The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of April 19, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.
This week’s Ambassador Athlete is
Patagonia’s Kate Taylor, Fly Fishing Ambassador
“A fishing guide, hunter and full-time fun hog, Kate follows the seasons the same way she chases fish—with constant motion. Along with her partner Justin and their yellow lab Kada, shown above, Kate migrates with the seasons, spending the summer guiding in Bristol Bay and fall and winter fishing in the Pacific Northwest. In spring, she heads to the warmth of Southern Baja before happily repeating her journey all over again.” For more on Kate, go here.
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April 23, 2021
- Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Boosts Data And Communications Team
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance made a number of promotions and hirings in its data and communications divisions. The buying organization also announced the departure of Vice President Gabe Maier, who left the group to pursue new career opportunities. Read more - BJ’s Wholesale Club Appoints New President And CEO
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. announced that the company’s Board of Directors has appointed Bob Eddy as president and chief executive officer. The appointment follows the sudden death of its former CEO, Lee Delaney, on April 16. Read more - Osprey Shifts To Direct Fullfillment In Canada
Osprey announced a change in its distribution model in Canada. Starting June 2022, Osprey will begin direct fulfillment in Canada. Osprey has partnered with In-Sport Fashions for distribution in Canada since 2003. Read more - Simone Bile Leaving Nike For Athleta
With a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, Biles is the most decorated American gymnast and the world’s third most decorated gymnast, behind Belarus’ Vitaly Scherbo (33 medals) and Russia’s Larisa Latynina (32 medals). Read more - Patagonia’s Workwear Flagship In Seattle Closes
Patagonia Ballard in Seattle has closed. The location opened in 2017 as the brand’s Patagonia Workwear and Patagonia Provision’s flagship location. Read more
April 22, 2021
- Caleres Sets Ambitious Goals For Next Five Years In Inaugural ESG Report
Caleres published its first environmental, social, governance (ESG) report, Caleres Cares … Feet First. The report covers Caleres’ activities in 2020 and establishes ambitious commitments for the next five years. Read more - Vail Resorts Increases Guidance
Vail Resorts, Inc. updated its guidance range for the nine-month period ending April 30, 2021. The company now expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. to be between $258 million and $280 million and Resort Reported EBITDA to be between $636 million and $650 million. Read more - Skechers’ Profits Surge In First Quarter
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. saw earnings double in the fourth quarter as sales grew 15.0 percent. International Wholesale sales grew 23.8 percent while direct-to-consumer sales jumped 18.1 percent. The company also predicted sales will advance about 26 percent in 2021. Read more - Maven Outdoor Equipment Co. To Build New HQ In Lander, WY
Maven Outdoor Equipment Company has entered into an agreement with the City of Lander and the Lander Economic Development Association (LEDA) to build a new headquarters near the gateway entrance of Lander, WY. Read more - Thule’s Q1 Sales Jump 56 Percent
Thule Group reported revenues jumped 56.0 percent in the first quarter. Sales in the Americas region rose 83 percent on a currency-neutral basis. Read more - National Park Visits Climb 37 Percent In March
According to the monthly report from the National Parks Service, visits to national parks totaled 20.6 million in March, up 37 percent from 15.1 million in March 2020 as the pandemic emerged. Read more - Vans Commits To Make Core Materials 100 Percent Regenerative, Responsibly Sourced, Renewable Or Recycled By 2030
Vans announced its global commitments to environmental sustainability and responsibility by 2030. The company plans to create circular products and systems that use regenerative and recycled materials to reduce waste and keep products in use and out of landfills. Read more - 2020 National Park Visits Down By Nearly A Third
The National Park Service reported that America’s national parks saw 237 million visitors in 2020, representing a 28 percent decrease from the previous year due largely to temporary park closures and restrictions implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more - The North Face Announces Environmental Commitments
In honor of Earth Day, The North Face is introducing a new sustainability-focused “vision” it calls “Exploration Without Compromise,” which outlines a series of actionable commitments the company will implement over the next few years. The North Face plans to use a seal to identify its sustainable products which it defines as having been made with “75 percent or greater recycled, organic, regenerative and/or responsibly-sourced renewable materials by weight” on its website and in its stores. Read more - Xponential Fitness Acquires Rumble
