Category: Outdoor

Columbia Sportswear Company announced the appointment of Skip Potter to the role of executive vice president, chief digital information officer, effective April 1. Most recently, he spent four years as Nike’s chief technology officer.

VF Corp. reported sales dropped 6 percent in the third quarter ended December 26. Sales for the Vans brand were down 6 percent while sales for The North Face were flat, though the company’s entire outdoor segment fell 5 percent. Earnings came in just ahead of Wall Street’s consensus estimate but were below year-ago levels. VF nonetheless raised its guidance for the year.

JD Sports, the U.K. retailer that owns Finish Line and Shoe Palace in the U.S., confirmed on Tuesday that it was exploring additional funding to support growth.

Target said it would be rewarding its frontline workers with $500 bonuses for their efforts during a “year unlike others” in 2020. Members of Target’s executive team, store leaders and distribution center leaders will net bonuses of $1,000 to $2,000. In total, Target is giving out $200 million in bonuses after a successful holiday season.

U.S. athletic footwear dollar sales declined in the mid-single-digits in 2020 although sport-lifestyle, running, and golf outperformed, according to The NPD Group. Activewear sales were also down in the mid-single-digits for 2020, but sweatshirts and underwear posted gains.

Golf rounds played jumped 37.3 percent for the month of December and grew 13.9 percent in total for 2020, according to Golf Datatech. The biggest regional gains were seen in New England, West North Central and Mid-Atlantic.

Nike opened its latest small-format Nike Live store in Eugene, OR. Nike by Eugene joins three other Nike Live concepts in Los Angeles, Tokyo and New York.

Amer Sports announced that Michael White, president of Salomon, has left the company to “pursue other interests.” An external search has been initiated for a permanent successor.