Fremont-based Nebraska Sports Industries announces sale to BSN Sports of Dallas
Nebraska Sports Industries Inc. based in Fremont, recently announced the sale of its school and team division to BSN Sports of Dallas, the nation's largest team dealer.
The team sales division of Nebraska Sports operated as Lou's Sporting Goods since 1972 and served high school and college athletic programs throughout Nebraska and Kansas. Lou's had 14 school salesmen and represented all of the major brands, including Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Wilson, Rawlings, Mizuno, Asics, Baden and many more, a news release said.
BSN Sports acquired 24 employees of Lou's team division so that the entire team division staff retained their jobs.
The BSN Sports purchase did not include the Nebraska Sports retail stores in Fremont, Lincoln and Columbus. Those stores are being liquidated by Nebraska Sports under the terms of the agreement.
BSN does not operate retail stores. Their specialty is team business and they have over 500 salesmen in 50 states.
The downtown Fremont Lou's store will continue to operate under the name Nebraska Sports. Nebraska Sports also operates a decoration operation which will continue to serve business customers and decorate uniforms for BSN Sports and Nebraska Sports customers.
The decoration company will continue to employ its current staff of 10 and increase its efforts to sell and decorate garments for local businesses and other team dealers in the Midwest, the release said.
Nebraska Sports Industries Inc. also is a licensed partner for the University of Nebraska, Creighton University, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Nebraska at Kearney and other schools and colleges. It operates a wholesale division providing licensed products to retailers and bookstores.
The company was founded in 1967 by Louis Wewel. The release from Nebraska Sports said the decision to sell the company to BSN was a difficult one due to the over 50 years of successful operation.
Joe and Sue Wewel, Roger and Dee Brackhan, and Tom and Mary Coday are the remaining employee stockholders. They are all ready for retirement and with all of the changes to the industry regarding access to product and marketing channels, the stockholders said it was obvious that the best solution was to accept the offer from BSN Sports that would continue to provide employment opportunity for so many of Lou's employees.
Fremont has been home to Lou's Sporting Goods and Nebraska Sports stores for over 50 years.
"We thank all the customers and families that have patronized our stores and the many young employees who has passed through our doorways on their way to their careers," Roger Brackhan, president of Nebraska Sports, said in the news release. "And, to our longtime employees, many of whom have served 25 years and more, thank you for your trust, dedication and commitment to our business.
"While we would have preferred to keep the company as it was, we know that no industry continues without change. We hope our customers will continue to support our operation in downtown Fremont. We feel privileged and honored to have served so many thousands of student athletes, coaches, and their schools over our history."
