The big news this month is the cancellation of the ispo Summer show, though the organisers are being proactive and bringing new formats and new shows to the fore, with two new shows this year and another new one planned for '09.

The summer ispo has been canceled and replaced with two new offerings for 2008, with a view to a new show with a different angle in 2009. Manfred Wutzlhofer, Chief Executive Officer of Messe München, said: "We are paying special attention to the growth segment of sportstyle in this. Consequently, we are planning a platform for sports-inspired lifestyle in 2009."

Performance running specialists New Balance relaunched their 'legendary' 991 model at the recent Pitti trade show in Florence. The shoe, made in the UK at the company's factory in Flimby with added leather applications provided in Italy, was one of New Balance's most enduring series of running shoes in the 80s and 90s.

Fila UK has announced a five-year sponsorship deal with The Championships, Wimbledon. The five-year contract will see Fila provide a range of dual branded performance tennis and leisure footwear styles, until 2012.

Dunlop Slazenger has signed a new five-year agreement with the World Squash Federation (WSF) to be the 'Official Ball' of the organisation. This agreement sees the continuation of the partnership between Dunlop and the WSF that has existed since 1991. The new agreement sees this extended until 2012.

This year's STAG Buying Show will be held at a brand new venue. The buying show, with it's enviable reputation as the place where business is done, will take place over the 23rd and 24th November at the Four Pillars Hotel - Cotswold Water Park. The new venue boasts an open plan exhibition space set over two floors.

PUMA is the official technical partner for England Athletics after agreeing a three-year deal which will support England's athletes and international teams through to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

Prostar has added to its professional team with the appointment of a new UK Sales Manager.

Peter Nicol MBE, arguably Britain's most successful squash player ever, has been appointed as Squash Ambassador by Prince Sports Europe.

Exel: New CEO

From April 2008, Vesa Korpimies - who works for the pole-supplier for 20 years, lately as Executive Vice President - will be the successor of Göran Jönsson who functioned as CEO in the interim. In 2007, Exel made a plus of 1 per cent in turnover (113.5 million Euro), the operative benefit increased from 0.4 million to 4.8 million Euro. The industrial parts of the company are responsible for these positive numbers, whereas the sports division had a weak result. Without giving numbers, Exel announces that the performance of the sports division is very dissatisfied because of decreasing turnover and further deficits.

Skins has signed up England Test captain Michael Vaughan to make its compression and therapeutic sportswear as popular with cricketers in the UK as it is with their Australian counterparts.

A brand with a rich heritage, Slazenger Hockey is moving in new directions to appeal to a much broader player base. Hockey Product Manager Graham Joyce and Nick Fox, Team Promotions Manager, discussed the upward curve the brand hopes to be enjoying soon.

Armadillo Sports Managing Director Mark Sims took the time to speak to SGB - Sports and Outdoor about Armadillo, a new calf and Achilles protector for the active sports person. The idea is simple - it's a flexible 'reverse shinpad', for wont of a better phrase. It slips inside the sports sock to protect from the top of the boot to around the calf muscle. The brilliant design also inspired the product's name, as it emulates an armadillo's natural armour which increases the pad's flexibility.

As internet trading becomes more common, we can understand the strengths and weaknesses of the new competition from the new ‘shop next door'. In looking at this there are a couple of paradoxes. One, that internet shoppers value the product knowledge they find, the second that internet traders can have a ‘closer' relationship with their customers: they may not meet and talk to them, but they can communicate more frequently as they have their address and email details._So as a retailer, you need to find ways to gather customer names and addresses, and having done that - get communicating.

Described as ‘the best place to see all sports merchandise suppliers' with a front page header proclaiming ‘The exhibition is the only meeting place for the entire industry', Jack Lynes, our man about the sports trade, commissioned to report on the 10th anniversary of the Sports Merchandise Industry event, was a little less than sure if, hand on heart, this was really his scene, or more to the point, the place to be to find new opportunities for our readers. Disproving the adage that first impressions are always to be relied upon, he put prejudice to the wind, opened his mind, and concluded that those prepared to do likewise might find some useful ideas to improve their bottom line.

The UK launch of the new PC range of Heart Rate Monitors from German company Sigma, is set to send pulses of excitement through the cardio-club circuit in gyms everywhere, becoming the Personal Trainer for sports and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Timex's already impressive line-up of sports watches is enhanced by the Timex Bodylink Plus T5F011, packed with the special features and technology that runners and triathletes - for example - admire, though this could be enjoyed by any reasonably serious athlete.