Xponential Fitness announced the acquisition of Rumble, a boutique boxing concept. Rumble joins the other eight brands under the Xponential Fitness umbrella including Pure Barre, Club Pilates, CycleBar, YogaSix, StretchLab, Row House, AKT, and Stride. Read more - RECALL: Brompton Electric Bicycles
About 600 Brompton Electric Folding Bicycles are being recalled. Due to a software malfunction, the electric system can continue to provide assistance to the motor, causing continued forward momentum, when the rider is not actively pedaling, posing fall and injury hazard. Read more - VF Corp Appoints CFO
VF Corp. announced that it has appointed Matt Puckett to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. He was formerly VF’s VP, global financial planning & analysis. Read more
April 21, 2021
- U.S. Consumers Struggling To ‘Go Green’
A new Oracle Utilities survey shows that U.S. consumers are eager to ‘go green,’ but don’t necessarily know where to start. Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents said fighting climate change is personally important, but 39 percent of respondents surveyed have never even heard the word ‘decarbonization’ and 67 percent have no, or only a vague, idea where their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions come from. Read more - Mytheresa Appoints President, North America
Munich-based online luxury-fashion retailer Mytheresa appointed Heather Kaminetsky as its president of North America, effective June 1. Read more - Activist Investor Group Vexes About Delayed Annual Meeting
Legion Partners Asset Management LLC, the Activist Investor Group that has nominated seven directors to sit on Genesco’s board, criticized the decision to delay Genesco’s annual shareholder meeting in an open letter to the retailer’s board of directors. Read more - Vans Appoints Global Chief Marketing Officer
Vans announced that Kristin Harrer has joined the company as itws global chief marketing officer. Harrer joins Vans from Dollar Shave Club. Read more - Helly Hansen CEO Paul Stoneham To Step Down
Paul Stoneham is to step down as CEO of Helly Hansen after six years at the helm of the technical outdoor brand. He will remain in his role until a new CEO is appointed and a handover period has occurred. Read more - The National Forest Foundation Appoints New Chairman
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) appointed Rob Leary as its new Chair of the Board, effective April 10. Read more - Nike To Open Warehouse In Pennsylvania
Nike has signed a lease for the 1,041,600-square-foot building at 3633 Commerce Center Blvd. in the Majestic Bethlehem Center. The facility is expected to support e-commerce fulfillment on the East Coast, with the company drawn to Lehigh Valley’s proximity to New York City. Read more - Blackbird Products Announces New Team Additions
Blackbird Products Group, LLC, doing business as Mammoth Coolers, welcomed David McHan as VP of product development and sourcing, and Cody McHan as its digital media specialist. Read more - Li-Ning Sees Sales Surge In Q1
Li Ning Company Ltd. reported retail sell-through of Li Ning POS increased in the high-eighties in the first quarter ended March 31. Read more - 361 Degrees Sees Robust Q1 Revenue Growth
361 Degrees International Ltd. reported retail sales of 361° core branded products for the first quarter of 2021 increased by high-teens when compared to that for the same period of 2020. Read more - Cuore of Switzerland To Sponsor USA Cycling
Cuore of Switzerland Inc. has signed a five-year agreement to become the Official Performance Cycling Apparel of USA Cycling. Cuore will outfit USA Cycling athletes at all competitions for cyclocross, mountain bike, road, and track. Read more - Zalando Expects First Quarter Results Above Market Expectations
Zalando SE expects first-quarter results above market expectations as a result of a stronger-than-expected start to the spring-summer season as well as a lower-than-expected return rate. Revenues are seen jumping in the range of 46 to 48 percent. Read more
April 20, 2021
- Vicis Helmets Claim Top Three Spots in NFL/NFLPA Helmet Laboratory Performance Testing
The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) released their annual Helmet Laboratory Testing Performance Results, and Vicis was awarded the top three spots in the rankings. Read more - 3N2 Partners With Ripken Baseball
3N2 entered into a multi-year partnership to become the official apparel and uniform provider to Ripken Baseball and The Ripken Experience. Read more - Lululemon Testing Resale Program
Lululemon announced its pilot of Like New, the brand’s first recommerce program. The trade-in program launches in California and Texas in May, then expands into a resale program in the same markets in June. Read more - Redcon1 Completes Strategic Investment From Trivest Partners
Redcon1, the sports nutrition brand, completed a growth capital investment with Trivest Partners, a PE firm focused on founder/family-owned businesses. Read more - Hibbett Sports Opens Store In Jonesboro, GA
Hibbett Sports announced the opening of the newest Hibbett Sports in Jonesboro, GA. The new store is located at 8071 Tara Blvd. Read more - Athleta To Expand To Canada
