Welcome to the new NSSRA Newsletter. This monthly publication will be sent to all NSSRA members via email and be posted on the NSSRA website, www.nssra.com.

We welcome your comments and ideas for articles in future issues. In addition, if there is an issue troubling you, this newsletter is the appropriate vehicle to bring that topic to the attention of your fellow retailers.

Wilbur Rice, Equipe Sport

NSSRA Chairman of the Board

Larry Weindruch

NSSRA President

NSSRA Chairman:

3 Important Issues

To My Fellow NSSRA Members:

Three issues I would like to bring to your attention.

No. 1 -- I want to update you on our partnership with SportsOneSource. We have an exclusive partnership agreement with them to gather and analyze data from our members.

This aggregate sales information, which is collected anonymously and confidentially, is provided to NSSRA members so we can track sales trends, access winners and losers in product categories, suppliers, colors, sizes, styles, models, etc.

This is critically important information harvested from the data we own. This can benefit us in many ways.

We presently have 180 storefronts participating. If you are one of them, thank you. If not, I urge you to sign up. It is in your best interest. Call 1-303-997-7302 or go online to http://www.sportscaninfo.com.

No. 2 - SIA hosted a stakeholders meeting in September in Denver to discuss the buying cycle in our snow sports business. They invited about 30 reps, retailers and suppliers for a meeting on this complex and important issue. Many softgoods suppliers are finding our current buying cycle is not working for their business model. I very much appreciated that David Ingemie invited all of us to be part of these discussions. There is a very informative article in this newsletter by past NSSRA Chairman Brad Nelson on this subject. The reps, suppliers and retailers together will need to find a solution.

No. 3 - I urge all NSSRA members to be a partner in growing snow sports. The two easiest ways to do this are to be a supporter in Bring A Friend, an SIA/NSAA growing snow sports initiative, and secondly, to reach out to the ski areas to work together with them on projects and events to bring more participants into our sport and our stores.

Good luck with winter! Think Snow!

Wilbur Rice

Equipe Sport

NSSRA Chairman of the Board

Show Dates: The Big Picture

Once again, there are rumblings about moving the dates of the SIA show. This is nothing new of course; over the years, there have been many discussions about show dates. But this time it's different.

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NSSRA Interview: Ned Hamilton

Through 57 years in business, Ned Hamilton is well recognized as the epitome of the specialty retailer in the winter sports business.

Join Your Fellow Retailers at the NSSRA Annual Meeting

When: 5:30-6:30 PM, Thursday, January 28, the first day of the SIA Snow Show in Denver.

Where: Room 505, Colorado Convention Center.

Why: Meet the members of the NSSRA Board of Directors and hear how your Association is supporting specialty snow sports retailers. Learn about NSSRA's newest member benefits, including the POS Data Trending program. Network with fellow snow sports retailers.

SSL President Scott Ford Elected to NSSRA Board

Scott Ford, who recently was named President of the Sports Specialists, Ltd. (SSL) buying group, has been elected to the NSSRA Board of Directors. Ford, previously a hardgoods buyer for Cole Sport, started his career at Cole Sport in 1994 and has been its hardgoods buyers for the past 12 years. On the NSSRA Board of Directors, Ford succeeds Steve Rogers, who recently retired as SSL President.

SIA's David Ingemie To Be Inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

SIA President David Ingemie will be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame next April.

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Nearly 135 Venues (and counting) Sign Up for World's Largest Lesson

Nearly 135 venues have signed for the World's Largest Lesson, which will be held at areas across the country in conjunction with Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month and Bring-A-Friend.

FedEx Announces 2016

Rate Increases

FedEx recently announced its general rate increases (GRI) for 2016.

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Free Seminars, Keynote Speakers Kick Off SIA Show

Industry + Intelligence will prepare you for the 2016 SIA Snow Show with day-long educational offerings, market intelligence, networking opportunities, keynote speakers and social gatherings.

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Alpine Shop Acquires

The Pathfinder

Alpine Shop, a St. Louis-based outdoor retailer and NSSRA member, has signed a letter of intent to purchase The Pathfinder, a specialty outdoor store in Manhattan, KS.

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