Compass Diversified Holdings CEO Elias Sabo called tactical gear brand 5.11 a “significant driver” for CODI in the third quarter as 10.1 percent revenue growth surpassed the parent company’s expectations, but he also warned that heavy investments will take a toll on the brand’s earnings in the short term. (Read More)
Though Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.’s third quarter earnings fell within guidance, the company was shy of expectations as August and September sales were “disappointing,” company President and CEO Steven Miller said on Tuesday afternoon’s earnings conference call with analysts. (Read More)
A significant headwind in the form of higher raw material costs took a toll on Unifi Inc.’s profitability and gross margins in the first quarter ended September 30 while looming tariff increases are also problematic, company CEO Kevin Hall said on Tuesday’s earnings conference call with analysts. (Read More)
Hibbett Sports Inc. CEO Jeff Rosenthal spoke with SGB about the company's $88 million (plus undisclosed incentives) acquisition of Memphis, TN-based “city specialty” retailer City Gear, which the Birmingham, AL-based retailer believes will be transformational for both companies as they leverage each other's strengths. (Read More)
VF Corp. CEO Steve Rendle and CFO Scott Roe spoke with SGB last week about five hot topics—the forthcoming move to Denver, VF’s commitment to becoming a purpose-led company, Vans’ five-year journey to $5 billion, growth drivers at The North Face and upside at two smaller brands—Icebreaker and Smartwool. Here’s what they shared. (Read More)
Amer Sports made it clear Thursday that the company wouldn’t discuss Anta Sports’ acquisition bid, leaving the company to focus solely on Amer’s solid third-quarter performance, especially in the company's outdoor segment. Amer Sports reported earnings in the third quarter ended September 30 increased 47 percent while sales grew 8.5 percent. (Read More)
Rocky Brands Inc. topped Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates in the third quarter, as the Nelsonville, OH-based company again rode a healthy balance across the company's portfolio brands and sales channels to more than double net income from the same quarter a year ago. (Read More)
SGB goes behind the scenes of Hayes Performance Systems’ acquisition of carbon wheel maker Reynolds Cycling LLC, a deal that closed on Tuesday and was announced on Wednesday. Darren Campbell of Hayes Bicycle Group and Scott Montgomery of Reynolds explain why uniting their companies made perfect business sense. (Read More)
PrimaLoft President and CEO Mike Joyce spoke with SGB about the company’s new synthetic insulation that is made from 100-percent recycled, biodegradable fibers. “We think this is a game changer,” he said, adding that "the technology will be a major revenue driver for us." Our Q&A explains why. (Read More)
SGB recently spoke with Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO of Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG, about the company's 150th anniversary, its role as a leader in sustainability, its focus on the future and what's next for the textile industry. (Read More)
The path that Vans will travel en route to $5 billion in annual revenue by 2023 is sure to be strewn with economic headwinds and market deviations along the way, but the action lifestyle brand is kicking off its quest toward that ambitious destination in style. Vans revenue grew 26 percent in the second quarter ended September 29, boosting parent company VF Corp.’s revenue 15 percent to $3.9 billion for the period. (Read More)
Francisco Morales, newly appointed CEO of 5.11—the tactical gear brand he co-founded in 2003—spoke with SGB about what’s driving the company's brick-and-mortar growth, the explosion of the tactical sector and the importance of having a supportive parent company like CODI. (Read More)
Shares of Winnebago Industries grew $1.45, or 4.6 percent, at market close Wednesday following a fourth-quarter earnings report that beat Wall Street expectations on both earnings per share and revenue. However, softness in the RV market and slowing profits brought shares down to earth after an early morning surge of 17 percent. (Read More)
Dave McDonald, who was recently appointed COO of Cascade Designs—the Seattle, WA-based company that owns and operates a portfolio of popular outdoor brands—spoke with SGB about his new role and how he plans to help the longtime company improve its operational excellence. (Read More)
Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick received mixed reaction based on factors such as how much consumers earn annually and how much they spend with the brand, according to a survey published Wednesday by the investment firm Cowen. (Read More)
Helen of Troy Ltd. got a surprisingly strong performance from Hydro Flask in the second quarter, but rising tariffs have the company looking at moving its sourcing outside of China—a daunting but necessary act—to avoid increasing prices for customers. (Read More)
Companies that are subject to new tariffs on Chinese-made products might be able to mitigate some or all of the financial impact, according to David Cohen, a Washington, DC-based international trade lawyer, who spoke at the recent SFIA Industry Leaders Summit. “You’re not sitting ducks. There are ways, there are countermeasures, that companies can take.” (Read More)
Nix Biosensors was the winner of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s third annual Start-Up Challenge, held at last week’s Industry Leaders Summit in Denver, CO. Meridith Unger, founder and CEO of the Boston, MA-based company, spoke with SGB about what this award means for the business moving forward. (Read More)
Coast Products has a rich history. The Portland, OR-based maker of knives, multitools, headlamps, flashlights and other accessories is turning 100 next year and has been family-owned since its founding in 1919. CEO David Brands spoke with SGB about the origins of the company his grandfather created, what's driving growth and where Coast goes from here. (Read More)
Executives from leading sports, fitness and active lifestyle companies descended on Denver, CO, last week for the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s sixth annual Industry Leaders Summit. Here are five takeaways from the event, including how to mitigate tariffs, what's driving M&A and the growing importance of culture. (Read More)