Aisle Talk Week Of August 23, 2021

August 27, 2020

»Allbirds Opens Store In Atlanta
Allbirds has opened a new retail store and community center at Atlanta’s Ponce City Market. It is the brand’s first store in the Atlanta area and 30th worldwide. Read more

»Hibbett Boosts Guidance As Q2 Far Exceeds Analyst Estimates
Hibbett Inc. raised its outlook for the year after reporting second-quarter results that came in well above Wall Street targets. Same-store sales declined 6.4 percent year over year but represented a surge of 72.8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2019. Read more

August 26, 2021

»PeopleForBikes Announces Investments To Grow Electric Bicycle Market
PeopleForBikes recently hired Ash Lovell, Ph.D., as its new electric bicycle policy and campaign director and is in the process of hiring an eMTB policy and program manager as its commitment to more resources to support the use of, and access to, ebikes across the U.S. Read more

»Wolverine Worldwide Provides Update On Actions To Optimize Capital Structure
Wolverine World Wide Inc. provided an update on actions it has taken to increase the liquidity and flexibility of its capital structure, primarily through the sale of $550 million of 4.000 percent Senior Notes due 2029. Read more

»F45 Training’s Second-Quarter Sales Climb 54 Percent
F45 Training Holdings Inc. reported a modest improvement in operating earnings on an adjusted basis in the second quarter ended June 30 as sales jumped 54 percent. Read more

»Outdoor Voices To Open Store In Denver
Outdoor Voices plans to open a store this fall in Denver, CO at the River North Art District section of Five Points. Read more

»Athleta’s Q2 Comps Gain 13 Percent Year-Over-Year
Athleta’s net sales were up 35 percent in the second quarter versus 2019, according to its parent, Gap Inc. Comparable sales at Athleta grew 13 percent year-over-year and 27 percent versus 2019. Read more

»Peloton’s Q4 Loss Comes In Worse Than Expected
Peloton Interactive reported a wider quarterly loss than expected as revenue growth slowed and costs expanded due to a massive treadmill recall.  The company also said it’s reducing the price of its original at-home exercise bike for the second time in a year. Read more

»Resale Startup Trove Raises $77.5M
Trove, a Brisbane, CA-based branded recommerce company, raised $77.5 million in Series D funding. The round, which brought Trove’s total funding to date to $122.5 million, was led by G2 Venture Partners with participation from Bank of Montreal, Capital One Ventures, Commerce Ventures, and Wellington Management. Read more

»Gap Inc. Acquires E-Commerce Startup Drapr
Gap Inc. has acquired Drapr, an e-commerce startup and online tech application where customers can create 3D Avatars and virtually try on clothing. Read more

»Urban Outfitters Sees Q2 Sales Improve 20.3 Percent Against Q219
Urban Outfitters reported net sales for the three months ended July 31 were a record $1.16 billion. Net sales increased 20.3 percent compared to the three months ended July 31, 2019. Read more

»Black Diamond To Replace Batch Of Ascension Nylon Climbing Skins
Black Diamond announced it is voluntarily replacing a batch of its Ascension Nylon Climbing Skins produced from January to March 2021. Read more

»Golf Rounds Played Slide In July
U.S. golf rounds played were down 3.9 percent in July 2021 against a surge in play in the year-ago period due to the pandemic, according to Golf Datatech. For the year-to-date period, rounds played are ahead 16.1 percent. Read more

»Burlington Stores Sees Q2 Sales Expand 34 Percent Against 2019 Quarter
Burlington Stores Inc. reported profits on an adjusted basis rose 46.2 percent in the second quarter ended July 31 and sales grew 34 percent compared to the second quarter of 2019. Read more

»Lululemon Raises Minimum Base Pay For Hourly Staff
Lululemon Athletica Inc. announced a comprehensive overview of the company’s approach to pay and benefits. Effective September 27, 2021, Lululemon will raise the minimum base pay for the majority of its store and Guest Education Centre (GEC) employees in North America. Read more

