Kering, the parent of Gucci and Balenciaga, is in exploratory talks to acquire the Italian skiwear brand Moncler, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Category: Outdoor
Johnson Outdoors’ Q4 Revenues Leap 14 Percent
Johnson Outdoors reported a 14 percent jump in sales for the fourth quarter ended and 3 percent in the fiscal year ended September 27.
Astral Hires Rep For Southern Rockies
Astral, manufacturer of PFDs and footwear, appointed Mark Cohen to cover the Southern Rockies.
Marker Dalbello Völkl Appoints President
Marker Dalbello Völkl announced the promotion of Greg Grip to president of its U.S. subsidiary, following the recent retirement of long-time president Mike Noonan.
L.L.Bean To Open In Salem, NH
L.L.Bean announced its newest retail location in the Granite State will open in the fall of 2020. The L.L.Bean retail store will be located at Tuscan Village, a premier lifestyle destination in Salem, NH.

Christy Sports Finds New Equity Partner
Christy Sports, LLC announced that it has received a significant strategic investment from TZP Capital Partners III, L.P. TZP, a private equity firm based in New York City, acquired Norwest Equity Partners’ equity stake in the winter sports retailer.

MEC Facing Financial Struggles
MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) lost Canadian $11.5 million in the year ended February 24, 2019 after restructuring charges against income of C$11.7 million the prior year. According to a report from Canada’s CBC, Canada’s largest outdoor gear retailer’s sales have slowed due to heightened online competition.
Pure Fishing Appoints Dave Bulthuis President Of North America
Pure Fishing named Dave Bulthuis the new president of North America. Bulthuis is the former vice president of sales for Costa Sunglasses, where he served in a number of capacities since 2003.

Dick’s Raises Outlook On Robust Q3 Results
Dick’s Sporting Goods raised its outlook for the year after reporting third-quarter earnings handily topped Wall Street targets. Same-store sales increased 6.0 percent, representing the company’s strongest quarterly comp sales gain since 2013.
Adventure 16 Closing Remaining Two Doors
Adventure 16 announced plans to close its remaining two stores in West Los Angeles and San Diego.

Backcountry.com CEO Making Reparations Tour
Following a social media firestorm that erupted after news of Backcountry.com’s legal campaign to protect its trademark, Jonathan Nielsen, the online retailer’s CEO, has already visited a number of small businesses impacted by the trademark action and made numerous deals as reparation with the owners.
Arc’teryx Announces Clinic Lineup For 2020 Backcountry Academy
Arc’teryx will be offering a total of 71 clinics at this year’s Backcountry Academy, two of which are new: a 2-day overnight backcountry ski and camp experience, and a Level 2 Avalanche 3-Day Course.
Hillsound Equipment Adds Sales Agencies
Hillsound Equipment, a producer of winter traction equipment and gaiters for urban and outdoor enthusiasts, announced two new partnerships with sales reps in the Rockies and Atlantic regions of the United States.

OIA Finds $2.6B Outdoor Industry Impact From Tariffs
The outdoor industry has been hit hard by a tax “avalanche” as new tariff data from Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) indicates that American outdoor businesses have paid an additional $2.6 billion in punitive tariffs over last year, as the trade war with China rages on with no definitive end in sight.
Winter4Kids To Host First NorAm Parallel Slalom Event In The U.S.
Winter4Kids at the National Winter Activity Center, the nation’s first and only fully dedicated youth winter sports facility, announced a partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the International Federation of Skiing (FIS) to host the first-ever NorAm Cup parallel event in the U.S.