The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of January 4, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.
January 8, 2021
•Economy Loses 140,000 Jobs In December
The Labor Department reported Friday that nonfarm payrolls fell by 140,000 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected to see a gain of 50,000. Read more
•SGB Media Reports Top Stories Of 2020
SGB Media has reported its Top 20 stories read online in 2020, with the Bass Pro acquisition of Sportsman’s Warehouse and related stories leading the charts. Overall, the SGBonline.com web site had a banner year in readership, recording over 2.5 million page views, a 20 percent increase over 2019. Read more
January 7, 2021
•SBRnet Acquired By Sporting Goods Industry Veterans
Sporting Goods Research Network Inc., doing business as SBRnet, has been acquired by Neil Schwartz and Mark Sullivan from the estate of Dick Lipsey. Read more
•Virtual PGA Merchandise Show Sets Announces Speaker Line-Up
The virtual PGA Merchandise Show, to be held from January 26 to 29, announced that speakers at its event will include Phil Mickelson, 2021 Ryder Cup Captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington, PGA Champion Collin Morikawa, and CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz. Read more
•Leapfrog Brands Secures Equity Investment
Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, LLC announced an investment in Leapfrog Brands, a supplier of beverageware. Leapfrog’s brands include Ello, Zulu and Pogo. Read more
•RV Retailer Announces Acquisition Of 14 Stores In Five States
RV Retailer LLC (RVR), based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, announced the addition of 14 dealerships with the acquisitions of Family RV Group and Northgate RV. Read more
•Kent Water Sports Acquired By Seawall Capital
Seawall Capital, LLC announced that it has acquired Kent Water SportsHoldings, LLC and its related entities for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 1959 and based in New London, OH, Kent Water Sports is a diverse platform of action sports brands with a broad product set. Read more
•BoxUnion Acquires Title Boxing Club
BoxUnion, a California-based fitness boxing brand, announced that it has acquired Title Boxing Club, a fitness studio with 166 clubs across the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic specializing in boxing and kickboxing fitness classes. Read more
•North Castle Partners Announces Promotions
North Castle Partners, a private equity firm focused on consumer businesses that promote healthy, active and sustainable living, announced the following five promotions: Alyse Skidmore and David Weston have been promoted to partner, Roy Chin to principal, and Jennifer Barsky and Alan Bui to vice president. Read more
•CriticalPoint Capital Completes Merger Of Shoes.com
Affiliates of CriticalPoint Capital LLC (CPC) announced it has completed the merger of the recently acquired Shoes.com business with CPC’s existing platform Running Specialty Group, operator of the JackRabbit, Olympia Sports and Clever Training footwear and athletic specialty retailers. Read more
•Academy Sports Partners With Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing announced Academy Sports + Outdoors as the latest sponsor of its 2021 MLF Cup events, including title sponsorship of the 2021 Heritage Cup. Read more
•Speedo USA Named Title Sponsor For Salty Sports Society’s SALT Series
In 2021, Salty Sports Society will again host its SALT Series across the State of Florida with Speedo USA as its title sponsor. Read more
•Helen of Troy’s Housewares Q3 Revenues Climb 21 Percent
Helen of Troy Ltd. reported sales in its Housewares segment, which includes Hydro Flask and OXO, increased 21.4 percent in the third quarter ended November 30. The gains were primarily due to higher demand for OXO brand products as consumers spent more time at home. Read more
•The Buckle’s December Comps Expand 18 Percent
The Buckle, Inc. announced that comparable store net sales, for stores open at least one year, for the 5-week period ended January 2, 2021, increased 17.9 percent. Read more
January 6, 2021
•Columbia Sportswear Adds Starbucks Exec To Board
Columbia Sportswear Co. announced that its board of directors appointed John Culver to serve as a director and member of its Compensation Committee. Read more
•Macy’s Reveals Locations To Close In 2021
Macy’s Inc. revealed the list of locations it expects to close this year, including 36 Macy’s stores and one Bloomingdale’s location. Read more
•Channel Islands Surfboards Is Officially Under New Ownership
Burton Snowboards has completed the sale of Channel Islands Surfboards to employees of the surf brand. Britt Merrick has been named CEO, and longtime Channel Islands Surfboards General Manager Scott Anderson will assume the role of president. Read more
•Camping World’s Debt Ratings Upgraded
Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the debt ratings of Camping World, including its Corporate Family rating. Read more
•Malibu Boats Completes Acquisition Of Maverick Boat Group
Malibu Boats Inc. announced that it has closed the acquisition of Maverick Boat Group Inc. Read more
•Athelytix Appoints Ex-Dodgers GM As Its President Of Baseball Operations
Athelytix, developers of the “GRID” laser-based analytics sports analytics system, announced the appointment of Dan Evans, former GM of the LA Dodgers, as its president and director of baseball operations. (Read More)
•RECALL: Massimo Percussion Massage Gun Sold At Costco
About 12,360 Massimo Motor Sports percussion massage guns sold exclusively at Costco are being recalled due to fire hazard. Read more
•RECALL: Ozone 500 Density Bicycles Sold At Academy Sports
About 6,000 Ozone 500 Density Bicycles are being recalled. The item was sold exclusively at Academy Sports + Outdoors. Read more
•Wilson Sporting Goods And National Lacrosse League Extend Partnership
The National Lacrosse League extended its 2020 partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods, naming Wilson and its protective equipment and apparel brand EvoShield as an official supplier of protective gear for the 2021 season. Read more
•Western Carolina Teams Up With Nike, BSN Sports
Western Carolina University Department of Athletics announced that it has entered a five-year partnership with Nike and BSN Sports. Read more
•Topgolf Plans To Develop Venues Across Southeast Asia
Topgolf Entertainment Group, alongside franchise partner TG SEA Development Pte., Ltd, Singapore (TG SEA), announced plans to develop Topgolf venues across Southeast Asia. TG SEA will introduce the Topgolf experience to multiple countries across the region including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Read more
•Spyder To Expand Into Footwear
Spyder, which is is owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG), has partnered with Footwear Unlimited, to support the brand’s launch into footwear. Read more
•Revelstoke Capital Invests In East Coast Orangetheory Franchisee
Revelstoke Capital Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm, announced it has acquired a majority interest in Empire Portfolio Group Holdings, which owns and operates a portfolio of 15 Orangetheory studios and 27 sub-franchised studios across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Read more
•Wolverine WorldWide Names President, Global E-Commerce
Wolverine World Wide Inc. announced the appointment of Matt Blonder as its new president, global e-commerce. Most recently, he was global head of digital at Reebok, a division of Adidas. Read more
•Emerald Acquires PlumRiver
Emerald Holding Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of PlumRiver LLC, a provider of software-as-a-service technology through its Elastic Suite solution. The acquisition is expected to complement Emerald’s portfolio of show brands including Outdoor Retailer and Surf Expo, among others. Read more
•IHEA-USA Names Alex Baer Executive Director
The IHEA-USA (International Hunter Education Association—USA) announced that Alex Baer has been promoted to executive director effective January 1, 2021. Read more
•Marine Marketers Of America Announce 2021 Leadership Team
Marine Marketers of America announced the election of new officers and the appointment of new board members for 2021. Read more
January 5, 2021
•Under Armour Opens Port Covington Campus To Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
Under Armour has opened up one of its facilities on its Baltimore Port Covington Campus to the Baltimore County Health Department to help administer COVID-19 vaccines in the area. (Read More)
•Wolverine Worldwide Appoints President, Global Operations Group
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. announced the appointment of Jim Zwiers as president, global operations group, responsible for portfolio-wide sourcing, logistics, distribution, customer service, and information technology. Zwiers succeeds Mike Jeppesen, who is retiring after more than 33 years in the footwear industry. Read more
•Filson Taps Former CEO Of Woolrich As CEO
Filson, the outdoor outfitter and apparel manufacturer based in Seattle, announced that Paolo Corinaldesi has been named as chief executive officer. Corinaldesi is the sixth CEO in the brand’s 124-year history. Read more
•Sports Direct Parent Acquires Fashion Retailer Psyche
Frasers Group, the parent of Sports Direct, has acquired U.K.-based fashion retailer Psyche’s stores and online business for an undisclosed sum. Read more
•Macy’s To Shutter 45 More Locations In 2021
Macy’s plans to close 45 department stores by the middle of this year as part of its previously-announced plan to shut 125 locations by 2023. Read more
•NSGA 2021 Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit Rescheduled To September