»Freebeat Secures $20 Million In Funding
Freebeat, based in Shenzhen, China, has received $20 million in strategic funding from Susquehanna International Group and GSR Ventures. The funding will be used to boost the production of its connected exercise bikes. Read more

»SAXX Receives Strategic Investment From TZP Group
SAXX Underwear Co. Ltd. announced that it has received a strategic investment from TZP Group, a multi-strategy private equity firm, through TZP Capital Partners III, L.P. Read more

August 25, 2021

»Olin Corp. Debt Ratings Upgraded
S&P Global Ratings upgraded the debt ratings on Olin Corp., the parent of Winchester, due to its debt repayment and improving credit measures. Read more

»Topps’ Debt Ratings Downgraded
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded The Topps Company, Inc.’s Corporate Family Rating (CFR) due to the termination of Topps’ planned merger agreement with Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation II (MUDS) and cancellation of a proposed debt offering. Read more

»Nike Aims To Reduce Carbon Footprint
Nike is exploring the use of AirCarbon, a carbon-negative biomaterial produced by microorganisms from the ocean through a partnership with Newlight Technologies. Read more

»Under Armour Founder To Sell Stock
Kevin Plank, founder, executive chairman and brand chief of Under Armour, plans to sell up to 5 million shares of Under Armour stock, according to a regulatory filing. Read more

»Slinger Bag Announces Partnership With Mouratoglou Academy
Slinger Bag announced it entered into a partnership with the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, founded by tennis coach and Slinger Bag brand ambassador Patrick Mouratoglou. Read more

»Fanatics Partners With Texas A&M
Fanatics signed a ten-year partnership with Texas A&M University. The deal was timed to coincide with the launch of Texas A&M’s 12thManShop.com that will tap into Fanatics’ e-commerce and mobile retail capabilities. Read more

»GOA ‘Connect’ Show Early Registration, Vaccine Requirement And Expanded Refund Policy
GOA announced that advance registration is open for its annual ‘Connect’ buying show at the Kansas City Convention Center, scheduled for November 8-11, 2021. Attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination, with an expanded refund policy. Read more

»Dick’s SG Hikes Outlook As Second Quarter Crushes Analyst Targets
Dick’s Sporting Goods strongly raised its guidance for 2021 after reporting second-quarter earnings that came in well above Wall Street targets. Read more

»Shoe Carnival’s Earnings Surge In Second Quarter
Shoe Carnival Inc. reported earnings in the second quarter ended July 31 increased four-fold as same-store sales grew 11.4 percent. Results came in well above company guidance. Read more

August 24, 2021

»Anta Sports Posts Mega First-Half Gains
Anta Sports Products Ltd. reported revenues grew 55.5 percent in the first half against a year ago and 54.0 percent compared to the same period of 2019. Read more

»Moody’s Finds Authentic Brands’ Announced Reebok Purchase Has No Immediate Impact On Ratings
Moody’s Investors Service said that Authentic Brands’ proposed debt-financed acquisition of Reebok has no immediate impact on its credit ratings. Read more

»Newmar President To Retire
Winnebago Industries, Inc. announced the planned retirement of Matt Miller, president, Newmar Corporation, effective September 3, 2021. Miller started his career at Newmar in 1991 and has been president since 2006. Read more

»Xponential Fitness’ System-Wide Sales More Than Double In Q2
Xponential Fitness reported sales in the second quarter ended June 30 rose 67 percent to $35.8 million. Read more

»Nordstrom Raises Revenue Forecast As Sales Revive
Nordstrom Inc. raised its guidance for the year after reporting second-quarter results that topped expectations. Read more

»Urban Outfitters Launches Resale Marketplace
Urban Outfitters, Inc. introduced Nuuly Thrift, a resale marketplace. Launching this Fall, the platform will offer consumers the opportunity to buy or sell women’s, men’s and kids’ apparel and accessories. Read more

