SGB Executive Apparel
Study: Nike Recognized For Rep
Nike ranked second among American’s Most Reputable Companies by the Reputation Institute, a leading research and advisory firm focused solely on corporate reputations. The US RepTrak rankings measure the public’s perception of companies based on seven dimensions: innovation, leadership, governance, citizenship, workplace, performance, and products.
Wells Fargo Upgrades Newell Brands On Potential Further Sales
Wells Fargo raised its rating on Newell Brands due to expectations that proceeds from divestitures will come in greater than planned. West Fargo expects the second round of asset sales will include Newell’s outdoor & recreation division, which includes Coleman, along with outdoor apparel and beverage brands; and its fishing brands.
Camping Taking Off
Driven by an influx of younger and more ethnically diverse newcomers, camping is making a comeback with more than 6 million campers arriving over the last three years, according to the 2018 North American Camping Report. The report still found conflicted about technology as part of the camping experience and their commitment to “un-plug” in the outdoors.
Frank Hugelmeyer Sees RVs Supporting Camping’s Growth
With the RV (recreational vehicle) industry seeing record sales over the last three years at a double-digit growth pace, it’s no surprise to Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), that camping is seeing an uptick.
SFIA: Sporting Goods Scores Highest Annual Growth In Three Years
SFIA’s 2018 Manufacturers’ Sales Report showed sales in the sports and fitness industry grew 2.9 percent in 2017, representing the best annual growth in three years. Strong category performance was seen in basketballs, batting gloves, camping coolers, sports bras, fitness/workout footwear and fishing equipment.
Aisle Talk Week Of April 9
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
‘Keeping The Tribe Together’: Industry Praises OR + Snow Show Date Change
Outdoor Retailer’s announcement that OR + Snow Show is moving to the end of January for at least the next four years and will immediately follow Winter Sports Market has garnered high praise from snow sports and outdoor stakeholders alike.
College Basketball Scandal Spreads To Kansas And NC State
Kansas and North Carolina State have joined Louisville and Miami (Fla.) in the FBI’s ongoing probe into corruption in college basketball as federal prosecutors in New York added additional criminal counts to the indictment of former Adidas executive Jim Gatto.
Adidas And Vans Winning With Teens
Adidas, Vans, Supreme, Champion and Lululemon all saw a strong uptick in mindshare among teens in Piper Jaffray’s 35th semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens survey. Nike, Converse and Under Armour all lost ground.
Nike Continues Tech-Buying Binge
The acquisition of Invertex promises to move Nike further down the road of being able to offer more personalization and customization to consumers while addressing the complexities of finding the correct shoe size online.
Pentland COO Talks Endura Acquisition, M&A Strategy
Pentland has big plans for its newest asset Endura – the company plans to accelerate the cycling apparel brand’s growth around the world. “We’ve got really big international aspirations,” COO Chirag Patel told SGB Executive in a Q&A about the Endura deal and Pentland’s M&A overall strategy.
REI Sees Modest Profit Gain in 2017, Sets New Sustainability Standards For Vendors
REI reported a 3.1 percent gain in operating earnings in 2017 on improving gross margins and record sales. The co-op also ramped up sustainability efforts by announcing new rigorous standards that will impact every brand the co-op sells.
Where And When Will The Trade War End?
President Trump this week threatened additional tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting sharp criticism from outdoor and sporting goods brands that might not be directly impacted but generally view trade wars as “so last generation,” according to Jeff Turner of Kokatat.
What Can JD Sports Bring To U.S. Sneaker Retailing?
While British retailers generally have a poor track record finding success in the U.S. retail marketplace, JD has the potential to create a strong number two beyond Foot Locker in U.S. sneaker retailing with its pending acquisition of Finish Line. That’s at least according to a few analysts in the U.K. who closely follow JD.
Retail 10-K Round-Up For 2017
A scan of just-released 10-K filings shows Under Armour’s sales fell sharply at both Dick’s Sporting Goods and Hibbett Sports in 2017, Adidas rebounded at Hibbett, Nike continued to dominate open-to-buys for Foot Locker and more insights into vendor allocations.