The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry, is rebranding itself as the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
The change comes after a two-year strategic review and planning process during which SGMA refined its mission statement, core services and communications platform to "focus on promoting sports and fitness participation and industry vitality," according to an association press release.
"While we continue to embrace, celebrate and support the many companies who continue to manufacture their own products, our general membership - including many of those manufacturers - has indicated that there is a need to move beyond the traditional label of a 'manufacturers' association," says SGMA president and CEO Tom Cove.
To that end, several new association initiatives are planned, including:• Innovative Thought Leadership programs led by the 2013 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit, scheduled for September 25-26, 2013• A national campaign to grow sport and fitness participation: PHIT America• A new "member friendly'" website: www.SFIA.org • A comprehensive SFIA Supplier Directory • A groundbreaking new "Grassroots Sports Participation in America" research report • Content enhancements and design updates to our weekly e-newsletter, InBrief • Major upgrades to our Product Testing member benefit
