Whether its coaches for BSN Sports, runners for Fleet Feet or the local Latino community for WSS, the benefits of engaging communities was spelled out loudly at a session featuring a number of retailers at the SFIA’s recent Industry Leaders Summit in Denver. The challenges in driving consistent engagement were also heard.
Author: Thomas J. Ryan
Thomas J. Ryan
Senior Business Editor | SGB Media
tryan@sgbonline.com | 917.375.4699
VF Corp. To Say Bye To Reef
While acquiring Icebreaker and Altra this year amid stepped-up efforts to “reshape” the company’s portfolio, VF Corp. on Thursday reached an agreement to sell Reef, the surf-inspired sandal brand, to The Rockport Group. The divestiture will mark the first sell-off of a brand that had been part of the company’s Outdoor or Active coalitions that has driven the company’s growth for the last two decades.
College Basketball Scandal Spreads
In opening statements in the first trial tied to the FBI’s investigation into corruption throughout college basketball, a lawyer representing James Gatto, Adidas’ former director of global sports marketing, asserted that her client’s payments to the families of top high school basketball recruits were only made to compete with similar payments being made by Nike and Under Armour.
Relief Over Recast NAFTA Deal
With fears over the arrangement being scrapped entirely, relief arrived after the U.S., and Canada came to a last-minute agreement on a revised trade deal that could replace NAFTA. While the dairy and auto industries will face some changes, the impact on the apparel and footwear sectors appears negligible.
U.K. Analyst Bullish On JD Sports’ U.S. Entry
In reporting results last week for the first half, JD Sports indicated the company was moving full-steam ahead with plans to test the JD flagship concept in the U.S. while leveraging its merchandising talents on Finish Line locations. One U.K. analyst, Jonathan Pritchard at Peel Hunt, believes JD Sports has strong potential to shake up U.S. sneaker retailing.
SFIA: Sports Industry On The Mend
The sporting goods industry not surprisingly bounced back in 2017 after a brutal 2016 marked by the liquidation of Sports Authority, according to the 2018 SFIA State of the Industry Report. But the report still finds a cautious outlook for most industry players with many struggling to adjust to the digital disruption of retail.
Nike Looks To Take Off On Jet.com
Showing a reduced queasiness around selling across online platforms, Nike Inc. formed a strategic relationship to sell the Nike brand as well as Converse directly on Walmart’s Jet.com website. The move follows Nike’s surprise move last year to start selling product directly on Amazon.com.
What Would Anta’s Merger Mean For Amer Sports?
“What’s Anta Sports?” was among the questions heard from more than a few market observers after news arrived Tuesday that the Chinese sports powerhouse had made an all-cash offer to acquire Amer Sports. But Anta has spelled out the company’s ambitions to become a global superpower in sporting goods and is ideally-positioned to attack major growth opportunities in the company’s home market.
One Week In: Nike’s Kaepernick Saga
It’s been a week since Nike caused an nationwide uproar over the company’s decision to make Colin Kaepernick the face of the thirtieth anniversary of the company’s “Just Do It” campaign. Boycott threats, shoe burnings, and at least two colleges vowing to stop wearing and one store vowing to stop selling Nike product have arrived so far. But praise, loads of media exposure and indications of a sales bump also came.
Dick’s Touts Strong Vendor Relationships
Despite aggressive shifts by many vendors to pursue growth in direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels and the widely-covered challenges the chain is facing with Under Armour, Ed Stack, Dick’s Sporting Goods’ CEO, told attendees at Goldman Sachs’ Annual Global Retailing Conference that the chain’s vendor relationship have “never really been better.”
SGB Exec Q&A: Decathlon USA’s COO Sophie O’Kelly De Gallagh
Sophie O’Kelly de Gallagh, COO of Decathlon USA, talked to SGB about Decathlon’s return to U.S.retailing with the company’s “lab” store in San Francisco, the retailer’s unique vertically-integrated model and expansion plans.
Smith & Wesson’s Parent’s Shares Pop On Raised Outlook
Shares of American Outdoor Brands, the parent of Smith & Wesson, M&P, and Thompson/Center Arms, were trading up nearly a third in mid-day trading on Friday after the company exceeded guidance in the first quarter ended July 31 and aggressively lifted targets for the company’s full fiscal year. The firearms leader still cautioned that overall demand for firearms isn’t showing clear signs of a recovery.
Dick’s Blames Q2 Top-Line Shortfall On Under Armour
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported earnings that easily topped Wall Street’s targets but sales came in well below as weakness from Under Armour continued to place a drag on sales. On a conference call with analysts, Ed Stack, CEO, said the company is “repositioning” its Under Armour business, including gaining more exclusives from the brand while finding other product to fill traditional Under Armour space.
Superfeet: Taking Shape To New Realms
Superfeet has grown more than 40 percent in the last five years, moved into footwear and 3D-printing, become 100-percent employee owned and now has a new mission statement. John Rauvola, Superfeet’s CEO, discusses the new mission, emerging opportunities in new and old areas, and the company’s unique culture.
Moosejaw Brings Premium Outdoor To Walmart.com
In an interview with SGB Executive, Eoin Comerford, general manager of Outdoor, Walmart U.S. e-commerce and CEO of Moosejaw, said Wal-Mart’s “whole strategy” in acquiring several specialty e-tailers was to bring a “wider assortment” to the Walmart.com platform. A curated website distinct from the Moosejaw.com website was eventually seen as the best path for both businesses.
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