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LATEST NEWS
Hockey Weekend Across America
Turns Five Years Old!
The fifth annual Hockey Weekend Across America
celebration, sponsored by Reebok and USA Hockey, takes place February 17-19. February 17 is being called Wear Your Jersey Day, February 18 is Try Hockey Day, and February 19 will be Local Hockey Heroes Day.
Hockey dealers can get involved by featuring popular jerseys leading into the event, partnering with their local rink for Try Hockey Day, or hosting a Local Hockey Heroes lunch or meet 'n greet at your store. These aren't the only ways to be involved, so be creative!
Learn more about Hockey Weekend Across America by clicking here.
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More on Concussions
In case you did not read the recent article, "A Smack Upside the Head" in the March 2012 issue of Men's Health magazine, you may be interested that according to Dr. Douglas Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, just one concussion may permanently damage a person's brain.
When asked how long he would keep himself out of a football game after suffering a concussion, he said, "about 50 years, since not enough is known about concussions at this time."
Another thought-provoking article on concussions, authored by former hockey great Ken Dryden, can be read here: www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7352942/waiting-science
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TIP OF THE MONTH
How is Your Website Performing?
There are many ways to determine how your website is performing, and many metrics you can use to evaluate your site. One of the tools to evaluate your site's availability in search engines, social conversations, and more is www.sitescore.co. That's not a typo - its's ".co.".
Click here www.hockeydealersassociation.org for a list of additional tools you can use to evaluate your store's website.
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INTERNET RESEARCH
Most Popular Twitter Profiles for Hockey Equipment
According to the latest research, the most popular Twitter profiles in the hockey equipment category are:
#1 Easton Hockey..............................12,326 followers
#2 Total Hockey...................................2,462 followers
#3 HockeyGiant.com............................1,920 followers
#4 Hockeynut.........................................590 followers
#5 Planetahockey...................................450 followers
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HDA NEWS
How to Service a Hockey Customer
Hockey dealers are fortunate that they sell merchandise that cannot be digitized. So they are well protected from what is happening to music and book retailers. However, they are still vulnerable to price shoppers. And the best way to respond to that threat is through great in-store service. As an example, here is a quote from a satisfied hockey customer that was circulated through a social website:
Got some skates over the weekend. ....... I went to shop about 45 minutes away in another city, had a guy fit my feet. Measured the in-step,width and length. Long story short, the only skate that would fit was a Graf and he was willing to work with me on the price a bit as well; it was more than I had planned to spend. He then punched out the toe, stretched the boot, moved a skate blade over to make it more even with my foot. Unreal. Really cool guy who spent time with me to make sure the skate fit well.
Is that how you are servicing your customers? If so, you will never lose any sleep worrying about losing business to price shoppers.
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Raise the Volume of the Hockey Dealer's Voice
Become a member of the Hockey Dealers Association, and help us collectively build a voice for the independent hockey dealer. Please visit our website at www.hockeydealersassociation.org, or call (800) 815-5422, ext. 130 to join today!
Sincerely,
 
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Hockey History for February 2012
In February 1990, Brett Hull scored his 50th goal, and along with his father Bobby, became the only father-son combination in NHL hockey history to each score 50 goals in one season. Bobby scored 50+ regular season goals nine times, and Brett did so five times. | |
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HDA News
Register by February 17 and Receive a $150 Gift Certificate | |
Don't miss the Annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit, to be held May 6-9 at The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas. Each registrant who beats the February 17 deadline will receive a $150 Westin La Cantera gift certificate that may be used for anything on the resort's property, including your hotel room charges. For more information or to register, call (800) 815-5422, ext. 130 or visit www.nsga.org/conference today!
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2011 Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report Available |
The inaugural report on the State of the Ice Hockey Industry is now available for $190. It includes sales of new equipment, participation numbers, sales of used equipment, and costs of doing business.
The report is provided free to all HDA members.
If you are interested in purchasing this report email
csuritz@nsga.org. |
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Please Contact Us |
c/o NSGA
1601 Feehanville Drive Suite 300
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
Phone:800.815.5422 ext. 130
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