending an open invitation to all sports sales agent for its seminar day and annual general meeting to be held at Federation House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on Wednesday 4th June 2008. The day will consist of a presentation on agency law topics vital to anyone currently operating as a sales agent well as the association's annual general meeting.

Golf House opens new store in Bremen

Branch retailer and special mail-order dispatcher Golf House - based in Hamburg - opened its 15th stationary shop right now in Bremen. The stores in Hamburg and Berlin have moved to larger rooms of 800 and 1000 square metres respectively. Further enlargements and removals should follow this year.

Amer Sports is the number one sports equipment company in the world, and it's a company built on a number of key brands. While it's currently number one, there is no sign that they are resting on their laurels, as Michael White, Managing Director, Amer Sports UK explains; there is room for growth even when you're at the top.

One could easily be a wanderer into Bolton and be unaware of Tobutt Sports. The premises occupy a modest area in a not particularly interesting part of the town. However, a clue that this was not just another sports shop came from a car park attendant some few miles away who directed me immediately to the premises and told us, with a wink, that it was right opposite the ASDA car park. Be patient. We will come to the bolt-on bit in due course. Dougie Tobutt greeted me and introduced his daughter Mandy who was manning the till.

Precision Training, Britain's leading supplier of specialist training aids and apparel, have unveiled their most comprehensive range ever. The Precision Training 08-09 catalogue runs to 64 pages and is packed with a host of new products.

REYDON Sports have unveiled a mammoth new 276 page catalogue for Spring/Summer 08. For the first time, Reydon will be producing two catalogues to cover the next 12 months.

Karakal's 2008 squash and badminton ranges have used EVOLUTION rather than revolution with most of the improvements being under the surface with improved manufacturing techniques and materials such as Nano technology which gives stronger, lighter and a more consistant frames.

Due to the overwhelming success and demand of the worlds first earth friendly golf shoe the Enviro (SRP £70), HI-TEC are launching a brand new white colour way for SS08.

The Wave Ghost Striker offers frightening agility and unrivalled precision. As a leading technical sports manufacturer Mizuno are delighted to offer the fastest kangaroo leather boot on the market.

PUMA launches the second generation of its lightweight v-Speed football product line designed for speed and built to get you to the ball even faster. The v.08 line includes the lightest and latest technology in footwear, apparel and accessories as PUMA, its teams and players like Nicolas Anelka, Gianluigi Buffon,Mario Gomez and Freddie Ljungberg prepare for the 2008 European Championship.

The first big news of the summer, and an exclusive for SGB, is the signing of Essex and England star Ravi Bopara, who will be joining the host of players worldwide choosing the new GM Purist ll. A young player with a big future and Gunn & Moore are proud to welcome him to Team GM.

Not a lot to smile about this month: bad weather, credit crunch, my cat died and to add to my misery a seagull scored a direct hit on me coming to work today, what a mess that made but at least it amused a couple of passing schoolboys who went off laughing hysterically at my misfortune. Being hit by bird's muck is meant to be lucky so I'm hoping things will look up, although I'll be very careful if I do in case it happens again.

The Outdoor trade Show's organisers have reported healthy demand for space at the 2008 show, which takes place between September 30th and October 2nd at Stoneleigh Park.

Berghaus has announced the appointment of a sales director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Simon Roberts has joined the company and will work alongside UK sales director Richard Leedham, reporting to brand president Richard Cotter.

Esc Outdoor has agree to distribute EverLite in the UK, and in an immediate boost the brand's EL8 Solar LED Headlamp was named a Backpacker 2008 Editor's Choice award winner.

Regatta has embarked on its first major celebrity advertising campaign since the 1990s, teaming up with four well-known outdoor enthusiasts - Bill Oddie, Janet Street Porter, Michaela Strachan and Peter Duncan. The advertising images photographed by world famous portrait photographer John Rankin, and hit the press in March.

SPOT manufacturer of the world's first satellite messenger has appointed SM Group (Europe) as their UK distributor.

Result Performance, the technical outdoor clothing brand, have launched their 2008 trade brochure. Result has more than doubled its 2007 outdoor range, with the introduction of a further 46 new products into its 2008 collection.

Snugpak, the leading UK sleeping bag manufacturer has appointed Allan Wynne as its buying director.  A well known face in the outdoor industry, Allan started as an Assistant Buyer at retailer Barretts of Feckenham/Barretts Outdoors in 1983, and spent the last 10 years as Managing Director.  Allan will be responsible for Snugpak's buying function, product development and sourcing.

As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, Polartec has entered an agreement with Bluesign Technologies AG to evaluate and approve its manufacturing processes for environment, health and safety (EHS) issues.

Haglöfs is requesting nominations for the next OAS (Outdoor Academy of Sweden) trip due to take place this September in Storulvån, Sweden.

The European Outdoor Group (EOG) and Messe Friedrichshafen have jointly put to paper the future of OutDoor for another five years with the signing of a formal agreement. According to the deal, the European trade show will be held in Friedrichshafen at least until the year 2013. During a secret ballot in January, the majority of the 47 EOG members voted in favour of the venue remaining at Friedrichshafen.

Salomon has won another award for its newly launched Custom Shell technology, adding the Slide Innovations for Hardware Award 2008 to its Ispo European Ski Award 2008. 

Jonathan Petty, UK Sales Manager for Patagonia Apparel, took the time to chat with SGB about what makes the brand special, and its environmental aspirations.

Mystery Shoppers are generally thought of as a means to companies finding out what's wrong on the shop floor, of testing unsuspecting staff and their customer service skills and more. It's generally thought of in a negative light, as it sees how people are when the gaze of the manager is not upon them - and staff only hear about it when the report is negative. But Retail Eyes is looking at this in a positive way, using the well-known concept of the mystery shopper as a way to praise good service and pat staff on the back when things are good, as well as help to iron out wrinkles when things are perhaps not so good.

To enjoy the great outdoors and make the most of your day, a good night's sleep is essential. With Vango's superb range of adventure sleeping bags, this needn't be a worry.

The world has been waiting for the Pro-Ascent replacement from Scarpa and here at last is the Cristallo. This boot is aimed at the technical scrambling and Via-Ferrata market and is also ideally suited for hill, mountain and glacier walking.

Providing home comforts outdoors, the new range of camping furniture from Coleman offers comfort for any outdoor occasion.  Whether it's a two-week camping holiday, a day at the beach or a picnic at the races, the new Coleman furniture range has a product to suit with many unique and clever features that provide both comfort and convenience.

Result Performance has launched two new additions to their fast-growing range of outdoor gear.