While overall wholesale ball shipments ticked up slightly for the first six months of 2015, in general tennis equipment shipments into the wholesale market for the first half continued to be a challenge for manufacturers and retailers.

The TIA and USTA have released the updated “Tennis Talking Points” document, which highlights and summarizes a number of topics regarding the tennis industry, with a focus on key messaging. The document, which can be used to help promote tennis locally, is available to view and download at TennisIndustry.org under “media.”

Reserve your spot now for the 8th Annual TIA Tennis Forum, which will be Monday, Aug. 31, at the Grand Hyatt New York City (42nd Street and Lexington Avenue). The Forum, which is free to attend, will be from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. in Salon V on the Ballroom level. It will also include the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame induction for industry pioneer Peter Burwash.

Two years ago, the State of the Tennis Industry meeting in New York was the start of an examination of the health of our industry. Through subsequent Tennis Summits and Tennis Owners & Managers (T.O.M.) Conferences, the TIA brought the industry together to exchange ideas and open a dialogue on issues and concerns, which continues this year at the TIA Tennis Forum on Aug. 31 in New York City.

The Tennis Industry Association has recently updated its comprehensive online industry resource, the TIA Business Directory, designed to help quickly locate products, services, and information that tennis industry professionals and tennis players seek. The TIA Business Directory lists more than 10,000 tennis industry businesses. It can be accessed at TennisIndustry.org by clicking on “Directory.”

The 2014 holiday shopping season was a welcomed boost to tennis racquet sales in the pro/specialty retail market this year. From October to December, traditionally peak "shopping" season in the U.S., tennis racquet unit sales increased 4% over the same period last year.

Shoppers across the nation showed strong support for local independent businesses, including tennis retailers, on Small Business Saturday. About 88 million consumers “Shopped Small” on Nov. 29, up 14.9 percent from a year ago, according to the results from the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released by the National Federation of Independent  Business (NFIB) and American Express.

The Tennis Industry Association is proud to announce its partnership with Small Business Saturday® for 2014, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country. Founded by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. For 2014, consumers are being encouraged to "Shop Small" on November 29!

More than 1,000 tennis industry leaders, executives and professionals gathered at The Tennis Show 2014 recently in New York City to celebrate the business of tennis. Held on the eve of the US Open, The Tennis Show was produced by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) and included the TIA Tennis Forum, the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame Induction, and 54 companies displaying their latest products and services.

More than fifty tennis businesses and organizations from across the country and many with an international presence will be on hand as exhibitors for The Tennis Show 2014, set for Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Grand Hyatt New York.