The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of October 19, 2020, covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.
— October 23, 2020 —
›Blaser Group USA To Oversee Operations In Canada For Blaser, Mauser And Sauer Brands
Blaser Group USA is now overseeing sales and marketing operations in Canada for the Blaser, Mauser and Sauer brands. The consolidation of operations in the North American market strengthens the group as it expands the distribution of its German firearms brands. Read more
›Clarus Corp. Withdraws Proposed Registered Offering Of Convertible Senior Notes
Clarus Corporation announced that, as a result of equity capital markets volatility it has decided not to proceed with its previously announced proposed registered offering of convertible senior notes due 2026 in the aggregate amount of $85 million. Read more
›L.L Bean Opens Store In Toronto
L.L Bean opened its fourth store in Canada after marking its entry into the country two years ago. The new store is located in Don Mills in Toronto. Read more
— October 22, 2020 —
›Gap Sets Goal To Double Athleta’s Revenues By 2023
At its Investor Day presentation, Gap Inc. set a goal to double Athleta’s sales to $2 billion from $1 billion currently. Read more
›FDRA Survey: Buying Shoes During Holiday Shopping Season; Casual And Athletic Footwear Tops The List
According to FDRA’s 2020 Holiday Shoe Sales Survey, 43 percent of shoppers are most likely to purchase casual shoes this holiday season, followed by 36 percent who will be buying athletic shoes, and 20 percent who are planning to purchase fashion/dress shoes or boots. Read more
›Wiivv Wearables Changes Name To FitMyFoot Under New Leadership
Wiivv Wearables Inc. announced plans to transform the company into FitMyFoot, specializing in foot wellness. The new name brings with it the appointment of former Microsoft marketing executive Chris Jolley to CEO and promotion of footwear expert Brett Ritter to president. Read more
›Golf Rounds Played Jump Again In September
Golf rounds played rose 25.5 percent for the month of September and are now up 8.7 percent in the year-to-date period, according to Golf Datatech. Read more
›Nautilus Appoints SVP And Chief Digital Officer
Nautilus, Inc. appointed Garry Wiseman as senior vice president and chief digital officer effective October 26. Read more
›U.S. Ski & Snowboard Partners With Rack Attack
U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced a new partnership with Rack Attack, a retailer of vehicle rack solutions. Rack Attack will be named the Official Rack Retailer of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S Snowboard Team, and U.S. Freeski Team. Read more
›Kohl’s Outlines New Strategic Vision With Heightened Focus On Active And Casual Lifestyle
Kohl’s shared the company’s new strategic framework with the investment community, including new initiatives to position the company for long-term success. As part of its strategy, Kohl’s has set a new vision: to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Read more
›Reports: Adidas Exploring Sale Of Reebok
Adidas is exploring a sale of its Reebok division, according to reports in Germany’s Manager Magazin and Bloomberg. Read more
›Golf Datatech Reports Highest Third Quarter U.S. Retail Golf Equipment Sales On Record
As the golf business continues to surge coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, Golf Datatech, LLC announced U.S. retail golf equipment sales were up for the Q320 surpassed the $1 billion mark. Read more
›Clarus Corp. Announces Proposed $85 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering
Clarus Corporation announced it has commenced a public offering of $85 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026. Read more
›Recall: Jakks Pacific Morfboard Skate & Scoot Scooters
About 162,300 MorfBoard Skate & Scoot Combo scooters with “Y” handlebars from Jakks Pacific are being recalled. Read more
›PGA Show Shifts To Virtual Format In 2021
PGA Golf Exhibitions, in partnership with the PGA of America, announced the shift to an all-virtual format for the 2021 PGA Merchandise Show, to be held January 26-29, 2021. Read more
— October 21, 2020 —
›Black Diamond-Parent Sees Mid-Single Q3 Revenue Gain
Clarus Corp said it expects sales growth for the third quarter to range from 5 percent to 6 percent as triple-digit gains at Sierra Bullets offsets a slight decline at Black Diamond. Read more
›Mammut Records Modest Growth In Q3
Conzetta Group’s said its Outdoor segment, which consists entirely of the Mammut brand, saw “slight growth” in the third quarter, recovering from declines seen earlier in the year due to the pandemic. Read more
›Li Ning’s Q3 Same-Store Sales Boosted By E-Commerce
Li Ning Company Limited registered a low-single-digit increase on a same-store sales year-on-year basis in the third quarter ended September 30, driven by high-thirties growth in e-commerce. Read more
›PeopleForBikes Highlights Progress On Section 301 Tariffs
PeopleForBikes, with the assistance of their nearly 300 member companies, saved the bike industry more than $130 million in Section 301 tariffs since September 2018. Section 301 tariffs represent additional duties paid on nearly all imported goods from China. Read more
›Academy Sports’ Debt Ratings Upgraded By Moody’s And S&P
Academy Sports’ debt ratings were upgraded by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings following the retailer’s proposed refinancing and debt redemption amid the recent IPO and good operating performance. Read more
›Brooks To Sponsor Houston Marathon
Brooks Running has signed on as the Official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor for the Houston Marathon, replacing Skechers. Read more
›RVshare Secures Funding
RVshare announced a more than $100 million fundraising round led by KKR, with participation by existing investor Tritium Partners. Read more
›Fanatics Announce Memorabilia Partnership With Tom Brady
Fanatics announced an exclusive, long-term partnership with Tom Brady, who will join its roster of athletes under the company’s memorabilia and collectibles division, Fanatics Authentic. Read more
