SFIA and Pickleheads have released their second annual report, the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, noting that the industry has responded to the shortage of pickleball courts in the U.S., with a 55 percent year-over-year increase in the number of dedicated facilities for play.
Author: SGB Media

Massimo Group Pontoon Boat Sales Crash in Q3, Less Weakness in E-Bikes, ATVs and UTVs
The company said the 14.4 percent decrease in revenue was primarily due to a significant drop in Pontoon boat sales, and a slight decrease in sales of UTV, ATV and e-bikes.

Oaktree Solutions Launches Oaktree Sports Ventures; Taps Jayson Willams to Lead Effort
The global public affairs and venture consulting firm has tapped former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams as managing director of Sports Ventures. Williams will also advise Oaktree’s corporate and non-profit clients on engaging the athletic community and addressing issues of mental health and wellbeing.

Newton Golf Narrows Q3 Net Loss as Year-Over-Year Sales Growth Surged
The company, previously know as Sacks Parente Golf, posted a net loss of $1.06 million in the quarter, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in the year-ago Q3 period. Revenue was $1.2 million in the third quarter, an increase of 1,175 percent year-over-year.

Ugg Celebrates the Holiday Season with “Corner” Pop-Up in Nordstrom NYC
“Ugg at The Corner” features a curated selection of Ugg-branded footwear, outerwear, sportswear, socks, robes, and cold-weather accessories for men, women and kids.

Golf4Her Launches Mulligan Re-Sell Boutique
The company founded the boutique shopping experience for the “eco-conscious golfer who wants to refresh their wardrobe while embracing sustainability.”

Survey: Record Numbers Will Shop from Thanksgiving Day to Cyber Monday
The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasted that holiday spending will reach record levels during November and December and grow between 2.5% and 3.5%, totaling $979.5 billion to $989 billion.

Perfect Moment Sees Fiscal Q2 Sales Fall 35 Percent Leading into Key Winter Season
The company’s net loss was $2.7 million or a loss of 17 cents per basic and diluted share in the fiscal second quarter, compared to a net loss of $0.8 million or a loss of 29 cents per basic and diluted share in the year-ago Q2 period.

Dillard’s, Inc. Net Income Falls 21 Percent Year-Over-Year as Sales Dip 4 Percent
The retailer reported that Cosmetics was its strongest-performing merchandise category, with the weakest performances noted in juniors’ and children’s apparel and men’s apparel and accessories.

Turtleson Bolsters Sales Representation for Mid-Atlantic
Available in golf shops, men’s specialty stores and online, Turtleson sportswear will be represented by in-house industry veteran industry veteran Mark Gama in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Nordstrom Rack to Open New Idaho Location in Fall 2025
The 25,000-square-foot store will be located in The Village at Meridian, a shopping center that includes Lego, Evereve, Warby Parker, and Brandy Melville. The Village at Meridian is owned and managed by CenterCal Properties, LLC.

Report: Christmas Gifting Trends and Consumer Insights from YouGov Survey
YouGov data suggests word of mouth remains the best way for companies to make their products the hottest Christmas gift of 2024, with 18- to 34-year-olds twice as likely to get their gift ideas that way versus social media.

REI Co-op Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
The specialty retailer said Abigail Jacobs brings an “impressive background leading marketing for major consumer retailers including Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, and the Pottery Barn brands.”

Caleres Hires Nancy Bitetto as SVP of New York Brands
The parent of Famous Footwear and a portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands said Nancy Bitetto has joined the company as senior vice president of New York brands, which include Franco Sarto, Vince, Veronica Beard and private brand offerings.

Capri Holdings and Tapestry Terminate Merger Agreement
The companies mutually agreed that terminating the merger agreement was in the best interests of both companies as the required closing condition of receiving necessary U.S. regulatory approvals was unlikely to be met by the merger agreement’s outside date of February 10, 2025.