Aisle Talk Week Of July 17, 2020

<span style="color: #a3a3a3;">The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of July 13, 2020 covered in the SGB Updates — delivered to your inbox every business day.

— July 17, 2020 —

›Nike Training Club App To Remain Permanently Free
Nike has made Nike Training Club (NTC) permanently free after waiving the app’s premium fee in April for a limited time to help people stay active in their homes while quarantining due to COVID-19. Read more

›Remington Arms Plant Workers Face Layoffs In Upstate New York
Remington Arms, which reportedly is exploring a bankruptcy filing, has told hourly workers at its factory in the Herkimer County village of Ilion in Upstate New York, that they will be furloughed following their shifts on Friday. Read more

›Leica Camera Appoints President, North America
Leica Camera, a maker of cameras and sports optics, appointed Mike Giannattasio as president of its North American division effective July 1. Read more

›Arcus Hunting Appoints National Accounts Manager
Arcus Hunting, based in Covington, GA, appointed Jake Mersberger as its national accounts manager. Mersberger will be responsible for the Tink’sÆ, Dead Down Wind, Ramcat, Trophy Taker, and Rack One brands. Read more

›Grundéns Strengthens Marketing And Sales Teams
Grundéns, a producer of fishing apparel and footwear, announced the addition of four team members to its marketing and sales teams. The hires include Brent Brauner as director of marketing, Dave Drulard as a key accounts manager, Jaime Huffman as regional sales director (East), and Tom Shores as regional sales director (West). Read more

›Big Agnes Appoints Director Of North American Sales
Big Agnes Inc., the Steamboat Springs, CO-based outdoor equipment brand, recently hired Jill Lewis as director of North American sales and Eric Einfeld as a senior demand planner. The company also completed the relocation of its headquarters to downtown Steamboat Springs, CO. Read more

›USA Shooting Announces Matt Suggs As Chief Executive Officer
Long-time executive leader and former National Team Member, Matt Suggs, has been selected by USA Shooting for the role of chief executive officer. Read more

›ICAST Announces 2020 Best Of Show Awards
ICAST announced the results of the 2020 ICAST Online New Product Showcase sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer. Read more

›Afterpay Introduces Apple Pay For In-Store Payments
Afterpay, the buy-now-pay-later platform, announced that its customers can now use Apple Pay to make purchases through Afterpay in physical retail stores and online. Read more

›NRF Survey Predicts Potential Record Back-To-School Spending
Consumers tentatively plan to spend a record amount to prepare students for school and college this year as they buy more laptops and computer accessories in anticipation that at least some classes will take place online because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Read more

›Nike And Roma To End Sponsorship
Roma, the Italian professional football club based in Rome, announced a “premature termination” of its partnership with Nike at the close of the 2019/20 season. Read more

›Zalando Forecasts Strong Q2
Zalando SE, Europe’s online platform for fashion, expects a significant increase in sales and EBIT in the second quarter, which is significantly above current market expectations. Read more

›West Coast League Partners With Teambrown Apparel
The West Coast League (WCL), one of North America’s summer collegiate baseball leagues, announced a new partnership with Teambrown Apparel to produce WCL-branded merchandise. Read more

›New Era Seeks To Be Released From Naming Rights To Buffalo Bills Stadium
New Era Cap Company is asking the Buffalo Bills to end the Orchard Park stadium naming rights contract. Read more

›Strideline Named Official Sock Partner Of Pop Warner
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization, has named Strideline its official sock partner through 2022. Read more

›U.S. Retail Sales Climb 7.5 Percent In June
U.S. retail sales jumped 7.5 percent in June from the prior month as some stores and restaurants reopened. Results came out ahead of Reuters’ expectations calling for an increase of 5 percent. Read more

›Dick’s SG Names Larry Fitzgerald To Its Board
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. announced that Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., the 11-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, has been named to the company’s Board of Directors. Read more

›Tilly’s Warns Of Sluggish Restart
Tilly’s Inc. provided a business update indicating that same-store sales are down 9.4 percent through July 14 and being impacted by weak traffic as stores reopen. The retailer also warned that sales will be impacted by the California’s decision on July 13 to close indoor shopping malls after reopening them in mid-June. Read more

›Anta Warns On First-Half Profits
Anta Sports Products Ltd. said it expects profits to decline up to 25 percent in the first half ended June 30 and up to 35 percent after taking into account its share of the loss from the Amer Sports acquisition. Read more

›StockX Sees Accelerated Growth Amid Pandemic
Despite unprecedented, industry-wide challenges due to COVID-19, StockX, the sneaker re-selling website, announced it has now surpassed $2.5 billion in gross merchandise value and has experienced its biggest months of sales in the second quarter. Read more

