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September 9 – 11, 2007
TAG Product Committee Meeting
St. Louis, MO
September 23 – 25, 2007
TAG Advisory Committee Meeting
St. Louis, MO
October 11 – 13, 2007
TAG Fall Buying Show
St. Louis, MO
May 4 – 7, 2008
NSGA Management Conference and TAG Dealer Summit
Phoenix , AZ
June 9 – 11, 2008
TAG Spring Show
Las Vegas, NV
October 23 – 25, 2008
TAG Fall Show TBA
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 It isn’t very often in life when you can please everybody. In fact, it’s rare. In addition, most people would think that bringing 400 Team Roadmen to the temptations of Las Vegas for a two day seminar would be a disaster. It is a pleasure to say, with the close of the Second TAG Dealer Seminar, and in reviewing your surveys, the Vegas Dealer Seminar and Spring Show was a success!
In planning this event, the TAG staff began over a year ago to assemble a wide variety of educational, sales and TAG product training sessions. We realized that individual seminars would not please some of you, but wanted each person to walk away with a new found knowledge of any product or a new sales technique. After analyzing all of your survey responses, we can say we accomplished just that!
 In addition, your responses allowed us to track certain trends from each session at the seminar. From the first session, Under Armour definitely impressed the majority of the attendees with a video presentation and their continued commitment to the Team Market. From the second session that was geared toward TAG product, everyone was glad to see that the TAG Team Uniform On Line Designer was finally here. From Session III, most of you walked away with a new found understanding of how to sell Cheerleading and was rated the highest among the selling seminars. And finally, for those of you that stayed until the very end, George Brett hit a homerun with his closing remarks and it was a kick to ask him questions regarding his career and sport of baseball!
Some changes for next year? We definitely need to stay at the Venetian to avoid that 25 minute walk to the show floor each morning. And yes, we need to improve the acoustics at the show. And yes, we need a General Session meeting room off the main show floor. These have all been addressed and are changed. Even with these problems, the majority of the membership gave the seminar and show a “4”or a “5” overall rating. Next year, we will give Vegas one more try. Mark your calendars. The dates for the 2008 Spring Show are June 9 – 11, 2008!
From the Desk of Stan Morrison
The Sporting Goods Industry is moving fast and changing even faster. Our main ‘charge’ at the TAG headquarters will always be to bring the TAG dealers better opportunities to make more profit. This becomes even more challenging as our industry experiences the changes that we are seeing.
 If the old ways at TAG don’t work anymore, we are trying out some new ideas. Keep in mind, every new idea or program that we introduce usually comes from our Product Committee, our Advisory Board, or one of our members. If a new proposal or new program idea is brought from the TAG Staff, it is always discussed with one or both of the TAG Dealer Committees. If there is a lot of support from the Committees, then we move forward. I think most of you understand this but I just wanted to use the format of this newsletter to re-emphasize that point.
One perfect example of this is our new National Equipment Program from the Sports Supply Group/Athletic Connection. We proposed this opportunity to the Advisory Committee plus I personally called most of the members of the Product Committee to discuss it in detail. I also called other key members who were already involved with this program to solicit their feedback. In other words, we did our homework.
I just want to make sure that all of you understand – this is your TAG Group. Everything we do is for you and you “always have a voice”. To try to introduce any program that all 55 of you will embrace is absolutely impossible. But you have my promise, we will continue to try.
 By now I think most of you have had a chance to meet Bob and Kathy Fawley from Capitol Varsity Sports, of Oxford, Ohio, home of the Miami University Redhawks. Along with being a successful team dealer, Capitol Varsity is also a well established reconditioner. In fact Bob is the past President of the NAERA (National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association). Earlier this year, he passed the baton to our own Jim Kimmel.
Fitting Capitol Varsity into our map was a bit of a tight squeeze. Therefore, we want to thank Bob Fawley for being so accommodating and working with his new “TAG Brothers.” Additional thanks need to go out to the following TAG Members, who worked with Bob for the benefit of the group; Team Sports, Kohlmyer, Tuffy Brooks, Clark’s, Newberry’s and Lowes. Capitol Varsity will cover two important metropolitan areas where we didn’t have coverage; Cincinnati and Columbus.
Always remember that by adding new members, we can more easily reach the minimum product buys needed to keep our prices low. In addition, territory overlap is our first concern when considering the addition of a new member. If you know of a Team Dealer in an area where we need coverage, please let us know.
TAG Office Requests Member Direction on Vendors
Over the last few months, we have been working with vendors more closely then ever, and we have learned that they are more then happy to accommodate our requests to modify their programs per our direction. I know that most vendors realize the buying power of TAG and want to work with our group.
 Now we need to learn from you which vendors are important to you and what you would like to see changed about their programs. Vendors will work with us but if we don’t support them with orders, the cooperation will be short lived. Therefore, we must target the vendors you want.
We will be sending out another survey to rate the vendors prior to the October Show. Please take the time to complete it and get it back to us. Beyond the survey, I encourage you to call or email me anytime you see a program you don’t like, or vendor that you want us to approach. If we send out a flyer from a vendor and you have a comment, get back to me. The more we talk, the better our vendor relations will be.
TAG’s Fall Buying Show is Just Around the Corner!
 We may have just returned from our Spring Sales Seminar and Buying Show in Vegas, however, our Fall Buying Show is approaching quickly. As with last year’s event, we will be back in beautiful St. Charles, Missouri. The specific dates for the show will be October 11 – 13, 2007.
