The North Face has quietly closed its outlet store in Berkeley, CA, according to local reports. The store, at 1238 Fifth St, opened its doors in 1975.
Author: SGB Media
Vaude Appoints New Marketing Manager
Vaude appointed Julian Uhlhaas as marketing manager, effective August 1. He succeeds Manfred Meindl, who recently joined Ortovox as director of marketing and digital D2C.
Versant Media Group Completes Acquisition of Golf Simulator Platform Full Swing
Versant Media Group, the owner of the Golf Channel and several other cable stations, has completed the acquisition of Full Swing, a manufacturer of golf and baseball simulators and training equipment backed by Tiger Woods, for roughly $530 million in cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.
Georgia’s Hobbs Sporting Goods Closes After Nearly 60 Years
Hobbs Sporting Goods was being run by Ellen Hobbs Ross, the daughter of Hobbs Sporting Goods co-founder Billy Hobbs, along with her brother Frank Hobbs and her husband, Chuck.
Helly Hansen Opens Munich Store
Helly Hansen, the Norwegian outerwear maker owned by Kontoor Brands, opened its first owned store in Germany in the city of Munich.
EXEC: Newell Outdoor & Rec Business Core Sales Grow for First Time in 4 Years
The Outdoor & Recreation segment of Newell Brands reported its first gain in core sales in four years, led by high-single-digit growth at Coleman and helped by accelerated investments in innovation. Christopher Peterson, Newell’s president and CEO, said on an analyst call. The segment also includes Baby Jogger, Bubba, Campingaz, Contigo, Ex Officio, and Marmot.
Utah’s Al’s Sporting Goods to Close Boise Location
Al’s Sporting Goods plans to close its location in Boise, ID. The outdoor retailer will continue to operate three stores in Utah in Logan, Orem and St. George and one in Idaho in Idaho Falls.
UofM Consumer Sentiment Index Improves for Second Straight Month
The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 55.2 in July, up from 49.5 in June and improving for the second straight month. However, the index remained well below last July’s 61.7 due to concerns over the economy and inflation.
Report: Fishing Participation Shows First Decline Since 2021
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) announced the results of the 2026 Special Report on Fishing. In total, 57 million Americans, roughly 18 percent of the U.S. population, went fishing in 2025. While up nearly 25 percent from a decade ago, total participation is down from 57.9 million in 2024 – the first year-over-year decrease since 2021.
BikesOnline.com Opens New HQ in Southern California
BikesOnline.com officially opened the doors to its new Southern California headquarters in San Clemente, “bringing its West Coast fulfillment operations, customer showroom and local riding experiences together under one roof.”
Academy Sports Launches Retail Media Network
Academy Sports has launched Academy Retail Media (ARM), a retail media network designed to connect brand partners with Academy’s customers and link ad exposure to both online and in-store sales. ARM integrates Academy’s stores, e-commerce platforms, and customer data to support its omnichannel growth strategy.
ICSC: Back-to-School Shoppers Seeking Deals In Stores
ICSC (formerly the International Council of Shopping Centers) in its annual survey found back-to-school spending will show a slight increase this year, although parents are embracing a “value-first mindset,” with 54 percent of back-to-school shoppers saying they are concerned about their ability to afford everything they need this season
Topgolf Plans August Open for First Wisconsin Location
Located eight miles east of Madison at 6600 Topgolf Way near the intersection of Beltline Highway and Broadway in Monona, the two-level venue will mark Topgolf’s 103rd venue in the country.
New Balance Opens First West Coast Flagship
New Balance opened a flagship store at The Grove in Los Angeles, marking the brand’s first flagship location on the West Coast.
Columbia Sportswear Hikes FY EPS Outlook as International Drives Q2 Beat
Columbia Sportswear Co. raised its guidance for sales and earnings for the year as second-quarter sales topped expectations with strong sales in international regions offset continued declines in the U.S. Sales declined 4 percent in the U.S. Among brands, sales increased 1 percent for Columbia, 14 percent for Prana and 6 percent at Mountain Hardwear while declining 14 percent at Sorel. Earnings were boosted by a 93-cents a share tariff refund credit.
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