Nevada operations shown off at sporting goods show

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 11:19 a.m.

Converse bankruptcy

Sneaker maker Converse Inc. said today it had filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws and plans a restructuring that would include closing North American plants and shifting production to plants in Asia.

North Reading, Mass.-based Converse said it plans to become exclusively a licensor of Converse-brand products, as it is in overseas markets.

The company filed a motion seeking approval of an agreement with Global Brand Marketing Inc. that would make GMI the licensee for Converse-brand footwear in the United States.

It said it has enough financing to continue operations during the restructuring.

A top name in weightlifting machines has established a distribution center in Las Vegas and is exhibiting at the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Super Show.

The top sporting goods and fitness products that will be on store shelves later this year are on display in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Center, the Venetian and Bally's hotel-casinos for the four-day show that opened Sunday and is expected to draw more than 80,000 people.

It's the first time the Super Show -- a collection of 21 product trade shows under one roof -- was set up in Las Vegas after 15 years in Atlanta. The show is closed to the public.

The 2001 Super Show is the first in a three-year commitment the SGMA has to Las Vegas. Organizers say attendance to the show this year is up 7 percent -- the first time in three years the show has experienced growth. Spokesman Mike May attributed the increase to the show's change of venue.

"Everyone likes to come to Las Vegas," May said. "With all the entertainment here, there's a lot to do after the show closes."

But for Day 1 of the nation's largest sporting goods trade show Sunday, activity was brisk at the estimated 2,500 booths, which included about 400 new exhibitors this year.

Among the exhibitors are six scheduled from Nevada, including four with Las Vegas addresses. One of them, a newcomer to Southern Nevada, is one of the biggest names in fitness center weightlifting equipment.

Nautilus Fitness Products Inc. has opened a distribution center at the industrial park at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"I think we're about the only non-automotive company out there," said David Liptak, national sales manager for Nautilus in Las Vegas.

The center has been in operation for about 10 months and will handle the Vancouver, Wash.-based company's West Coast distribution.

Well-known for supplying exercise machines for fitness centers, Nautilus is attempting to develop a new niche in home fitness products. But Liptak pointed out while this is the company's first attempt to market directly to consumers in their homes, the products are designed for high-end customers.

For example, a biceps and arm curl machine will retail for about $2,800 while an abdominal crunch machine will sell for $3,400.

Liptak and President Al Cockrill are the only Las Vegas employees for now, but that could change as the line expands.

"The advantage we have is that we are well known in the clubs," Liptak said. "We've exhibited at a lot of the club industry shows, but this is only our third retail show."

While Nautilus was quite visible in its Venetian display, other Las Vegas companies were harder to find at the show because they were left out of the show guide.

Minelab USA Inc., 2700 E. Patrick Lane No. 11, U.S. Jaclean, 2600 E. Town Center Drive No. 2647, and Gizmo Gear, Las Vegas, had booths scheduled at the Expo Center.

U.S. Jaclean, a late cancellation at the International Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, was prevented from showing its line of reclining chairs because of technical difficulties at the booth.

Minelab USA distributes metal-detection systems. A number of outdoors enthusiasts search for buried artifacts as a recreational pursuit.

Two Sparks companies had celebrity endorsements as part of their booths.

Molten USA, the world's largest distributor of inflated balls, has begun marketing a basketball featuring the hand imprint of Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.

Molten was incorporated in 1958 in Japan, where the line of basketballs, volleyballs, soccer balls and other specialty products are manufactured. Molten U.S.A. was established in Reno in 1990 and three years later, the company moved to Sparks.

Led by President Craig Barker, Molten has exhibited at nine Super Shows. The company's volleyballs and basketballs are the official balls used for a variety of international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

Molten also is the sponsor of the John Wooden Award, which annually goes to the nation's top college basketball player. The Wooden trophy, as well as one of O'Neal's Size 22 basketball shoes, was on display at the Molten exhibit.

The Wooden trophy, presented every year by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, was awarded to UNLV's Larry Johnson in 1991. This year, Rebel center Kaspars Kambala is one of 50 finalists under consideration for the award.

The other Sparks company getting a celebrity endorsement boost is Athletic Training Equipment Co., manufacturers and distributors of baseball pitching machines, balls, tees, practice nets, catchers' protective gear and commercial batting cages.

Former Los Angeles Dodger infielder Jim Levebvre was on hand to demonstrate the new ATEC pitching machine, which rotates on an access, enabling it to deliver a variety of breaking pitches to batters. The machine can throw curve balls, sliders and sinkers, simulating either a left-handed or right-handed pitcher, depending on the setup.

President Gene Grant said the machine retails for $1,800 and is licensed by Major League Baseball.

ATEC has exhibited at every Super Show. The company, which has 48 employees, builds and distributes the machines in Sparks and it won a state economic development award last year.

Representatives of each of the companies said they located in Nevada because of the tax advantages of incorporating in the state.

One of the highlights of this year's Super Show occurs today and Tuesday in panel discussions planned at Caesars Palace. The panels include groups of teenage consumers, answering questions about how they choose products.

Several other celebrity athletes are scheduled to make appearances at the show, including boxer Joe Frazier, football players Lynn Swann, Duane Thomas, Eric Dickerson and Randall Cunningham, baseball all-stars Mike Mussina and Pete Rose, Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen and martial artist Kathy Long.