In fact, your show packet containing all the details will be arriving in the mail shortly. This packet will also contain your badge and hotel information. It is important that we confirm each Dealer’s attendance. And remember, we will need the arrival and departure dates for everyone attending. Make sure to complete all the forms and return them to Chris Foster no later than August 31, 2007.
In the meantime, if you would like to make your arrangements early, plan on arriving in St. Charles on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. The General Session will begin bright and early Thursday morning. In addition, TAG’s Annual Awards Reception will be held Saturday October 13, 2007! As with the past receptions, this years evening promises to be an exciting event. We hope that everyone will attend and make arrangements to leave on Sunday morning.
As always, if you have any questions regarding the show, call Chris at the TAG office.
TTU Uniform Designer Now Available!
 It was a hit at the TAG Dealer Seminar in Vegas and it is a pleasure to say that the TAG Team Uniforms “On Line Design” program is now ready to go live! On July 20, 2007 the designer will be available for everyone to use!
As we mentioned at the seminar, you can access the program by going to the TAG Team Uniforms website at www.tagteamuniforms.com. On the home page, you will see the “On Line Design” logo. Click on this icon and it will take you directly to the designer. Follow the steps to create any baseball or softball illustration. You will have the ability to change the garment colors, add several options, change rib knit trim and add screen print or twill decorations. Remember, once you have completed the mock up you can print or save it for future use. Or better yet, turn in the mock up with your order to insure it is produced correctly!
Now that baseball and softball are complete, we will be tackling football and is scheduled to be available by the end of October 2007. In addition, basketball should be up and running by the end of the year. More sports will follow in 2008, however, while in development, or to see other sports not scheduled for completion this year, you can continue to order your mock ups by going to www.tagteamuniforms.com/mockup.
Finally, as with any new computer program, you may run into ‘snags’ with the designer. If you experience any difficulties completing a design, please let us know and we will get them fixed as soon as we can.
Import News
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July 27, 2007
Additional ALT shoulder pads arrive in Seattle
August 1, 2007
Last day to add to your Spring 2008 TAG import order.
September 1, 2007
Fall Clothing purchase amounts due from TAG dealers.
December 1, 2007
Spring 2008 product arrival into Seattle.
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After much debate, the TAG Product Committee has decided to add 2" in length to the TPLA adult baseball pant. This will include any product ordered on your SPRING 2008 IMPORT ORDER. Keep in mind, this change is on the ADULT pant only! In addition, the added length will change your price by 12 cents. Therefore the TPLA, sizes S through 2XL, is now $7.38. and the TPLA 3XL will be $7.99. Please change your spring 2008 books. If this decision changes your pant order, please contact the TAG office as soon as possible. Remember you have until August 1st to add to your Spring 2008 TAG order!
Another change that occurred at the Spring Show was in regards to the TBB770-PW rubber plug. We are dropping the plug with the dome top in favor of a flatter top with 32 bristles. In addition to being the preferred shape by the members, the price is now $2.05. This is down from the $2.21 price that was shown in your Spring 2008 buying book. If you could, please make the changes to your books and we will make sure your orders are updated with revised pricing. You will see this change on your order confirmation we will send to you with the Spring 2008 final document mailing.
Finally, do you need more ALT shoulder pads? The TAG warehouse is bringing in more with our 2nd fill-in container that is arriving in Seattle on July 27th. Please use the TAG warehouse to place orders and to check on the availability of any product.
If you would like to see any additions or changes to the TAG Import product, contact your TAG Product Committee representative. The Product Committee will be meeting once again at the TAG office September 9 – 11, 2007.
Did You See?
 This past fall, TAG reached thousands of Pennsylvania football fans, players and coaches as it was featured on the cover of PA Football Digest. In a TAG Team Uniform, Henry Hynoski of Southern Columbia High School was featured along side Jamar Brittingham of Bloomsburg University and Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers. PA Football Digest is an annual publication that features every Professional, College and High School football program in the state in an editorial format. Thanks go out to the crew at Demans for placing this top rated team in TAG Team Uniforms and Equipment, and sending us a copy of this publication!
Click on the image to see a larger picture.
 As I clear out my office, a flood of memories pass before me and I could not leave without thanking you for your loyalty and support over the years. The past year has been difficult for all of us as we have proceeded down the path of change. I leave St. Louis with a strong belief in Stan’s ability to lead TAG forward over the next few years. I look at what has been accomplished since June of 2006 and it is hard to imagine what has transpired. We have a wonderful custom clothing facility, we have significantly increased the PIP and rebates, we had a fantastic national seminar, our staff will be moving into a new Corporate facility, our current 10,000 sq ft warehouse facility will be soon replaced with a larger 28,000 sq ft facility, we have embarked on a much needed dealer expansion program, and most importantly, we have seen substantial dealer profit increases on our TAG branded merchandise.
I would be remiss if I did not single out “The first lady of TAG”, Marianne and thank her for her patience and belief in all of you. In allowing me to spend this additional time in St. Louis to aid in the transition to our new administration, she put her own needs and wishes aside for the good of the TAG organization. It was a sacrifice that many would not make and it goes without saying that was greatly appreciated.
I will be working projects for TAG under Stan’s direction during the rest of 2007 in a much reduced capacity and hopefully will get a chance to see many of you in October at the TAG Fall Buying Show. Until that time, thanks for the opportunity to serve you, it has been a pleasure doing so.
Seattle, here I come!! Trevor
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