Income Drops in Q1 for Sports Equipment Maker

A decrease in action sports equipment contributed to Easton-Bell Sports Inc. posting a lower net income for the first quarter when compared to a year ago. The Van Nuys-based manufacturer reported net income of $122,000 on revenues of $194.1 million for the quarter ending April 3. For the same period in 2009, the company reported net income of $975,000 on revenues of $184.9 million. Easton-Bell saw an increase in the sales of baseball, softball and football equipment by $11.6 million for the quarter while action sports equipment such as cycling helmets and accessories went down by $2.4 million. Overall, the financial results were consistent with what the company expected, said President and CEO Paul Harrington. “We are encouraged that our new product introductions were well-received by retailers and consumers as we refine and improve our go to market process across our business segments,” Harrington said. Mark R. Madler