Keiser Corporation has decided to withdraw from the IHRSA 2020 Convention and Trade Show in San Diego, CA, due to the continuing global spread of the coronavirus. Read more
Brooks Running, which is based in Seattle, WA, is restricting all non-essential travel and encouraging employees to work from home if possible as part of its response to the coronavirus outbreak. Read more
Converse signed Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors to become the face of the brand as it looks to get back into performance basketball. Read more
Le Coq Sportif reached an agreement to supply apparel for the French Olympic and Paralympic team for the Paris 2024 Games. Read more
Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Macy’s debt ratings but changed its outlook to negative from stable. Read more
Duluth Holdings Inc. (dba, Duluth Trading Co.) on Thursday announced the grand opening of its 62nd store in Short Pump, VA. Read more
Gap Inc. on Thursday announced that its board of directors has named Sonia Syngal, who has been CEO of the portfolio’s Old Navy business since 2016, as the company’s next CEO, effective March 23. Read more
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) in a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation released “Keeping Girls in the Game: Factors that Influence Sport Participation,” a new, national research report examining the social influences on youth entry, retention and drop out from sports. Read more
Sports Engineering Inc. (SEI) announced that former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann has joined SEI to help advance SEI’s SmartSpring technology. Read more
Cole Haan on Thursday announced the opening of its first GrandShop in the United States at Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall in San Jose, CA. Read more
Everlast has revealed the next wave of trailblazers to be celebrated in “Be First,” a global campaign challenging consumers to carve their own path to success. Read more
Brooks Brothers Group Inc. announced that it has filed a response and counterclaim against Brooks Sports Inc. for breach of contract, trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition. Read more
Three-in-four professionals (75 percent) said their company organizes activities to celebrate sporting events like March Madness, according to new research from global staffing firm Robert Half. Read more
The Buckle Inc. announced that comparable store net sales, for stores open at least one year, for the four-week period ended February 29, 2020, increased 6.3 percent. Read more
Diane Pelkey, Under Armour‘s long-time SVP of communications, has left the company. She joined Under Armour in 2007. Read More
Seattle Manufacturing Corporation (SMC) purchased the tooling and machinery to produce Omega Pacific’s top-selling carabiners, specifically the ISO forged D’s, Ovals, and select HMS models. Read more
Nike temporarily closed its London headquarters in Soho as cases of coronavirus spreads in the U.K. Another Nike office at Doxford Park near Sunderland was also temporarily closed. Read more
Savage Apparel Co., Five Ultimate and ARIA Discs have merged to officially announce the launch of XII Brands. Read more
Track & Field, a high-end fitness and lifestyle apparel brand with 231 stores in Brazil has filed for an IPO with Brazil’s securities industry regulator. Read more
The FBI completed 2.8 million gun background checks in February, up 36 percent from February 2018 year ago and the third-highest monthly total since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) began in 1998. Read more
Pure Archery Group on Wednesday announced the addition of Dave Parker to the executive team as vice president of product marketing. Read more
The Arnold Fitness EXPO, scheduled to take place in Columbus, OH, from March 6 to 8, has been postponed due to coronavirus precautions. Read more
SportsEngine Inc., a provider of sports relationship management software, announced that it has reached a milestone in its subsidiary National Center for Safety Initiatives’ (NCSI) partnership with US Lacrosse, conducting over 30,000 coach and volunteer background screens for the organization. Read more
YKK Corporation, the manufacturer of zippers and fastening products, announced that it has become a signatory to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. Read more
Louis Garneau, the cycling apparel specialist, has filed for bankruptcy protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada. Read more
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Boardriders Inc.‘s ratings, including the corporate family rating to Caa1 from B3, probability of default rating to Caa1-PD from B3-PD, and secured term loan rating to Caa1 from B3. Read more
Fox Factory Holding Corp. reported earnings on an adjusted basis rose 12.9 percent on an 18.5 percent revenue gain. Read more
BSN Sports announced that it has acquired Nill Bros. Sports, based in Kansas City, KS. Read more
