NEWS
Sports Direct sells Dunlop brand name
Retail giant SportsDirect is selling the rights to itsDunlop brand,which has been used in the last couple of years for fishing tackle, among other items. Te company has said
the rights to the brand, its wholesale and licensing businesses will cost potential buyer Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) $137.5 million. TeDunlop Business
currently operates in theUK, Europe,Asia (except Japan, Korea andTaiwan),USAand Canada,boasting combined revenue of £42.64million and a profit before tax of just over £4million As part of theTransaction,
SRI will grant SportsDirect a royalty-free licence to continue to use theDunlop brand for premiumworkwear and safety wear for SportsDirect’s own retail
purposes.SRI has the option to acquire these rights in the future subject to certain mechanical conditions for US$12.5m. Te official statement added:
“Te divestment of theDunlop business and the transaction is in line with SportsDirect’s stated aspiration to become the ‘Selfridges’of sports retail, including its renewed focus on its coreUK business and the development of its relationships with third party brands. “As such,SportsDirect
intends to use the proceeds of sale fromthe transaction in its commitment to its third party brand relationships.” However,when we tried to
clarify what effect thismove would have onDunlop fishing tackle,SportsDirect’s PR agency failed to comment, informing T&G: “Due to the high volume of correspondence that we receive each day we are unable to respond directly to each request.”
0
www.tandgmagazine.com 8
Editor stepsdown topursue other ventures in trade
Aftermore than 20 years at publisherDHP, JohnHunter is leaving his posts of editor in chief ofTackle&Guns andGunTrade World to set up his own company. HunterMediawill offer PR,
marketing,branding and event consultancy and,among others, will initially beworkingwith TeGame Fair on developing its fishing strategy andwith the OxfordGunCompany on its Festival of Shooting and corporate packages. Atrained journalist, John
started atDHP (thenChrisreel) in February 1996working as editor of several consumer titles before the firmbought trade magazineTackle&Guns 17 years ago,when hewas appointed editor. Heworked alongside current
DHPmanaging director Sean O’Driscoll as launch editor of TackleTradeWorld in 2000 and was appointed editor in chief of GunTradeWorld six years ago. John said: “After 21 years
withDHP I felt the timewas right for a newchallenge. I had been approached by a number
it organises the 2017 event at HatfieldHouse. “Iwill be contacting tackle
retailers,manufacturers, wholesalers and other bodies to discuss howthey can get involved in this amazing and unique venture.” He added: “I have known
Doug,Shirley,Nicky andDavid Florent at theOxfordGun Company for as long as I have been in the industry. “Te SchoolsChallenge has
T&GandGTWeditor in chief John Hunterwill say farewell to DHP but plans to stay in the industry.
of people in recentmonths to help themwith various ventures and everything aligned perfectly to allowme to realise a long- held ambition to set upmy own company. “Te teamthat took onTe
Game Fair last year after theCLA stepped away did a fantastic job and theRagleyHall eventwas a tremendous success.Tere is a massive opportunity for the fishing side of the showto really take off this year and I amdelighted to be workingwithTeGame Fair as
brought hundreds of youngsters into the sport,while its Festival of Shooting has encouragedmany newcomers to pick up a gun and try clay and game shooting. “Tese are exciting ventures
in their own right but the team at theOxfordGunCompany is keen to develop the concepts further and I cannot wait to talk to the trade at large and explain all of the other fantastic initiatives they are also putting in place.”
HunterMedia
T: 07990 542958 E:
john@hunter-media.co.uk
Gunmaker adds engraver to team
London gunmaker John Rigby &Co has taken on experienced engraver James Kulczyk to enhance its products even further James comes to Rigby
following 15 years of self- employment, during which time he engraved guns for other London gunmakers such as James Purdey & Sons and Holland & Holland. He specialises in deep carving
on guns, which is a rare skill. James explained: “Deep carving is really quite niche but it’s becoming extremely popular
Despite having years of
experience engraving guns, James originally learnt his craft hand-etching the design for bank notes for countries across the Commonwealth, including India and Nigeria. Rigby managing director
Mark Renmantwith James Kulczyk (right).
among modern-day buyers. I am extremely proud to be working for such a giant of gunmaking and can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Factorymanager
Marc Newton added: “I am thrilled to have someone as skilled as James now a part of the team.We have extremely high standards at Rigby but I have full faith in James to not only meet them but exceed them.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56