— July 15, 2020 —

›JCPenney To Cut Jobs In Restructuring
JCPenney Company Inc., which is reorganizing in bankruptcy proceedings, announced that it is aligning its workforce with its store optimization strategy and reduced store footprint. The company will reduce its workforce by approximately 1,000 corporate, field management and international positions. Read more

›The World Games 2022 Birmingham Partners With NFL, Adds Flag Football
The World Games 2022 Birmingham, in partnership with the International World Games Association (IWGA), National Football League (NFL) and International Federation of American Football (IFAF) announced that flag football will join the existing lineup of 32 multi-disciplinary sports. Read more

›Varsity Brands Campaign To Support The Return Of School
Varsity Brands, the parent of BSN Sports, Varsity Spirit and Herff Jones, announced the launch of a campaign, Impact Now, in anticipation of the 2020-2021 school year. Impact Now leverages Varsity Brands’ scale to offer administrators, faculty, and coaches with a digital playbook and related resources that advance school health, safety, and emotional and physical needs of students in both physical and virtual classroom settings. Read more

›Play It Again Parent Sees Q2 Earnings Dip
Winmark Corporation, the parent of Play it Again Sports, reported net income for the quarter ended June 27 of $5.06 million, or $1.33 per share, compared to net income of $7.3 million, or $1.79, in the second quarter of 2019. Read more

›Outdoor Recreation Businesses Urge House To Pass Great American Outdoors Act
A total of 127 outdoor businesses sent a letter to House leadership urging passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Read more

›Survey Finds Sports Fans Interested In Homegating
A new survey from Genesco Sports Enterprises, the sports marketing agency, found 76 percent of sports fans are interested in homegating, or tailgating at their homes, as games return to empty stadiums and arenas. Read more

›Walmart To Mandate Face Coverings
Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, will require all shoppers to wear masks at all its Walmart and Sam’s Club’s locations, effective next week. Read more

›360 Adventure Collective Cancels Southeast Summer Expo
360 Adventure Collective, the member association, has canceled the Southeast Summer Expo, which was to take place August 4-7 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, SC. Read more

›Team MPI Launches First Athlete Loyalty Program And Hires Marketing Director
Team MPI, a group of certified professional coaches for endurance athletes, launched a program to celebrate athletes in their Performance Coaching program. The organization also hired Jen Jordan as its marketing director to help expand its reach and influence in the endurance and multisport world. Read more

›Olin Appoints New CEO
Olin Corporation, the parent of  Winchester, announced that after an extensive search, its Board of Directors selected Scott M. Sutton to succeed John E. Fischer as president and chief executive officer. Fischer will become the executive chairman. Read more

›Fanatics Partners With Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Fanatics reached a long-term agreement to become Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s official omnichannel retail partner. Under the new deal, Fanatics will operate both the e-commerce and physical retail experiences at Bank of America Stadium for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and Charlotte’s new MLS expansion franchise. Read more

›Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Adds Board Member
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association added longtime tennis industry professional Jill Fonte to the association’s Board of Directors. Fonte will join the Class of 2022. Read more

›Michigan’s Gazelle Sports Appoints First CEO
Gazelle Sports, the Michigan-based running specialty shop and athletic and fitness lifestyle retailer, appointed Jennifer Brummitt as Gazelle Sports’ first CEO, effective immediately, as the company begins to transition its leadership structure from the original Partner Team. Read more

›Life Time’s Debt Ratings Reduced To Negative
S&P Global Ratings revised its debt ratings outlook on fitness club operator Life Time Inc. to negative from developing because of significant near-term downside risks. The rating agency said Life Time’s revenue could decline 40 percent or more in 2020 as a result of partial gym re-closures, the recession and member concerns around returning safely to the gym. Read more

›PVH Corp. To Streamline Its North American Operations
PVH Corp. plans to exit its 162 outlet store Heritage Brands Retail business and reduce its office workforce by approximately 450 positions, or 12 percent, to better align its business with the evolving North American retail landscape. Read more

— July 14, 2020 —

›Siege Sports Acquired By PE Firm
Siege Sports, a provider of custom athletic uniforms and apparel based in Kansas City, has been acquired by Bridge Lake Partners, a private investment firm. Read more

›Wolverine Worldwide Appoints VP Of Advanced Concepts + Innovation
Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Barry McGeough as vice president of advanced concepts and innovation. The 20-year footwear and technical gear industry veteran will help drive innovation across Wolverine Worldwide’s portfolio of 12 brands in the newly created role. Read more

