SPORTING GOODS RETAILERS MERGE TO JOIN E-COMMERCE SITES

          PA-based Global Sports announced the formation of
     Global Sports Interactive (GSI), which has signed long-term
     e-commerce outsourcing deals with The Athlete's Foot, Sports
     & Recreation, MC Sports, Sports Chalet and one other
     retailer with annual sales over $200M (GSI).  In N.Y., Saul
     Hansell writes that "few industries have undertaken such
     joint efforts" in selling products online.  Under the
     partnership, GSI will use "common software, inventory and
     shipping operations" and "put up all the capital, pay all
     the expenses and take all the risk of owning inventory," but
     has "the potential to earn nearly all the profits."  GSI
     will pay a royalty to each company of "less than" 10% of
     sales under its brand.  The groups will work together to
     increase awareness of the partnership.  GSI Exec VP/E-
     commerce Michael Golden: "Every retailer who works with us
     is obligated to put the Web site address in every ad."  GSI
     "hopes to start" the sites for the retailers and "possibly
     others" in October (N.Y. TIMES, 5/10).