SGB Executive Apparel
July M&A Roundup: Where Will Perry Ellis Ownership Saga End?
July was quiet for M&A activity in the outdoor and active lifestyle space, but the ownership saga surrounding Perry Ellis International made plenty of noise as it took more twists and turns.
Nomura Downgrades Acushnet On Valuation, Cautions On Under Armour And Canada Goose
Nomura Instinet analyst Simeon Siegel downgraded Acushnet Holdings, the parent of Titleist and Footjoy, to “Neutral” due to the stock’s recent run-up in price while also expressing valuation concerns on Under Armour and Canada Goose.
Beyond Product: Industry Trends, Brand Stories Take Center Stage At OR
New product releases tend to garner most of the headlines at trade shows, but at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, SGB’s editorial team also wanted to discover what’s happening with brands beyond the latest and greatest gear and apparel. Here are some of the stories and industry trends we found and hints of what’s to come.
VF Corp. CEO Steve Rendle Talks Company’s ‘Purpose-Led Journey’
VF Corp. CEO Steve Rendle spoke at last week’s Camber Outdoors keynote breakfast—held in conjunction with Outdoor Retailer Summer Market—where he shared his company’s vision for becoming more inclusive and diverse.
Arc’teryx Sales, China Growth Boost Amer Sports In Q2
Double-digit improvement with the Arc’teryx brand and a 21 percent sales growth in China were the primary drivers behind Finland-based Amer Sports’ performance in the second quarter.
Columbia Gaining Traction With ‘Project Connect’ Initiative
Columbia Sportswear Co. launched an ambitious transformation plan, Project Connect, one year ago, and so far the project has delivered the results the global apparel and footwear company sought, according to executive comments made during Thursday’s earnings call with analysts.
Aisle Talk Week of July 23
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including the U.S. House of Representatives approving the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, which allows the use of pre-tax savings accounts for physical activity-related expenses.
Under Armour Takes Bigger Restructuring Hit
Under Armour logged a steep second-quarter loss as the company ramped up the company’s restructuring efforts to further clean up the company’s inventories in the marketplace and reduce the company’s cost structure. The moves are designed to build a sounder foundation to support the company’s promised turnaround starting in 2019.
Americas Region, Chunkier Styles Drive Puma’s Q2 Growth
Puma SE said it scrambled to catch up to a fashion shift toward bulkier footwear to enable it to continue its robust top-line momentum. But due to higher marketing expenses to maintain that growth, Puma wasn’t able to lift its profit outlook for the year.
Mammut Enhances Digital Capabilities By Acquiring Mountain Hub
Swiss-based apparel brand Mammut added to the company’s capabilities with Wednesday’s announcement that the brand had acquired Mountain Hub. SGB spoke with Joe Prebich of Mammut and Brint Markle of Mountain Hub (pictured) for a behind-the-scenes look at the deal.
Wall Street Cheers Lululemon’s CEO Hire
Shares of Lululemon Athletica rose slightly on Wednesday as Wall Street analysts unanimously applauded the hiring of Calvin McDonald, the CEO of the Sephora cosmetics chain, as its next CEO.
What’s Behind Brooks Running’s Shop-In-Shop Initiative?
On June 16, Brooks Running announced the company was partnering with 30 run specialty shops in the U.S. and Canada to launch the company’s first shop-in-shop program. SGB Executive reached out to Mike Billish, VP of U.S. sales, to explore the new program.
Outdoor Industry Leaders Issue Call-To-Action On Participation
Likening outdoor participation to a “leaky bucket,” the Outdoor Foundation Board Chair Sally McCoy, said at the OIA Industry Breakfast that the industry has been able to “get some people in but we’re losing more out the bottom.” Moreover, she said Outdoor Foundation research confirms “we’re late in the game” as far as reversing trends.
Experience Counts … Demo Day Kicks Off Outdoor Retailer Summer Market
Outdoor brands took to Denver’s Confluence and Commons parks Sunday afternoon to showcase some of their newest offerings for 2019 and give retailers a chance to paddle SUPs, pedal e-bikes and check out dozens of products from water bottles to energy bars to a stand-to-pee accessory for women.
Vans, The North Face Fuel VF Corp.’s Sizzling First Quarter
Continued strength in VF Corp.’s biggest brands—Vans, The North Face and, to a lesser extent, Timberland—along with balanced geographic and channel sales, helped the company deliver a standout first quarter with earnings well above Wall Street’s expectations.
