SUPER SHOW SURVEYS: BRAND LOYALTY AND IN-LINE SKATING

     According to a survey by Kurt Salmon Associates to be
released today at The Super Show in Atlanta, the $33B sporting
goods industry is "rapidly evolving into a business of brands."
85% of products sold by manufactures were brand labels in '94, up
from 79% in '93.  Kurt Salmon's John Amsler: "A generic product
doesn't have an allure in sports that it has at a grocery store."
According to the survey, manufacturers rated "developing and
strengthening a brand" as their No. 1 concern for '95.  Five
sporting good brands  -- Nike, Reebok, Champion, Starter and
Russell -- appear in the top 20 of loyalty among U.S. male and
female shoppers for any goods (Chris Roush, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
2/2).
     IN-LINE SKATING:  In another Kurt Salmon survey for the
World Federation Sporting Goods Industry, in-line skating will be
the "fastest growing sport" between now and 2001.  The survey
will be released today at The Super Show.  There has been a 310%
increase in in-line participation over the last six years (Henry
Unger, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/2).