Altra, which is owned by VF Corp., welcomed Chuck Ponthier as senior director of sales. Most recently, Ponthier served as the vice president of North American sales at Toms.
Author: SGB Media
L.L.Bean To Open In Salem, NH
L.L.Bean announced its newest retail location in the Granite State will open in the fall of 2020. The L.L.Bean retail store will be located at Tuscan Village, a premier lifestyle destination in Salem, NH.
Al’s Sporting Goods To Open In Idaho Falls
Al’s Sporting Goods, based in Logan, UT, is opening a location in a former Toys R Us in Idaho Falls, ID. The location will be its third store and the opening date is September 2020.

November M&A Roundup: SIA, Alterra, Fitbit And More
What the active lifestyle marketplace lacked in M&A volume last month, it made up for in impact thanks to three industry-shifting deals that are sure to resonate with businesses and consumers alike. In our November M&A Roundup, SGB recaps the moves made by Snowsports Industries America, Alterra Mountain Co. and Fitbit Inc.

Slinger Bag Goes Public In U.S. Via Reverse Acquisition
Slinger Bag, the startup tennis ball launcher manufacturer that began in Israel, has gone public in the U.S. through the reverse acquisition process. The company acquired the publicly traded Lazex Inc., changed the name to Slinger Bag and adopted the ticker symbol of “SLBG.”
Bollé Brands Appoints Industry Veteran To NA Marketing Team
Chris Abbruzzese has been named Vice President of Trade Marketing for Bollé Brands, North America, the company announced Monday. Abbruzzese will be responsible for developing trade marketing strategies that align with Bollé’s global brand strategies. In this new role, Abbruzzese will act as the key bridge between global marketing and product teams and the North […]
Wish for Wheels Names Lance Armstrong To Board Of Directors
Wish for Wheels, a national nonprofit organization that gives brand new bikes and helmets to second graders in low-income schools, on Monday announced the addition of Lance Armstrong to the board of directors
Gant Appoints Patrik Söderström As New CEO
Gant has named Patrik Söderström chief executive officer, effective February 2020. He will take over for Brian Grevy, who, as reported, is re-joining Adidas to lead Global Brands.
Report: VF Corp. Among Bidders For Golden Goose
According to Reuters, VF Corp. is among the companies looking to acquire Golden Goose. Sources indicate the company is competing with private-equity firms Permira and Advent as well as strategic investors PVH, Ralph Lauren and Tapestry for the Italian shoe brand.

Christy Sports Finds New Equity Partner
Christy Sports, LLC announced that it has received a significant strategic investment from TZP Capital Partners III, L.P. TZP, a private equity firm based in New York City, acquired Norwest Equity Partners’ equity stake in the winter sports retailer.
Firearms Background Checks Up 11 Percent On Black Friday
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported its National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 202,465 firearms checks on Black Friday, as reported by USA Today. That represents an 11 percent increase from last year’s figures of 185,713 and fell just short of the single-day record: 203,086 in 2017.
Online Sales Break Records On Black Friday
Overall online sales on Black Friday jumped 19.4 percent to $7.4 billion, the second-largest Internet shopping day ever, according to data compiled by Adobe Analytics. The $7.4 billion marked the biggest sales day ever for Black Friday and trailed only last year’s Cyber Monday’s $7.9 billion for the number 1 spot of all-time in online revenue, according to Adobe’s data.
Black Friday Brick-and-Mortar Sales Up 4.2 percent
Black Friday shopping at physical stores saw a 4.2 percent increase in sales compared to 2018, according to First Data Insights. The greatest increase over normal shopping activity was seen across electronics and appliances, sporting goods, and clothing/shoe stores.
Outdoor Voices Opens Flagship In Manhattan’s Flatiron District
Outdoor Voices, the Austin-based activewear brand, on Friday opened a flagship in New York’s Flatiron District. The 1,400-square-foot store will be located at 19th Street and Fifth Avenue and represents the company’s 10th store.

MEC Facing Financial Struggles
MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) lost Canadian $11.5 million in the year ended February 24, 2019 after restructuring charges against income of C$11.7 million the prior year. According to a report from Canada’s CBC, Canada’s largest outdoor gear retailer’s sales have slowed due to heightened online competition.