›IHRSA Survey Finds Gymgoers Eager To Return To Fitness Routines
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released a new study that overwhelmingly found gymgoers looking forward to returning to their gym and workout routines with about half expressing dissatisfaction with at-home fitness efforts and changes to their routine. Read more
›Winnebago Industries Announces Strong Fourth Quarter
Winnebago Industries Inc. reported adjusted earnings per share rose 45.0 percent in the fourth quarter ended August 29 on a 39.1 percent revenue gain. Read more
›Rawlings To Purchase Easton Diamond Sports
Rawlings Sporting Goods reached an agreement to acquire Easton Diamond Sports, merging the country’s top softball and baseball sporting goods companies. Read more
›K2 And SkiEssentials.com Take The Pain Out Renting For Parents
K2 and SkiEssentials.com have partnered to create an online, season-long lease program and home delivery service for parents to outfit their junior skiers and snowboarders with gear at a fraction of the cost of buying new. Read more
›PBG Expands Executive Team; Launches Strategic Advisory Vertical
Expanding its team, PBG tapped fashion industry disruptor, Liz Fodera, to join the company; offer brands access to PBG advice on an ad-hoc basis. Read more
— October 20, 2020 —
›Deloitte Predicts 7 Percent Drop In Holiday Spending
Amid continued COVID-19 anxiety, shoppers plan to spend cautiously this holiday season, averaging $1,387 per household, down 7 percent from 2019, according to Deloitte’s holiday forecast. Read more
›Ballogy Supports VYPE Media Exposure Events
Ballogy Inc. announced it is teaming with VYPE Media that distributes high school and youth sports media content. Read more
›U.S. Polo Assn. Partners With Morehouse College And University Of Kentucky
U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association, has partnered with Morehouse College and The University of Kentucky as part of its Collegiate Partnership Program. Read more
›Foot Solutions Partners With Professional Pickleball Association
Foot Solutions announced its 10-year partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association. Read more
›Academy Sports Partners With CIAA And MEAC
Academy Sports + Outdoors has signed on as the Official Sporting Goods and Outdoor Retailer of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. This multi-year partnership gives Academy Sports exposure and marketing assets across men’s and women’s basketball, conference championship events and the events and content surrounding the MEAC’s 50th anniversary. Read more
›Goldwin Opens First European Flagship Store
Goldwin opened its first retail store in Munich, Germany. Read more
›Pelican Products Hires Chief Information Officer
Pelican Products Inc. appointed Lance Ralls as its chief information officer. Read more
›NFHS Network Sees Strong Viewership Amid Pandemic
The NFHS Network said that despite roughly 25 percent of states officially postponing all or the majority of their fall sports and activities, overall live viewership on the NFHS Network is up almost 200 percent year over year. Total aggregate live views have increased from 375,000 to 1.1 million in the first two months of the school year. Read more
›Slinger Bag Enters South American Market
Slinger Bag announced a 5-year distribution agreement with Sporting Brands, one of Chile’s established tennis distribution specialists, with over 30 years of in-market experience. Read more
›Kohl’s To Launch Specialty Athleisure Brand
Kohl’s announced plans to launch FLX, a private label, specialty athleisure brand, in select stores and online at Kohls.com, beginning March 2021. Read more
›Google Sweetens Fitbit Concessions To Alleviate Antitrust Concerns
Google has tweaked some concessions that it had previously made to get the purchase of Fitbit approved by EU antitrust authorities, according to a report from Reuters. Read more
›SOL Paddle Boards Appoints Executive Director Of Operations
SOL Paddle Boards hired Chris Johnson as the brand’s executive director of operations. Read more
›4FRNT Skis Acquired By Investor Group
4FRNT Ski Company was acquired by a group of private entrepreneurs: Charlie Johnson, Will Armenta and Ebi Lange. Read more
›Puma Appoints General Manager Sportstyle
Puma has appointed Maria Valdes as GM of the business unit Sportstyle, the company’s largest business unit by revenue. Read more
— October 19, 2020 —
›Zone3 Appoints President Of U.S. Sales And Marketing
Zone3 appointed Ryan Dolan, formerly of TYR and Roka, as president of U.S. sales and marketing. Read more
›Retro Fitness Raises New Funding From Arena Capital Partners
Retro Fitness received an investment from Arena Capital Partners. Read more
›YogaWorks Files For Bankruptcy, To Closes All Studios
YogaWorks has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has permanently closed all its studios but will continue to offer digital and live-stream content. Read more
›Clarus Announces Quarterly Dividend, Reinstates Cash Payment
Clarus Corporation announced that its board of directors has reinstated the company’s quarterly cash dividend. Read more
›CODI Completes Acquisition Of BOA Technology
Compass Diversified (CODI) announced the completion of the company’s previously announced acquisition of BOA Technology Inc. Read more
›Merrell Appoints Sales Agency To Cover The Rockies
Merrell appointed Mountain Source as its sales agency to represent the brand in The Rockies. Read more
›Backcountry.com Partners With Klarna
Klarna announced that it has partnered with Backcountry.com to offer its customers flexible buy. Read more
›IHRSA Forms Medical, Science And Health Advisory Council
IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has formed a Medical, Science, and Health Advisory Council. Read more
›True Fitness Technology Acquires Octane Fitness
True Fitness Technology Inc. issued a statement confirming its acquisition of Octane Fitness from Nautilus, Inc. Read more
›RSR Group Welcomes Christensen Arms
RSR Group Inc. announced the addition of Christensen Arms to its product assortment. Read more
