Author: Thomas J. Ryan

At Stifel’s 2019 Cross Sector Insight Conference on Tuesday in Boston, Crocs Inc’s officials elaborated on the company’s decision to significantly reduce its exposure to sourcing from China but spent most of the time discussing its growth resurgence in recent quarters, driven in large part by a focus on digital.

Speaking Monday at Stifel’s Cross Sector Insight Conference, Barry Hytinen, HanesBrands’ CFO, said product segmentation remains “very critical” in helping the Champion brand continue its healthy growth streak and avoid any inventory imbalances.

Vail Resorts reported a strong finish to the 2019 North American ski season, helping recover from a shortfall in destination visitation in the pre-holiday period. More encouragingly, season pass sales through May 28 are off to a healthy start.

Zumiez Inc. reported first-quarter earnings that handily topped expectations in large part due to a surprising comeback in skate hardgoods sales. Said Richard Brooks, CEO, on a conference call with analysts, “The speed that skate changed, that skate hardgoods became a driver, was pretty remarkable.”

Despite Yeti’s sales expected to reach nearly $900 million this year, Matt Reintjes, president and CEO, told attendees the William Blair 2019 Growth Stock Conference that a major driver of growth will be just raising awareness of the brand.

Caleres Inc. lowered its guidance for the year as Famous Footwear joined several other retailers that were unable to recover from a poor February. Again, the cold and rainy weather in many parts of the country took the blame. Famous is also expected to be down in the second quarter.

The likely arrival of tariffs on Mexican imports is the newest wrinkle added to the ongoing trade challenges facing the active-lifestyle industry. The last week also saw a host of other retailers lament that some of the Chinese tariff costs would have to be passed on to consumers and talk of possible retaliatory bans against U.S. brands.

Gap Inc. reported disappointing first-quarter results and lowered its full-year guidance as both Gap Brand and Old Navy recorded their weakest quarterly sales in three years. However, Athleta continues to be a winner as Gap officials revealed plans to accelerate the chain’s openings in 2019.

Shares of Designer Brands, formerly DSW Inc., rose $1.06, or 5.9 percent, to $9.05 Thursday after the company matched Wall Street’s earnings expectations in the first quarter and increased its full-year guidance.

Dick’s Sporting Goods reported better-than-expected earnings in the first quarter due to aggressive stock buybacks and same-store sales reaching the high-end of plans with the help of stepped-up inventory investments. Shares, however, slid after tepid guidance was provided for the back half of the year due largely to the potential impact of tariffs.

Long before the arrival of Lululemon, Fabletics, Outdoor Voices and the rest of the athleisure movement, Missy Park in 1989 founded Title Nine, becoming the first retailer to focus on selling women’s sports and fitness apparel. Park talks to SGB Executive about the many ways Title Nine is working to push the women’s movement forward, her take on the advances and shortcomings of today’s women’s sports apparel and gear, and why Title IX is still relevant to Title Nine.