The National Sporting Goods Association advocates on behalf of retailers and team dealers on issues affecting small businesses and the sporting goods industry.

The National Sporting Goods Association advocates on behalf of retailers and team dealers on issues affecting small businesses and the sporting goods industry.
Penalties and fines associated with the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rule for the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), under existing deadlines, will not be enforced, per a release from the U.S. Treasury Department. The Treasury Department said it will not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect either. Read More.
Leaders from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., (USMX) officially signed an extension to their Master Contract that will be effective October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2030. The two sides hailed the new agreement as a “win-win” for both the ILA and USMX as it “protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf Coast ports. Read More.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has invalidated the entirety of Department of Labor’s overtime final rule. The federal minimum salary threshold is once again set to $35,568, however, employers must comply with state exemption laws which may be materially higher than the minimum salary under federal law. If an employer is considering rolling back changes that were already made or announced, it may be beneficial to consult with legal counsel to confirm changes are compliant and how best to communicate forward plans with employees. Read More
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a rule to ban “non-compete agreements” or agreements commonly signed by workers not to join employers’ rivals or launch competing businesses. A Texas judge on August 20 ruled against the FTC’s nationwide ban of non-compete agreements. Read more for the latest updates and an overview of the issue.
PFAS (known as forever chemicals) are a group of synthetic chemicals used to provide stain resistance and water repellency, among other things, to extend the life of a product. Due to their lingering presence in the environment and potential health risks, many states have begun taking action to prohibit the use and/or sale of apparel that contains PFAS, including winter sports gear. Beginning January 1, 2025, it will be illegal to sell or offer for sale any new, not previously used apparel containing PFAS in New York and California.
Retailers must educate themselves on state PFAS regulations and respond accordingly.
NSGA wants to remind you to make sure your website complies with American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. There has been an increase in web accessibility lawsuits targeted at small businesses, according to The Wall Street Journal. Read More
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a final rule that will combat fake reviews and testimonials by prohibiting their sale or purchase. It will allow the FTC to seek civil penalties against knowing violators. Read More.
NSGA tracks a wide variety of issues impacting small business owners in the sporting goods industry. This list will be updated as new issues arise.