Athleta will enter Canada with e-commerce launching late this summer and its first two stores opening this fall. The stores will open in the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto and the Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver. Read more - LEKI Owner, Waltraud Lenhart, Passes Away
Waltraud Lenhart, owner and managing partner of LEKI, unexpectedly passed away after a short and serious illness. She was 64 years young. Read more - Delta Apparel Announces 12 percent Second Quarter Sales Growth
Delta Apparel expects net sales for its March quarter to be approximately $108 million, a 12 percent increase compared to the prior year. The second quarter double-digit sales growth in both the Delta Group and Salt Life Group segment. Read more - Kohl’s Partners With Tommy Hilfiger
Kohl’s announced a new partnership to bring Tommy Hilfiger men’s sportswear to more than 600 stores across the U.S. and an expanded assortment on Kohls.com this fall. Read more - Nike Deal With Kobe Bryant Expires
The estate of Kobe Bryant did not renew the late basketball stars Nike deal this month as negotiations between the two sides fell apart. The news was first reported by Complex and later confirmed by Nike. Read more - Under Armour Downsizes Port Covington Headquarters Plan
Under Armour announced plans to redevelop its waterfront land in South Baltimore’s Port Covington as a global headquarters by 2025. Under Armour described the development as a “reimagine for a post-COVID environment” that will downsize its global corporate and Americas regional functions into one location with a hybrid office/home workplace model. Read more - Adidas To Sponsor Boston Marathon Through 2030
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced that the organization has extended its longstanding official sponsorship with Adidas through 2030. The announcement marks more than 40 years of partnership between the athletic organizations. Read more
April 19, 2021
- Amer Sports’ Debt Ratings Outlook Raised On Potential Recovery
Moody’s Investors Service changed to stable from negative the outlook on the debt ratings of Amer Sports Holding on its expectations that sales and earnings will recover this year after both declined in 2020 due to the pandemic. Read more - Three Execs Exit Shopify
Three of Shopify’s top executives are leaving the company — Brittany Forsyth, chief talent officer; Joe Frasca, chief legal officer; and Jean-Michel Lemieux, chief technology officer. All are veterans of the company and expected to exit in June 2021. Read more - Hickies Puts Itself Up For Sale
Hilco Streambank announced that it is seeking offers to acquire the assets associated with the Hickies, the maker of no-tie shoelaces. Read more - Boot Barn Appoints Board Member
Boot Barn Holdings Inc. announced that Chris Bruzzo, executive vice president, marketing, commercial, and positive play of Electronic Arts, has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Read more - Oberalp North America Announces Promotions From Within The Organization
Oberalp North America has promoted from within for key management roles. Read more - Camping World Makes VP Appointments
Camping World Holdings Inc. appointed Elizabeth Garry as VP, e-commerce and Jessica Wegner as VP, customer loyalty and membership. Read more - Report: Trevor Lawrence Signs Deal With Adidas
Trevor Lawrence, one of the most heralded college quarterbacks in years, has agreed to sign an endorsement deal with Adidas, according to a report from Sportico. Read more - Peloton Fights CPSC’s Calls For Consumers To Stop Using Peloton Tread+
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) over the weekend advised people with young children or pets to stop using the company’s treadmills. The move comes after its investigation into the death of a child involving one of the machines turned up dozens of instances of injuries. Peloton in response called the agency’s advisory “inaccurate and misleading,” and said the treadmills are safe when users follow safety recommendations. Read more - Mammut Sees 27 Percent Growth In First Quarter
The Conzzeta Group, based in Zurich, reported sales in its Outdoor segment, which consists of the Mammut brand, rose 26.9 percent on a reported basis and 28.2 percent on a currency-neutral basis in the first quarter ended March 31. Read more - Birkenstock Assigned Preliminary ‘B’ Rating From S&P Following L Catterton Acquisition
S&P Global Ratings assigned a preliminary ‘B’ ratings on Birkenstock group’s senior debt rating following L Catterton’s announced plans to acquire a majority stake in the Germany-based footwear maker. The outlook is stable. Read more - Foot Locker’s Debt Ratings Outlook Upgraded
S&P Global Ratings revised its debt outlook on Foot Locker Inc. to stable from negative on better-than-expected results for fiscal 2020, resulting in leverage in the mid-1x area compared with S&P Global Ratings’ previous expectation of over 3x for 2020. Read more - Pure Fishing Closes Purchase Of Plano Synergy, Sells Plano’s Accessories Brands To GSM Outdoors
Pure Fishing Inc. announced the close of its purchase of Plano Synergy Holdings Inc. As part of the closing of this purchase, Pure Fishing also announced it has closed the sale of Plano Synergy’s archery and hunting accessories brands to GSM Outdoors. Read more
Photos courtesy Patagonia