Outdoor Retailer said Tuesday that while it’s closely monitoring the coronavirus situation, right now the company is “actively planning” to host the annual OR Summer Market June 23-25 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. Read more
Lilly Pulitzer announced a partnership with the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association). Read more
Ross Stores Inc. reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2020 grew 7 percent to $1.28 on net income of $456 million. Read more
Urban Outfitters Inc. reported earnings on an adjusted basis fell 45.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Read more
REI, based in Seattle, WA temporarily closed three corporate campuses in the state to conduct a deep cleaning after learning that two headquarter employees may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Read more
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show on Tuesday announced it would postpone its event, scheduled for March in Dallas, TX, due to concerns over the coronavirus and rescheduled it for August. Read more
Bill Hicks & Co. Ltd., a distributor of wholesale sporting goods, on Tuesday announced the addition of Randy Moeller to its executive team in the new role as director of sales. Read more
Hoka One One, a division of Deckers Brands, launched its first apparel collection for fitness and outdoor enthusiasts. Read more
Nordstrom Inc. on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings. The company also announced it will transition from its Co-President structure to a sole CEO, with Erik Nordstrom to serve in this role. Read more
Montane, the U.K. outdoor clothing and accessories company, said Edinburgh-based specialist consumer brand investor Inverleith LLP has secured a majority stake in the company. Read more
IHRSA said it is “carefully monitoring” developments related to the coronavirus outbreak but plans to hold the IHRSA 2020 Fitness Show that runs from March 18 to 21 in San Diego, CA. Read more
SparBar Inc., the pioneers of SparBar boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA) and fitness equipment, has engaged four international copyright infringement law firms to aggressively defend the company’s inventions and intellectual property (IP). Read more
Topgolf Entertainment Group has engaged its hometown NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, on a marketing collaboration. Read more
Decathlon, the French-sporting goods chan, reported sales rose 9 percent in 2019, to over €12.4 billion ($13.78 bn). Read more
Baden Sports confirmed the passing of longtime CEO and President, Michael J. Schindler. Read more
More than two dozen of the industry’s top specialty run brands will present their products at The Running Industry Association’s (RIA) second annual Kick Show—also known as Kick Show 2.0—in Denver, CO, this May. Read more
Astral, a manufacturer of PFDs and footwear, announced that Tad Fox of DIY Outdoor will join its sales team. Read more
Carrie Underwood, who launched the CALIA By Carrie Underwood line of athleisure wear five years ago at Dick’s Sporting Goods, announced the launch of her new fitness app, fit52. Read more
Topgolf Entertainment Group is planning to open a location in Wichita, KS. Read more
Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open two Dick’s Sporting Goods locations in Chattanooga, TN; and Hagerstown, MD; as well as two Golf Galaxy locations in Warwick, RI; and Berwyn, PA. Read more
Callaway Golf Co. announced Monday that Joe B. Flannery has joined the company as executive vice president, apparel and soft goods. Read more
Trivest Partners announced that its affiliate, ASB Sports, has acquired the team sports division of Universal Athletic, headquartered in Bozeman, MT. Read more
Nike closed its Oregon headquarters over the weekend and is closing its European headquarters in Amsterdam on Monday and Tuesday for deep cleaning in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Columbia Sportswear, also over the weekend, thoroughly disinfected its offices in Portland, OR. Read more
Shaun White, the three-time snowboarding champion, said he won’t try to qualify for the U.S. skateboarding team in that sport’s Olympic debut later this year in Tokyo. Read more
Olin Corp., the parent of Winchester, announced the appointment of Scott Ferguson and W. Barnes Hauptfuhrer to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Read more
According to a survey from Coresight Research, nearly three-quarters of U.S. consumers would stay away from malls or shopping centers if the coronavirus outbreak worsens in the U.S. Read more
Gannett and its EnMotive Company division announced that industry veteran John Smith has joined the company as vice president of partnerships, effective immediately. Read more
Groundwork Endurance has announced its partnership with Skechers for the 35th annual Carlsbad 5000 presented by National University. Read more
Harley-Davidson Inc. announced that Jochen Zeitz, the former chairman and CEO of Puma, has become acting president and CEO. Read more
Steve Self has joined St. Croix Rod as the company’s director of sales. Read more
Photo courtesy Keiser Corp.
