Summer is an odd time to discuss what’s happening at North American ski areas—especially with record high temps now sweeping the U.S.—but the escalating “arms race” between megaresort operators Vail Resorts Inc. and Alterra Mountain Co. was among the hottest M&A developments in June. (Read More)
Nike Inc.’s impressive fourth quarter saw balanced growth across regions and divisions, but the company’s digital gains were especially notable. A jump in digital sales was the result of an increased emphasis on platforms and not just products, according to CEO Mark Parker. (Read More)
Jim Monahan, president of running footwear company 361 Degrees USA, spoke with SGB at last week’s Fleet Feet National Franchise Conference in Minneapolis, MN, about what’s happening with the company as 361 Degrees moves from a startup to a player that’s found a comfortable pace and is working to close the gap on competitors. (Read More)
Fleet Feet has unveiled a new logo that resembles a torch and also dropped the word "Sports" from its name, all part of a brand refresh for the 42-year-old retailer. (Read More)
In this second of a two-part series on the state of the golf industry, SGB looks at the state of golf equipment and apparel sales, each one serving as trailing indicators of an increasingly healthy industry. (Read More)
Fleet Feet Inc. CEO Joey Pointer sat down with SGB at the company's National Franchise Conference in Minneapolis this week to discuss the company’s past, present and future, as well as the state of the running retail industry. (Read More)
Dozens of brands in the running footwear, apparel and accessory categories descended on Fleet Feet’s National Franchise conference this week, and while the primary goal was exhibiting their latest product offerings, they also delivered a simple yet powerful message for the industry about the Run Speciality channel. (Read More)
For the last few months, Perry Ellis International’s largest shareholder, George Feldenkreis, and the company he founded could sum up their relationship with a familiar social media saying: “It’s complicated.” But the complication appears to have been cleared up, at least for now. (Read More)
Online outdoor retailer Backcountry isn’t the only beneficiary of product collaborations the company has undertaken with Black Diamond, DPS, Flylow and Smartwool on a new touring collection due out in the fall. The brands themselves and especially customers stand to gain from these new partnerships. (Read More)
Cherokee Global Brands ended fiscal 2018 with a loss due to difficulties with the integration of the Hi-Tech brand into the company’s portfolio. And now the start to fiscal 2019 is being marred by the sale of Flip Flop Shops. Can the Tony Hawk brand and others save the company? (Read More)
Speaking at the William Blair 2018 Growth Stock Conference in Chicago, IL, on Wednesday afternoon, Fox Factory Holding Corp. CEO Larry Enterline said the company has significant growth potential with sales of mountain bike parts. (Read More)
In this first of a two-part series on the state of the golf industry, SGB looks at the sport’s participation levels and how associations, private companies, grassroots organizations and local course operators are working to ensure golf continues its current rebound by addressing the needs of core players while also attracting the next generation. (Read More)
Speaking at Stifel’s 2018 Cross Sector Insight Conference in Boston, MA, on Monday morning, Gildan Activewear Inc. CFO Rhodri Harries said the company’s strategic advantages will bolster the launch of two private label lines later this year. (Read More)
Zumiez Inc. doesn't view the world of apparel and footwear retail through the lens of the traditional channels but is instead focusing on how to best accommodate customers no matter when, where or how they shop, according to CEO Rick Brooks, (Read More)
Vail Resorts Inc.’s acquisition of four ski resorts earlier this week wasn’t a huge deal financially—at least relative to the company's annual revenue—but adding locales near key U.S. markets could prove to be a monumental, even epic, move for the Colorado-based ski area operator. (Read More)
Duluth Holdings Inc., parent of Duluth Trading Co., is moving into a “true omnichannel environment with strong conviction,” according to CEO Stephanie Pugliese, who outlined the apparel and accessories company’s progress on this pursuit in Tuesday’s earnings call with analysts. (Read More)
Weakness at Lids Sports Group and shares of Genesco Inc. tumbling 9 percent Tuesday overshadowed an otherwise decent Q1 performance that saw the parent company of a variety of retail brands beat Wall Street estimates on income and revenue. (Read More)
Although May was a relatively slow month for mergers and acquisitions activity in the outdoor and active lifestyle space, a few eye-opening transactions dominated headlines because they fell outside the scope of traditional deals. (Read More)
Even though Caleres Inc. missed analysts’ first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, which was followed by shares falling slightly Friday morning, recent strides in e-commerce initiatives bode well for the parent company of a range of footwear brands and Famous Footwear retail stores. (Read More)
Golf rounds might have been down in the double digits for April as they have been for a few months now, but softness in the sport’s participation had no bearing on Perry Ellis International’s golf sales in the first quarter. The company saw total revenues rise 5.4 percent behind the strength of golf apparel. (Read More)