»Isbjörn Of Sweden Appoints Content Manager
Isbjörn of Sweden announced it has appointed Maria Eklind Enström as content manager as part of its ongoing digital and e-commerce strategy. Read more

»Michael Kors Appoints CEO
Capri Holdings Limited announced that Joshua Schulman will be appointed CEO of the Michael Kors brand and will succeed John D. Idol as CEO of Capri Holdings in September 2022 when Idol becomes executive chairman. Read more

»CCM Hockey Acquires Base Layer License
CCM Hockey announced the acquisition of its worldwide base layer license from its licensing partner Icon-Elite Group Inc., effective September 1, 2021. Read more

»Monterey Bay’s Outdoor World Sporting Goods To Shutter
Outdoor World Sporting Goods is conducting liquidation sales at its last store in Capitola, CA. Its store in Santa Cruz, CA recently closed and the third location in Seaside, CA never re-opened after the pandemic emerged. Read more

»New Balance Launches New Balance Renewed
New Balance has launched New Balance Renewed, which aims to extend the life of imperfect or returned items, helping to keep them out of landfills. Read more

»Umarex USA Appoints VP Of Marketing
Umarex USA promoted Justin Biddle as vice president of marketing. Biddle has been with Umarex USA since the company’s beginning in Fort Smith, AR. Read more

»Benelli USA Appoints Director Of Marketing
Benelli USA has appointed Nick Andrews as director of marketing. Andrews will oversee the implementation of the company’s overall marketing plans and strategies in the U.S. for Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, Uberti, and Chapuis brands. Read more

»PGA Golf Exhibitions Provide Update On 2022 In-Person PGA Show
PGA Golf Exhibitions, in partnership with the PGA of America, is moving forward with previously announced PGA Show initiatives for its 69th annual flagship event, January 25-28, 2022, in Orlando, FL. Read more

August 23, 2021

»Report: Fanatics To Become Exclusive Licensee For NBA Trading Cards
Fanatics has reportedly reached an agreement with the NBA and its players’ union for exclusive licenses to produce basketball trading cards, according to a report from The Atlantic. Read more

»Wilson Sporting Goods Partners With YMCA
Wilson Sporting Goods announced its multi-year national partnership with the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA). Read more

»Camping World Hikes Dividend
Camping World Holdings Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has doubled the company’s quarterly dividend and declared a cash dividend of 50 cents per share on the company’s Class A common stock. Read more

»Sezzle Files Draft Paperwork For U.S. IPO
Payment platform Sezzle said it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement for an IPO to the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission. Read more

»Frasers Group Makes Key Promotions To Leadership Team
The Frasers Group, the parent of U.K.-based Sports Direct, promoted Sean Nevitt to chief commercial officer and David Al-Mudallal to chief operating officer to support the proposed transition of the CEO role to Michael Murray. Read more

»Hibbett Opens Second Raleigh Location
Hibbett announced the opening of its second Raleigh Hibbett Sports store. The new store is located at 5900 Poyner Anchor Lane in Raleigh, NC. Read more

»Swiss Running Brand On Files For IPO
On, the Swiss running brand, has filed for an initial public offering in the U.S. Read more

»Target To Add 100 Disney In-Store Shops To Stores
Target plans to expand its Disney Store at Target concept to more than 160 of its locations across the country by the end of the year. Read more

»Ecco Appoints CEO And Board Members
Ecco has appointed Panos Mytaros as its new CEO, replacing Steen Borgholm, who has stepped down by mutual agreement. Read more

»Fuel Clothing Company Relocates To Park City
Fuel Clothing Company Inc. is relocating from Hilton Head, SC to Park City, UT. Read more

»Outtech Announces Promotions In Senior Management
Outtech Inc, based in Aurora, OH,  announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the promotions in senior management of Scott Blackwell and John Seliga. Read more

»Under Armour Joins Baltimore FIFA World Cup Host City
Under Armour has joined 15 other bid partners in Baltimore’s campaign to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read more

Photo courtesy On Running