›Adventure Ready Brands Strengthens Sales Team With Key Executive Hire
Adventure Ready Brands, which markets a range of first aid, insect repellent and outdoor recreation products including After Bite, Adventure Medical Kits and Ben’s, announced that Greg Solt has joined the company as senior vice president of sales. Read more

›Uncharted Supply Co. Expands Team and Headquarters
Emergency preparedness brand names former GoPro CMO, Todd Ballard, acting CMO; DPS and Reynolds cycling veteran Mike Dufner as CFO and expands partnership, warehouse and marketing teams. Read more

›Wilson Sporting Goods Appoints New President
Wilson Sporting Goods, Co. has appointed Joe Dudy as president. Dudy, a 25-year veteran of Wilson, previously served as its VP of finance. Read more

›SFIA Launches Stimulus Campaign For Active Lifestyle Industries
In response to the economic damage caused by COVID-19 on the active lifestyle industry, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is launching a campaign to promote the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R.1679/S.680) as a consumer-driven economic stimulus. Read more

›Iconix Brand Group To Explore Sale
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., the parent of Starter, Pony, Umbro, Danskin, and a number of other brands, said in a regulatory filing that its board has decided to broaden its exploration of strategic alternatives available to the company to enhance shareholder value, including a potential sale. Read more

›Gold’s Gym To Be Acquired By Berlin’s RSG Group
RSG Group GmbH, the largest fitness center chain in Germany with 246 studios in Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, and Spain, was selected as the winning bidder to acquire Gold’s Gym in a court-approved auction held on July 13. With the acquisition, the RSG Group, which has mainly been active in Europe up to now, will become a leader in fitness with over 900 locations and will be represented on six continents. Read more

›Arlington, VA Named ‘Fittest City’ In 2020 American Fitness Index Ranking
Arlington, VA has been named “America’s Fittest City” in the annual American Fitness Index rankings published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Anthem Foundation. Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.; Irvine, CA; Denver, CO; Boise, ID; and Boston, MA, round out the Top 10. Read more

›New Era Faces Layoffs As It Ends Furloughs
New Era Cap Co. announced that it would bring a majority of its U.S. employees back from furlough but would lay off 187 employees as it makes adjustments during COVID-19-related challenges. Read more

›Under Armour Ends Partnership With Lacrosse Equipment Provider
Under Armour Inc. has ended its licensing agreement with Team 22, the exclusive licensee of all Under Armour lacrosse products since 2011. Read more

›On Denies It’s Preparing For An IPO
On, the Swiss running shoe brand, denied a report in the Swiss, German-language newspaper, NZZ am Sonntag that it has started making plans to go public in the summer or fall of 2021. Read more

›Bass Pro Shops To Hire 5,000
Bass Pro and Cabela’s announced plans to hire 5,000 new employees nationwide due to strong demand amid COVID-19. Read more

›New NFHS Officers, Board Members Elected For 2020/21
Kerwin Urhahn, executive director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), is the new president of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for 2020/21. Read more

›Schuylkill Valley Sports Closing The Majority Of Its Stores
Schuylkill Valley Sports, based in Pottstown, PA, is closing nine of its 10 stores while continuing to operate its online operations and team business. The one store that will remain open is in Quakertown, PA. CEO and President Jason Lutz has vowed to open new stores with a fresh approach. Read more

›Authentic Brands Group LLC’s $150 Million Incremental First-Lien Term Loan Rated ‘B’
S&P Global Ratings assigned its ‘B’ issue-level rating to Authentic Brands Group LLC’s (ABG) proposed $150 million incremental first-lien term loan. ABG owns a portfolio of over 50 brands that includes Spyder, Tretorn, Tapout, Prince, and Volcom. Read more

›BJ’s Wholesale Club Debt Ratings Upgraded
Moody’s Investors Service Inc. upgraded all the debt ratings of BJ’s Wholesale Club due to continuing improvement in BJ’s quantitative profile resulting from continued strong operating results as well as its recent reduction in debt. Read more

›MEC Undergoes Layoffs At Stores
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), which operates 21 stores across Canada, has laid off a number of retail employees it formerly furloughed as it faces challenges managing through COVID-19. Read more

›The National Academy of Sports Medicine Partners With NBATA
The National Academy of Sports Medicine has signed on as the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association’s (NBATA) official education partner. Read more

For fans who would like to attend an MLB game in person (but are prevented because of COVID-19), several MLB teams are offering a cardboard cutout program, including the Mets. The club’s “Take A Seat” program gives fans an opportunity to pay to have a cardboard likeness of themself in the stands during home games.  Learn more here. Photo courtesy Mets/AP