February saw the arrival of the new 2008 Reusch range.As you would expect from a brand specialising in goalkeeping products, there have been a few new additions to the range in terms of both models and technology.

Futsal really is growing quickly, not least because of media attention which became all the more focussed after England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008. Why are we not as good as Spain, Italy, Brazil? Futsal, the answer came back; structure, came another answer.

Bob Hope, Molten Sports Chairman, spoke to SGB - Sports and Outdoor about what this means for the company.

Last Saturday a lady, clearly under pressure to get through her checklist before meeting up again with the family, rushed in asking for swimwear and accessories to kit out what she referred to as her 'demanding children'. Grabbing the purchases she made for the door calling over her shoulder, "If my husband comes in looking for me, tell him to wait outside".

Outdoor brand Patagonia was awarded the prestigious Eco Brand of the Year award at the Volvo Eco Design Forum in Munich, during the recent ispo trade show.

Rosker, one of the UK 's leading distributors of specialist outdoor equipment, has been forging ahead with the distribution of the premium outdoor footwear brand Hanwag since January 2007 and is now looking to further expand the brand's distribution with retail partners across the UK.

Torch brand Premierlight has relaunched for 2008, with a new and revamped product line, new logo and branding, packaging and literature. A new catalogue is now available, with a range of LED lighting solutions ranging from high-powered tactical torches to compact camping lanterns, with descriptions in five languages.

Lifestyle brand Merrell have launched the latest innovation in a quest to inspire the outdoor athlete in everyone.

teko, the sock brand which puts the planet first, made its European debut at the recent ISPO trade show, Munich, proving very popular with retailers with over 200 new accounts being opened.

Onder Ors has been appointed Senior Vice President, International for the Outdoor Group. In this new role, Onder will lead all International and European subsidiary operations for the Merrell and Patagonia Brands, which includes the responsibilities of Mike Lynskey who recently left the group.

The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) has revealed details of its long term strategy, along with an outline of immediate plans for 2008. Designed to transform the OIA into a dynamic and effective trade association, the plans incorporate a mixture of proactive communications, lobbying on behalf of the industry, outreach work and industry engagement.

brasher has officially launched a new website focusing on its latest ‘What's your Playground' campaign, which is also being incorporated into its advertising, PR and in store merchandising campaigns from March 2008.

Outdoor adventure and travel clothing company Craghoppers has announced a year-end sales increase of over 25 per cent growth in the brand.

The North Face UK has announced its sponsorship of Jez Bragg, the top trail and road ultra runner in the UK.

Hands up those old enough to recall when all you needed for a ramble in the countryside was a pair of good stout walking boots. Those were the days... And you don't need to be a grumpy old man (or woman) to realise that things just aren't the same anymore when it comes to outdoor footwear.

The snowsport industry's annual trade show ended on a high note following a highly successful three days at Manchester Central. A buoyant marketplace was evident with retailers and brands delivering above-expectation business which helped to create a great vibe.  In addition, hot new products for autumn/winter 2008/9 were unveiled, with the best championed at the Slide Awards.

Late in 2007, Coleman announced its new 'air conditioned' tents to a few raised eyebrows, but the theory is based on sensible thinking. The patented design of the tent's vents adds weight to Coleman's addition to family camping, too.

Good technical equipment is often the lifeblood of the independent outdoor store - selling top-end gear to people who really need it, not the weekend warriors but those folks that are out there in the dead of winter.

Timberland's new Gatcher collection is designed to step up Timberland's style credentials, without compromising the durability and quality synonymous with the brand name. Whether it's sailing, surfing, cycling or just spending time by the water's edge the Gatcher collection is versatile enough to wear wherever your mood takes you.

For Autumn 2008 Haglöfs has launched a whole new co-ordinated range of ski clothing and backpacks designed with a focus on backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, free skiing, heli skiing etc.

The PrimaLoft filled Salomon Keystone Hoody is the perfect mid layer insulation to wear under a shell jacket. The jacket is an ideal aprés ski piece and, thanks to PrimaLoft insulation, provides great warmth, is lightweight, and has fast-drying properties.

Following on from the success of the St Moritz 200 insulated winter boot, HI-TEC are increasing their offering of superbly styled, waterproof and insulated footwear for A/W 08.

Autumn/Winter 08 sees the extension of Sprayway's range of eco-sensitive fabrics, which are designed to reduce their environmental impact, with the introduction of a three-layer system to its Trek range, offering a sustainable performance fabric for each layer. The company has also teamed up with Teijin's Eco Circle, the world's first closed-loop recycling system for polyester products.