SGB Executive Apparel

EXEC: Columbia Cutting 3 to 5 Percent of U.S. HQ Staff on Lowered 2024 Outlook
Bright spots for 2023 included a 27 percent reduction in inventory that helped the company generate over $600 million in operating cash flows for the year, but a sick U.S. market for the Columbia brand and weaker Sorel and Prana performances continue to drag on the business.

EXEC: Amer Sports IPO Comes Up Short; Some Cite China Concerns
Arc’teryx generated 43 percent of its overall revenues in Greater China in the nine-month YTD period in 2023, while the region only generated 5 percent of sales for Salomon and Wilson. Thirty-six Arc’teryx stores in China accounted for 16.7 percent of global brand revenues for the 2023 YTD period.

Safilo Group Posts Best Quarter of 2023 in Q4; Smith Optics Up on DTC Growth
The parent of Smith and the eyewear licensee for Carrera, Havaianas, Under Armour, and Fossil, reported preliminary unaudited net sales were €238.7 million in the 2023 fourth quarter, marking the best performance of the year.

EXEC: Adidas Tops Latest 2023 Guidance; Will Not Write-Off Most Yeezy Inventory
Adidas is reporting that 2023 currency-neutral revenues were flat versus the prior-year in reported euro terms, and sales were said to be down 5 percent to €21.43 billion in 2023, compared to €22.51 billion in 2022 in reported euro terms.

EY Survey: CEOs are Displaying Newfound Resilience and Confidence
Global CEOs are optimistic about their ability to drive revenue growth and profitability in 2024 despite global economic headwinds, according to the latest EY CEO Outlook Pulse survey.

Gildan: The Saga Continues
The back and forth is nearly impossible to report on as each side lobs another boulder over the wall at their adversary only to have another come right back.

Beyond Yoga Sees Sales Growth Moderate in Fiscal Q4
Sales were up 14 percent for the fourth quarter and =19 percent for the full year, achieving revenues of over $115 million.

REI Co-Op to Lay Off 357 Non-Store Staff; Forecasts Revenue Decline for 2024
The move sees 357 employees affected, “impacting 200 people at the headquarters, 6 in S&CS, 30 in Experiences, and 121 in our distribution centers,” according to the CEO’s letter obtained by SGB Executive. The senior leadership team will be pared down 22 percent in 2024.

EXEC: Puma Expects to Come Up Short in 2023; Tempers 2024 Outlook
The company points to the extraordinary 54 percent devaluation of the Argentine peso in December 2023 and the application of hyperinflationary accounting for a miss on its bottom line.

EXEC: Amer Sports Expects 2023 Full-Year Revenues North of $4.35 Billion
Revenue reportedly increased across all operating segments, geographic regions and channels, according to the company’s recently amended F-1 filing statement. The company sees its annual net loss contracting but EBITDA expanding for the year.

EXEC: January Consumer Confidence Index Highest Since July 2021
The University of Michigan’s preliminary results reported on the overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 78.8 for January, the highest reading since July 2021, compared to 69.7 in December and 64.9 in January 2023.

Amer Sports Looks to Raise Over $1.6 Billion in IPO
Amer Sports, Inc., the parent of the Arc’teryx, Armada, Atomic, DeMarini, EvoShield, Louisville Slugger, Salomon, Wilson, and other sports and outdoor brands, launched an initial public offering of 100,000,000 ordinary shares.

Tiger Woods and TaylorMade May be Ramping Up for Sunday Red Debut
Tiger Woods may soon be ready to launch an apparel line and more with equipment partner TaylorMade if recent moves by the company at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are any indication.

Macy’s Rejects $5.8 Billion Buyout Offer, Citing Financing Concerns
The retailer’s Board of Directors determined that the unsolicited and non-binding proposal from Arkhouse Management Co. LP and Brigade Capital Management, LP does not constitute a basis to enter into a non-disclosure agreement.

EXEC: Gildan Activewear Board Releases Info to Justify CEO’s Ouster
With new CEO Vince Tyra now in his seat early in defiance of a large group of investors and shareholders, Gildan Activewear, Inc. has turned to a strategy to justify the move by its Board of Directors to oust former CEO Glenn Chamandy.