The Dutch parent of the Babboe, Batavus, Carqon, Ghost, Haibike, Koga, Lapierre, Raleigh, Sparta, and Winora bicycle brands said sales dropped 22 percent in 2024 due to extensive discounting in the bike space but growth has resumed in the parts and accessories) business and certain key regions in early signs of recovery.
Category: Outdoor
Remark Closes on $16 Million Series A Funding Round
The round was led by Inspired Capital, with participation from Stripe, Neo, Spero Ventures, Shine Capital, and Visible Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to $27 million. Remark describes itself as an AI company making online shopping more human.
Foreign Rider Opens Flagship Store in Salt Lake City
The store also serves as a gallery, allowing customers to “touch and feel each fabric, to see where the product fits into travel, daily performance and recovery,” the company stated in a media release.
Revelyst Unveils Bozeman Innovation Center
The parent company of the Bell, Bushnell, CamelBak, Fox, Giro, and Simms Fishing brands, and others, has opened the Bozeman Innovation Center, a new hub of “outdoor gear excellence” for several of its brands.
Altri Acquires Majority Stake in Fiber Specialist AeoniQ
Portuguese fiber producer Altri SGPS S.A. has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Swiss clean technology company AeoniQ to support the commercial-scale development of a biodegradable cellulose-based filament designed to replace polyester and nylon.
Cascale Appoints Former Nike Senior Exec as Interim CEO
Harsh Saini, who currently serves on Cascale’s Board of Directors, will lead the non-profit in advancing its key 2025 strategic priorities while it continues its global search for a permanent CEO.
EXEC: Columbia Sportswear Delivers Dour Outlook on Columbia Brand Weakness in U.S.
On its second-quarter analyst call, Tim Boyle, Columbia Sportswear’s chairman, CEO and president, warned that U.S. wholesale orders for the flagship Columbia brand would likely remain down at least through the first half of 2026 as efforts to revive demand for the brand are being undermined by conservative orders from retailers in the face of proposed tariffs.
Allbirds Secures $75M Credit Line, Launches Stock Sale Program
The footwear brand secured a new $75 million asset-based revolving credit facility while introducing a program to sell up $50 million in stock with TD Cowen. The financing provides additional liquidity and financial flexibility to support plans to reignite growth.
Perfect Moment Raises $3M in Stock Sale
The London-based skiwear and activewear company reported that it sold 10 million shares for $0.30 a share. In addition, the company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.5 million shares to cover over-allotments
EXEC: Belgian Cycling Factory Opens UK/Ireland Distribution Office
The UK division is a partnership between Russell Merry, a long-time industry veteran with leadership roles at Hot Wheels, Cycling Sports Group and Frasers Group/Evans Cycles, and Jochim Aerts, CEO of Belgian Cycling Factory, headquartered in Beringen, Belgium.
Report: Back-to-School Expected to Benefit from ‘Resilient’ Consumer
Placer.ai reported that overall U.S. retail traffic in early 2025 shows modest growth so far this year, boding well for the upcoming back-to-school season. Traditional back-to-school categories, such as sportswear and footwear, are expected to remain strong.
Katadyn Group Appoints CEO
Karl Baumann has been appointed CEO of the outdoor hydration, nutrition and cooking systems specialist, effective April 1, 2025. Baumann most recently served as CEO of Ferrum Process Systems Group.
Big 5 Sporting Goods to Go Private via Acquisition by Specialty Golf Retailer and PE Firm
The retailer has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by a partnership comprised of Worldwide Golf and Capitol Hill Group, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $112.7 million in enterprise value, including the assumption of roughly $71.4 million in credit line borrowings as of June 29, 2025.
EXEC: Nike, Inc. Forcing Australia’s SurfStitch Into Liquidation
Nike claims SurfStitch owes it $237,760 and is demanding that the company be placed into liquidation. Edwin Narayan and Domenic Calabretta, from Mackay Goodwin, were appointed as administrators earlier this month to sort out the retailer’s finances.
RV Industry Association Sees Age Demographics Trend Lower in New “Intenders” Report
According to the RV Demographic Profile of Intenders, 73 percent of near-term RV intenders are under age 55, and 34 percent live in urban areas. The segment is also becoming more multicultural, with 32 percent identifying as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic, or LGBTQ+.
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