Author: SGB Executive

While scores of fitness enthusiasts have embraced connected fitness over the last 12-to-18 months, connectivity has become an expectation for home and club workouts as COVID-19 has accelerated adoption, contends Mark Watterson, iFit’s president.

Recent retail surveys and studies included Deloitte finding Millennials and Gen Zs remaining resilient in the face of COVID-19. Other surveys explored the rise in consumer boycotts, concerns over store safety protocols, as well as outlooks for small businesses, consumer spending, and online growth.

Many observers have been saying people are heading to the outdoors to safely recreate amid the pandemic and it’s finally been showing up in recent months in sales figures, officials at NPD Group said at a session at Outdoor Retailer Online. The outdoor community was encouraged not to miss the chance to convert outdoor newcomers into life-long fans.

Nike Inc. announced a number of leadership changes as well as job reductions as part of the recent launch of its Consumer Direct Acceleration strategy largely designed to further drive digital engagement and growth. Termination costs in the range of $200 million to $250 million will be taken for the unspecified job cuts.

On an online webinar hosted Thursday by Brooks Running, panelists discussed how the recent surge in running activity seen across the U.S. is being driven by runners seeking stress relief after finding their lives jolted by COVID-19. Fortunately, this new group of “soul runners” is expected to be more dedicated and make running a continuous part of their lives.

Japanese researchers have found COVID-19 infection indoors is almost 19 times higher than outdoors. The findings add to a number of recent studies touting the health and safety benefits of getting outdoors as well as challenges staying active amid lockdowns.

Only 53 percent of parents expect their child to resume sports activity at the same or higher amount when current COVID-19 restrictions are removed, according to a new national survey from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University. That’s down from 70 percent in early May from a similar survey by North Carolina State University in partnership with Project Play.

Waco Shoe Company’s Co-Owners, Jeff Antonioli and Brad Granger, talked to SGB Executive about the formation of Waco Shoe Company, the strong growth being seen across Spenco’s footwear range and untapped growth potential for Revitalign, Iron Man, Iron Sport, and soon-to-arrive Waco Shoe brand.Antonioli

A new report from the Capgemini Research Institute, “Consumer Products and Retail: How sustainability is fundamentally changing consumer preferences,” finds that sustainability has risen with consumers with 79 percent changing their purchase preferences based on social responsibility, inclusiveness or environmental impact.

Retail surveys and studies that arrived last week included Ernst & Young identifying five new consumer segments emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. Others explored back-to-school spending, in-store shopping comfort, holiday spending online, and returning merchandise.