Author: Thomas J. Ryan

Vail Resorts reported a 68 percent decline in revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter ended July 31 as its resorts were closed for much of the quarter. On a positive side, skiers are buying the company’s Epic Pass for the coming season, offering some hope that locals will help salvage the upcoming ski season. (Read More)

Speaking at SFIA’s virtual conference, “Back on Track: Insights and Strategies,” Puma North America’s president and CEO Bob Philion discussed how the digital shift has helped Puma secure space on retail selling floors. (Read More)

At Goldman Sachs’ Annual Retailing Conference Wednesday morning, Ed Stack, chairman and CEO, said “some pull forward” helped drive the retailer’s whopping 20.7 percent comp gain in the second quarter. However, strong demand for many categories that have benefited from lifestyle changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to continue into 2021. Stack said, "We're fortunate we're in a great lane for what's going on right now." (Read More)

Genesco Inc. said its core Journeys chain saw a strong sales recovery as stores began re-opening at the start of the second quarter with the comfort trend favoring its fashion athletic mix, but delays in back-to-school selling impacted revenues in the latter part of the quarter and have created significant uncertainty about prospects for the current quarter. (Read More)

Acushnet Holdings Corp., the parent of Titleist, FootJoy and KJUS, said that after a brutal first two months of the second quarter due to store and golf-course lockdowns, sales bounced back strongly in June, accelerated in July, and are expected to continue strong through the third quarter. Said David Maher, Acushnet’s president and CEO, on a conference call with analysts, "The game and business of golf have been incredibly resilient.” (Read More)

Wolverine Worldwide’s sales in the second quarter fell 39 percent but came in significantly better than internal expectations due to a 96 percent hike in online sales and strong trends towards the end of the quarter around outdoor, run and work. Said Blake Krueger, chairman, CEO and president, “The company's performance significantly exceeded our expectations entering the quarter on virtually every financial metric." (Read More)

“This is probably the strongest level of demand that I've seen,” said Chris Killoy, CEO at Sturm Ruger & Co., when asked on the company’s second-quarter conference call about the recent surge in demand for firearms that’s been fueled by anxieties over COVID-19 and civil unrest. (Read More)

Johnson Outdoors Inc. reported steep declines in profits and revenues in its fiscal third quarter ended June 26 but indicated orders have increased significantly in May and June in its Fishing, Watercraft Recreation and Camping segments as quarantined-consumers head outdoors for recreation. Helen Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO, said on a conference call with analysts, “At this time, we are working overtime to keep pace with continuing demand in all three of these businesses.” (Read More)

Under Armour Inc.’s revenues tumbled 41 percent in the second quarter, but significant declines are also expected in the second half – in the range of 20-to-25 percent - due to uncertain consumer spending, inventory constraints and a likely promotional climate. (Read More)

Powered by resiliency in the U.S. region and skyrocketing e-commerce gains, Crocs Inc. became one of the rare industry players to deliver strong earnings gains in the pandemic-sidetracked second quarter. Sales declined only slightly. Lean inventories, however, will limit second-half growth. (Read More)

Puma reported a sharp decline in its second-quarter sales due to COVID-19, but sales were only down 6 percent in June and ran approximately flat in July as stores reopened. A bright spot has been online as Puma’s e-commerce vaulted 97 percent in Q2. (Read More)

Garmin Ltd. reported sales and earnings were down in the second quarter ended June 27 but both came in well ahead of Wall Street’s targets due to a stellar performance from the Fitness segment as well as solid performances from Garmin’s Outdoor and Marine segments. (Read More)

Rocky Brands Inc.’s sales were slightly down and adjusted earnings flat year-over-year in the second quarter despite COVID-19's impact, handily topping Wall Street’s targets. On a conference call with analysts, Jason Brooks, president and CEO, said, “Despite being up against the most difficult operating conditions we have ever experienced, our business exhibited increasing strength as the quarter progressed.” (Read More)

In court papers, Ken D’Arcy, Remington Outdoors’ CEO, said the firearm’s giant’s second bankruptcy in two years was partly due to elevated inventory levels and a wide range of brands that extended the company beyond its “core focus” coming out of its first bankruptcy. He added, “Most importantly, the unfavorable business trends continued after exit from the prior cases.” (Read More)

The passage of the Great American Outdoors Act was praised by a wide array of outdoor advocates across the hunt, camp, hike, and fish spaces. The bill, expected to be quickly signed into law by President Donald Trump, promises to address scores of long-neglected maintenance projects at Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and hundreds of other national parks across the country. (Read More)

Hibbett Sports Inc. said it expects same-store sales to catapult in excess of 70 percent in the second quarter ended August 1 but cautioned that some of the boosts to the second quarter won’t be recurring in the second half. On a conference call with analysts, Hibbett officials also noted that prospects for the back-to-school selling season remain up in the air as school openings are uncertain. (Read More)

As businesses have been greatly impacted when the economy took a hit because of COVID-19, SGB Executive reached out to PR veterans in the active lifestyle space to ask how they are surviving the wave that has businesses shifting their attitudes and budgets.  (Read More)

Last June, The Running Industry Association (RIA) successfully launched the first RIA KickShow with a promise to "create a true working environment that fosters buying efficiency and connects retailers with brands in a new way." A year later, the show returns with a virtual format but the same mission. (Read More)

Oppenheimer upgraded its rating for Dick's SG to “Outperform” from “Perform” due to expected strength in the sporting goods category amid the pandemic. Brian Nagel, Oppenheimer’s lead analyst in the space wrote in a note, “The company’s robust omnichannel business model is positioned well to capitalize upon improving consumer demand for items associated with consumers now spending more time at home and poised to further benefit as shoppers shift back to team sports and licensed products.” (Read More)