Going on four years as CEO of Simms, Casey Sheahan, 65, took the helm to spearhead its wader, outerwear and technical fishing apparel and accessory lines out of its 80,000-square-foot facility in Bozeman, MT. SGB Executive caught up with Sheahan for his take on the fishing industry, manufacturing in America, surviving the pandemic, and its new brand mission, Fish It Well. (Read More)
The Grateful Dead has a long, strange history of aligning with outdoor brands. "Without question, there's an overlap between the band and the outdoors," said Eleni Gregoriou, director of global brand licensing, Warner Music Group. SGB Executive rounded up product collabs of late. (Read More)
Coming full circle, Inov-8 founder Wayne Edy is back leading the company he started 18 years ago, having repurchased it from Descente. SGB Executive caught up with him for his take on reinvigorating the brand. (Read More)
In today's hard-pressed, brick & mortar retail world, it's much harder to leave a family legacy for the next generation to take over the business. SGB Executive caught up with two outdoor specialty retailers, one on the East Coast and one out West, whose businesses are thriving. (Read More)
On January 25, 2021, kayak, surf and SUP company Hobie Cat Co. was discretely sold to a private equity group consisting of executives from Detroit industrial auction company Maynards Industries. SGB Executive caught up with its new Chairman, Taso Sofikitis, on what the future holds. (Read More)
When GOA released its final 2020 year-to-year sales numbers from its 94 retailers operating 195 doors, it showed the up and down swings associated with the pandemic. SGB Executive caught up with Gabe Maier, vice president, GOA, to go behind the numbers, talk about the upcoming launch of its Switchback retail data tool, the outlook for 2021, and more. (Read More)
The adventure travel industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. SGB Executive spoke with 50-year-old, family-owned adventure travel business OARS for insight into the market with Steven Markle, vice-president of sales and marketing. (Read More)
For apparel maker Picture Organic, sustainable materials and fighting climate change have been core to their mission since its inception. SGB Executive sat down with CEO Julien Durant to learn more about sugar cane's role in the brand's journey to be a more sustainable company. (Read More)
Kelty has launched a new line of CBD cream to tap into the $4 billion domestic CBD market. SGB Executive caught up with General Manager Russ Rowell, who credits the overlap between outdoor industry consumers and CBD users for the move. (Read More)
With Outdoor Retailer recently announcing its Summer Market tradeshow will move from June to August 10-12, 2021, SGB Executive caught up with OR Senior VP and Show Director Marisa Nicholson to look inside the decision. (Read More)
The ski boot line-up for 2021/22 places walking at the forefoot with new soles and walking mode mechanisms that don't sacrifice power or performance. The following is a sampling from SGB of the ski boots you will find at retail for the season. (Read More)
With 2020/21 marking one of the deadliest avalanche seasons on record, avalanche gear sales are booming. Joining transceivers, probes and shovel sales are those of airbags, a pack that houses an airbag that users can deploy to keep them near the surface. (Read More)
When Surf Expo staged its winter tradeshow January 6-8, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, it marked the first in-person outdoor tradeshow in nearly a year since the pandemic began, bringing exhibitors and retailers together facemask to facemask. Did attendees, both vendors and retailers, feel it was a successful event worth attending? For that, SGB Executive canvassed the trenches for input from show attendees. (Read More)
In 2019, textile manufacturer Milliken & Co. acquired Polartec from Versa Capital Management. This year Polartec celebrates the 40th anniversary of inventing synthetic fleece and the 30th anniversary of the brand. SGB Executive caught up with Polartec President Steve Layton for his thoughts on the company's new owner, the pandemic and what's next for Polartec. (Read More)
With winter lovers heading to the slopes this season, ski manufacturers have not wasted time facilitating the craze. They're experimenting with materials, shapes, profiles, and sustainable practices to keep consumers schussing well after the pandemic ends. The following is a roundup from SGB of what you will find at retail this season. (Read More)
With fishing license sales up across the country, angling gear companies have been reeling in sales during the pandemic, helping fuel both participation and the continued protection of our natural resources. SGB Executive caught up with Orvis President Simon Perkins for his take on how the business has evolved during the pandemic. (Read More)
The glove and mitten category deserves a warm high five from retailers this year for innovation, as manufacturers fine-tune materials, designs and more to keep consumers comfortable. The following is SGB Media's roundup of gloves and mitts from a handful of active outdoor manufacturers you will find on retailers' shelves this season. (Read More)
Capitalizing on the year's COVID-19-fueled surge in bike sales, in January, Kitzuma Cycling Logistics debuted a new model for shipping bikes in the industry. SGB Executive caught up with COO Chris Cosgrove for the skinny on its step-saving cycling business model. (Read More)
After being acquired by Kohlberg & Co in 2017, K2 Sports tapped John Colonna as its new president. SGB Executive reached out to the avid snowboarder to find out how K2’s brands have adjusted to the pandemic and what’s coming down the pipeline. (Read More)
The backcountry skiing market isn’t the only winter outdoors segment seeing a huge boom this year. COVID-19 and resort restrictions have also fueled a surge in demand for snowshoes, affording consumers another way to enjoy Old Man Winter. (Read More)