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has moved the dates of its 2021 Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit to September 26 to 28, 2021 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL. The event was initially scheduled for May 16 to 18. Read more
•Troon Acquires Indigo Golf Partners
Troon, the golf management company, announced it has acquired Indigo Golf Partners, formerly known as Billy Casper Golf. Read more
•Amer Sports Confirms Planned Sale Of Precor
Amer Sports confirmed that it entered into an agreement with Peloton Interactive Inc. for the contemplated sale of Precor, the manufacturer of commercial fitness equipment with a significant U.S. manufacturing presence, in a transaction valued at $420 million. Read more
•NRF Chief Economist Sees Latest Stimulus Helping Recovery
Economic challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic will continue in 2021, but stimulus legislation signed into law just after Christmas will help maintain and accelerate the nation’s ongoing recovery, believes National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz. Read more
•1791 Gunleather Welcomes Inside Sales Associate
1791 Gunleather announced the addition of Sebastian Contreras as a new inside sales associate for the central region of the U.S. Read more
•HanesBrands Wins Infringement Case Against Six Defendants In China
HanesBrands announced that it has received a favorable judgment from the Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court in a trademark infringement case involving its Champion brand in China. Read more
•Maine Sport Outfitters To Open Third Location
Maine Sport Outfitters plans to open a store in Rockland, ME. The retailer currently operates locations in Rockport and Camden. Read more
•CODI Declares Fourth Quarter 2020 Distributions
Compass Diversified (CODI) declared a quarterly cash distribution of 36 cents per share on the company’s common shares. Said Elias Sabo, CEO of CODI, “As we enter 2021, our capital allocation strategy, unique permanent capital structure, active management style and diverse group of subsidiaries will continue to differentiate CODI.” Read more
•Garmin Acquires Provider Of Emergency Monitoring And Response Services
Garmin International and Garmin Services, units of Garmin Ltd., announced the acquisition of substantially all the assets of GEOS Worldwide Limited and its subsidiaries. Read more
•Dubai’s GMG Acquires Southeast Asian Sports Retailer
The Dubai-based family holding company, Gulf Marketing Group (GMG), has acquired Royal Sporting House (RSH), one of the largest multi-brand sports retailers in Southeast Asia. Read more
•Macy’s Names Chief Merchandising Officer
Macy’s Inc. announced that Nata Dvir has been named chief merchandising officer of the Macy’s brand, effective February 1, 2021. She currently serves as Macy’s senior vice president and general business manager for Beauty and Center Core merchandise. Read more
January 4, 2021
•Footwear Analyst Joins Williams Trading
Sam Poser, formerly lead footwear and apparel analyst at Susquehanna International Group, has joined Williams Trading as an equity analyst. Read more
•NICS Checks Climb 23 Percent In December 2020
The FBI completed 1.91 million gun background checks on an NSSF-adjusted basis in December 2020, a climb of 22.7 percent. Checks for 2020 were up 59.7 percent and was well above record levels. Read more
•REI’s CEO Sends Year-End Note To Co-Op Members
In a year-end letter to Co-op members entitled, “Grateful for Our Community in a Year Like No Other,” Eric Artz, REI Co-op CEO and president, reflected on the accomplishments of the company. He also noted that while the past year had its challenges, it was also one of “profound clarity, focus and learning.” Read more
•Mad Engine Sold To Platinum Equity
Platinum Equity announced that it has acquired a controlling stake in the apparel company Mad Engine from affiliates of the company’s current ownership group, which has owned the business since 2011. Mad Engine’s owned brands include Lifted Research Group (LRG), Neff Headwear and Mighty Fine. Read more
•Asics Closes Flagship Store In Manhattan
Asics shuttered its New York City flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in December 2020 amid the prolonged impact of COVID-19. The store opened in 2017. Asics will take a 2.3 billion ($22 million) charge to cover the lease cancellation and the loss on the impairment of the related fixed assets. Read more
•Riton Optics Names Brand Manager
Riton Optics, based in Tucson, AZ, announced Eric Hickman as its new brand manager. Read more
•J.C. Penney Resets Board
J.C. Penney, in a regulatory filing, said five members of its board had resigned following its emergence from bankruptcy proceedings through a sale to Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management. Read more
