When challenged to a push up contest by military personnel, SKLZ's Jeff Schade (above) politely declined....

Sport-Brella has done it again...gone off and protected people from the sun, wind, rain and whatever else Mother Nature can throw their way.  This time the Sport-Brella is serving us at military bases around the world where our dedicated US Army and Air Force troops face severe weather conditions on a daily basis. From South Korea to Afghanistan, Guam to Germany, Okinawa to our backyard at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA, the Sport-Brella is making its way to all AAFES Military Exchanges around the globe to protect those who serve and protect us.

"I love the fact that it sets up in seconds and doesn't let any of the intense sun and rain we get in Hawaii pass through the fabric!  And you can secure it down in the sand when the high winds kick up?  When are we getting our shipment and can it be sooner?!"  states SGM Jeffrey Gardner from Hickam AFB BX / BXtra. 

We couldn't have put it better ourselves Sargeant Gardner.  Not only did the Sport-Brella steal the show, the rest of the SKLZ lineup was very well received and it looks like the Sport-Brella Chair is going to follow in the steps of the Sport-Brella and steal the next show.  Reaction to the Sport-Brella Chair was overwhelming with exclamations of "when can we get that?!" and "we NEED that!" 

SKLZ's Executive Director of Sales for the USA, Jeff Schade, presented at the 3 day AAFES MSM/GM Vendor Expo in Dallas, TX March 24-26 where store managers, assistant store managers, buyers, DMM's, GM's and key military personnel for the AAFES Exchange Retail Stores gathered for key internal meetings and sessions with top vendors to review the best of the best items that the AAFES stores carry.  The format is intense; three full days of back-to-back 10-minute line review sessions with over 600 attendees.  The Expo is highlighted by Thursday's flood of presentations, starting at 0600 hours and lasting until Oh...6:00 PM.  That's a 12-hour day of over 70 presentations and relentless questions and answer sessions.

It looks like Sport-Brella will be on the bases for some time to come based on early sales.  One new Exchange which recently had a Grand Opening sold through every single unit shipped to them, all in one weekend.  The store is already asking for more. 

In addition to the Sport-Brella, the SKLZ Team Sports assortment was a hit. The baseball training line fawned over the entire time, and the golf training items received a lot of buzz.  And of course, AAFES will expand on the successful 2009 Pro Mini Hoop promotion--there are rumors that AAEFES will order double or triple the number of units for 2010.

All in all, it's another banner year with the SKLZ line at AAFES. More importantly, SKLZ has provided our brave service men and women with a key product assortment to help with the R+R side of duty and at the same time providing much needed shelter from the elements with the Sport-Brella.

SKLZ salutes the AAFES network of Exchanges worldwide.