The volume of shoes shipped during the first half period increased by 9.9 percent to 120.7 million pairs amid a “decent recovery trend” and a further normalized order book. Pou Sheng China retail decreased 12.7 percent to $1.38 billion in U.S. dollar terms for the first half.
Author: SGB Media
Crunch to Open Fitness Studio in Louisiana
Crunch Mandeville, the $5 million, 29,000-square-foot fitness facility, operated by franchisee Fit Fusion, LLC, will open in December in Mandeville, LA.
EXEC: Giant Group Saw Ugly but Improving Trends in First Half; H2 Shaping Up Nicely
The 5.8 percent decline in Q2 was a clear quarter-over-quarter sequential improvement versus the 2024 first quarter, when Giant Group saw revenues fall 20.2 percent for the January through March period, on top of a 9.7 percent decrease in the corresponding Q1 period last year.
Outtech Adds Acurite to Brand Stable
Outtech, the sales and marketing agency for the outdoor industry, added the manufacturer of weather stations and weather technology for outdoor and indoor home monitoring, to its portfolio of brands.
Deuter to Integrate Packs With HydraPak Hydration Reservoirs and Soft Flasks
Deuter will integrate customized hydration reservoirs and soft flasks designed by HydraPak into a range of its performance backpacks. Deuter expects to release the first product to the market in Spring 2025.
Thorne Names Chief Growth Officer
Former Kate Spade CMO Mary Beech has been named chief growth officer. Beech will reportedly oversee Thorne’s marketing team and e-commerce business from her base in New York. She will report into Thorne CEO Colin Watts.
Crunch Fitness Appoints Chief Operating Officer
The franchisor’s chief experience officer, Molly Long, was promoted to the company’s new chief operating officer, effective August 12.
Massimo Group Sees 32 Percent Q2 Growth on E-Bikes, UTVs & ATVs Segment Gains
Revenue from sales of UTVs, ATVs, and E-Bikes increased 53.3 percent to $34.2 million in the second quarter, partially offset by a 73.5 percent decrease in revenue from sales of pontoon boats.
Athleta Parent Company Gap Inc. Changing Ticker Symbol to “GAP”
The parent of the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta retail brands will change its ticker symbol from “GPS” to “GAP” on Thursday, August 22, 2024
Extraordinary Brands Acquires Franchisor Neighborhood Barre
The parent of the Pūrvelo Cycle, Eat the Frog Fitness, and Row House has acquired Neighborhood Barre, marking the fourth boutique fitness brand to join the fitness consolidator.
Gold’s Gym Opens Renovated Space on Path to Atlanta Expansion Plan
The 24,800 sf gym in Dacula is owned by franchisee Koran Winters, who purchased it in 2023. Winters has plans to grow the brand’s footprint in the Atlanta area, with one new gym opening planned per year over the next seven to eight years.
EXEC: Footwear Factories Post Positive Growth Trends in July
Yue Yuen’s footwear manufacturing revenue jumped 22.0 percent year-over-year in July 2024 against a weak July last year while Feng Tay Enterprises reported footwear manufacturing revenues were up 3.2 for July, representing a slow down in YTD growth.
Pickleball Kingdom Continues Expansion in Tennessee
The company is launching two new indoor pickleball facilities in Chattanooga and Memphis, led by franchisees Bappa Mukherji, Anjali Mukherji Doria and Jake Doria
Life Time Files Patent for the “Ultimate” Pickleball
Life Time, operates over 700 pickleball courts nationwide, said that pickleballs on the market often play too slow and the faster balls preferred by pros and higher-end players are inconsistent in bounce and have significant issues with durability.
EXEC: Mizuno Corp. Fiscal Q1 Profits Expand DD on Solid Sales Growth
Sales in Japan remained robust in competitive sports including soccer, volleyball and racket sports, and sales in the work business remained strong. Non-Japan sales also continued to grow in products for competitive sports such as soccer, and lifestyle shoes.