REI ranked first in Forbes America’s Best Employers For Women list. Other firms participating in the active lifestyle space on the Top 200 ranking were Designer Brands, the parent of DSW, at 14; JCPenney, 92; Vail Resorts, 109; Hibbett Sports, 114; Nordstrom, 139; Topgolf, 149; Foot Locker, 163; and Nike, 177.
Author: SGB Media

Spartan Race Cancels Rest Of The U.S. 2020 Season
Spartan Race is canceling all its U.S. obstacle races and trail races for the rest of 2020.

Nike To Open Third House Of Innovation In Paris
Nike will open its third House of Innovation at the historic 79 Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The location will open on July 30.

Shimano’s Sales Slide 12 Percent In Six Months
Shimano Inc.’s sales were down 11.9 in the first half ended June 30. Sales fell 14.6 percent in the Bicycle Components segment and 1.8 percent in the Fishing Tackle segment.

NJCAA 2020/21 Sports Plan Moves Football, Soccer, Volleyball To Spring
Following the recommendations from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA has announced its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020/21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents’ vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester.

Garmin Tops Wall Street On Fitness Segment Strength
Garmin Ltd. reported sales fell 9 percent and earnings were also down in the second quarter ended June 27 but results came in well above Wall Street’s targets. Revenues jumped 17 percent in the Fitness segment and increased 4 percent in the Marine segment while sliding only 4 percent in the Outdoor segment.

Sportsman’s Warehouse To Sponsor Archery Hunting Show
Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. signed an agreement with The Outdoor Group, LLC to sponsor the archery hunting show, “Respect the Game,” for one year starting December 28, 2020.

Nike Withdraws Plans For Manufacturing Plant Near Phoenix
Nike Inc. said it is canceling plans to open a plant in Goodyear, AZ just outside of Phoenix, AZ to make soles for its Nike Air shoes as part of its Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation (Air MI) program.

CES 2021 Canceled
CES 2021, scheduled to run from January 6 to 9, 2021, in Las Vegas will transition to “an all-digital experience” on the same dates, the Consumer Technology Association announced.

Rocky Brands Q2 Revenues Dip 9.4 Percent
Rocky Brands Inc. reported second-quarter earnings fell 25.0 percent on a 9.4 percent slide in sales. Earnings were up slightly excluding expenses related to the temporary closure of the company’s manufacturing facilities.

Big 5 Sees Sales Growth Accelerate In July
Big 5 Sporting Goods reported second-quarter results that came in line with an upbeat forecast given on July 9. The West Coast retailer also said the strong recovery in sales seen in the latter part of the second quarter has accelerated in the third quarter with same-store sales increasing 31.9 percent in July.

Hydro Flask Expands Leadership Team
Hydro Flask, a Helen of Troy Limited brand, announced three new hires to its leadership team. Jay Wilkins joins Hydro Flask as VP of product development, and David Brown as North American sales director across all categories. Expanding Hydro Flask’s presence in the European market, Kit Ha will serve as director of marketing, EMEA for Helen of Troy’s Housewares division, which includes the Hydro Flask and OXO brands.

Slinger Bag Announces Expansion Into Canada With Key Hire
Slinger Bag, a manufacturer of game improvement equipment for ball sports, today announced its expansion into Canada with the appointment of Doug Coombs as director of business development, effective immediately.

SFIA To Launch Virtual Conference Focusing Recovery And Re-Launch
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association will convene Back on Track: Insights and Strategies as a virtual conference to explore how the sports and fitness industry is approaching COVID-19 challenges and opportunities after months of marketplace disruption.

Golf Rounds Climb Double-Digits In June
Golf rounds continued to recover with a 13.9 percent gain in June following the reopening of golf courses across the country, according to Golf Datatech. For the year-to-date period, rounds played are now down 1.7 percent.