Foot Locker Inc. made a $2 million strategic investment in Pensole Inc., which operates the Pensole Footwear Design Academy. The investment by Foot Locker, Inc. deepens Foot Locker’s longstanding partnership with Pensole and extends the companies’ relationship across all aspects of the design process.
Skechers USA Inc. broke ground on an expansion of the Skechers Corporate Headquarters that will span several adjacent buildings in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, CA.
Payless, which emerged from bankruptcy proceeding in 2017, reportedly hired investment bank PJ Solomon to explore financial options, including a sale.
Big 5 Sporting Goods expects to show a loss per share in the range of 15 to 17 cents in its fourth quarter ended December 31, which compares to previous guidance of a loss in the range of 15 cents to 25 cents. Same store sales decreased 2.7 percent for the fiscal 2018 full year. After decreasing in the low-single-digit range in October and November, same store sales increased in the mid-single-digit range during December.
Nautilus said fourth-quarter sales came in below guidance as the introduction of the digital platform Max Intelligence (MIP) underperformed and led to softness in Direct revenues. Retail segment revenues continued strong, up 16 percent, with a boost from broad-based strength with key partners in the mass retail and specialty retail channels.
Sears’ largest shareholder and chairman, Eddie Lampert, won a bankruptcy auction for Sears Holdings Corp., keeping the legendary department store from shutting all its remaining stores.
TRX completed a strategic growth recapitalization. Structured as a management buyout of previous investors by Equity38, the partnership was ideal for TRX in that it maintains the company’s existing infrastructure, led by founder/CEO and former Navy SEAL, Randy Hetrick; while also arming TRX with the capital and significant additional category expertise and resources from Equity38, to further develop the TRX brand.
Peak Resorts Inc. completed $31 million in capital improvements at Mount Snow and Hunter Mountain.
Xponential Fitness acquired Stride, a boutique running concept. Stride joins seven other brands under the Xponential Fitness umbrella including Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, StretchLab, Row House, AKT and YogaSix.
American Outdoor Brands Corp. announced that its Electro-Optics Division, Crimson Trace Corp., has completed the acquisition of LaserLyte, a provider of laser training and sighting products for the consumer market.
Edge Technologies Engineering LLC acquired the Al Mar Knife brand. Gary Fadden, president of Al Mar Knives, has become Al Mar chairman emeritus and will attend SHOT and major industry events.
In a blog post, Jerry Stritzke, REI’s CEO, said the company will be giving “at least $250,000” to help with the restoration efforts from the damage caused by the government shutdown and called on others to aid in the restoration efforts.
Mountainsmith President Jay Getzel has left the company to join Nite Ize Inc. as director of its outdoor/pet/toy division.
Head North American CEO/President, Kevin Kempin announced the promotion of Jon Rucker to president, Head/Tyrolia USA Winter Sports Division.
In the wake of significant investments from its new parent company, Royal Robbins is undergoing a brand transformation, bringing aboard 11 key new personnel in the last six months. The company also opened a new global headquarters in downtown San Francisco, and moved its distribution operations into a new state-of-the-art distribution facility in Louisville, CO.
Kathmandu Holdings Ltd. appointed Amy Beck to the position of president, Obōz/Kathmandu North America, based at the company’s North American headquarters in Bozeman, MT. More recently, Beck held executive roles at Smartwool and Lucy Activewear, both part of VF Corp.
Aetrex Worldwide appointed Jason Israel VP of business development in the technology and orthotics division, and Renee Newman as VP of sales, strategic footwear accounts.
Puma appointed Arne Freundt as regional general manager Europe and EEMEA. Freundt had been Puma’s global director retail & e-commerce.
Activewear brand Vuori Clothing appointed Sarah Carlson as its VP of women’s product design. The role, created for Carlson, puts her in charge for all design aspects of Vuori’s growing women’s category. Most recently, she was VP of design and product innovation at Athleta,
Pacific Market International (PMI), the manufacturer of food and beverage container solutions including the Stanley brand, hired David Parker as CFO and COO.
Velocity Outdoor promoted Dave Jenner to VP of product development. Jenner’s recent roll was director of business development.
24 Hour Fitness said Tony Ueber, former president and CEO of Results Physiotherapy, will become CEO. Current CEO Chris Roussos will step down and remain as a special advisor to the company for the next two months to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
Hemisphere Design Works, the world’s largest maker of kayaks, hired Jim Fox as CEO. Fox’s predecessor, Chuck Smith, stepped down from his position following a mutual agreement. He previously served as president of Brunswick’s Attwood Marine Products business.
Puma and Porsche Design entered into a strategic partnership to bring a new line of high-end sportswear, footwear and accessories to the market.
Skechers Performance, a division of Skechers USA, Inc., returns to Houston, TX on January 20, 2019, for its sixth year as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
Fanatics will introduce its first-ever credit card program as part of a long-term partnership with Synchrony.
On the heels of surpassing more than $1 million donated to organizations that support its mission since 2014, Operation Hat Trick (OHT) announced its newest partnership with Fanatics.
The Under Armour Association (UAA) announced three newly formed grassroots platforms with UAA-Girls, UA Rise and UA Future, encompassing the entire spectrum of grassroots basketball from 17U to 10U for girls.
PHIT America launched a 28-minute documentary, “Creating Healthier & Smarter Kids: The Power of P.E.,” detailing the negative side effects of physical inactivity. The video will be distributed to P.E. teachers and other school administrators to help highlight the importance of P.E. programs.
CRKT, a designer, developer and manufacture of knives, tools, and lifestyle accessories, partnered with The Evans Group for sales representation across the United States and Eastern Canada.
Meopta USA Sport Optics hired Simpson Sales Company as its sales agency for the Southeastern United States.
The University of North Carolina and two-time NCAA champion head coach Jenny Levy have agreed to a multiyear contract with Epoch Lacrosse.
Ping signed Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open Champion and six-time PGA Tour winner, to an endorsement deal.
Salomon partnered with Aravaipa Running, the Arizona-based trail and ultra-running event organizer best known for iconic races like the Kendall Mountain Run and the Desert Solstice.
ECAC Hockey partnered with gear and apparel company, SquadLocker.
Image courtesy Foot Locker
