SGB Executive Footwear
2023 Year in Review: Active Lifestyle M&A Activity Slows—Part II
Fewer major deals were executed across the active lifestyle space in 2023 amid rising interest rates and persistent economic uncertainty but several tuck-ins and smaller to medium-size acquisitions were inked. Still, SGB Media found a few key trends expected to continue into 2024.
SGB 2023 Year In Review: Active Lifestyle M&A Activity Slows—Part I
Fewer major deals were executed across the active lifestyle space in 2023 amid rising interest rates and persistent economic uncertainty but several tuck-ins and smaller to medium-size acquisitions were inked. Still, SGB Media found a few key trends expected to continue into 2024.
SGB 2023 Year In Review: Executive Shuffle
New CEOs at Academy Sports, Adidas, Asics, Gap, Kohl’s, Levi’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, VF Corp., Vista Outdoor, and Wolverine Worldwide headlined the C-suite moves that transformed leadership across the active lifestyle space in 2023.
In Memorium: Remembering the Active Lifestyle Leaders Lost In 2023
As the year closes, SGB Media remembers the active lifestyle industry business leaders who passed in 2023 and once again acknowledges their contributions to the market.
EXEC: Nike’s Reduced Outlook, Planned Cuts and Market View Takes Broader Market Down
Nike, Inc. announced a broad restructuring program while slashing revenue guidance for its fiscal year amid softening online sales, promotional pressures and heightened macro headwinds, particularly in China and the EMEA. For its fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, sales are now projected to increase only 1 percent against a prior outlook of up mid-single-digits.
EXEC: Report Finds Troubling Core Participation Trend in Team Sports
SFIA’s recently released U.S. Trends In Team Sports Report noted that participation in 16 of 23 team sports tracked by the Association has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and only one sport, soccer, showed Core Participation gains in the 2019-2022 period. However, the SFIA report offered more encouraging findings in team sports trends.
Study: Gen Z and Boomers Most Likely to Shop In-Store
ICSC wrote that while Gen Z grew up with digital and mobile technology, their penchant for in-store shopping at times exceeds that of the generations that grew up shopping in physical stores.
EXEC: Rip Curl and Oboz See Trailing 4-Month Sales Down Despite Solid Black Friday
Group sales were reportedly down 12.5 percent year-over-year for the four-month fiscal year-to-date period, reflecting “ongoing weakness in consumer sentiment.” Wholesale sales were disappointing for Rip Curl and Oboz brands.
Study: Retailers See Big Online Sales Declines After Closing Brick & Mortar
ICSC found that closing a store reduced online sales in the trade area surrounding that store by 11.5 percent. For emerging retailers, there was reportedly less of an impact, as online sales for largely DTC brands that closed a store decreased by 5.2 percent.
Study: The Retailers Getting the Most Online Benefit from New Stores
According to the analysis of the ICSC’s survey of 850 shoppers, department stores had a 50.6 percent increase in online spending, followed by apparel retailers with an 11.6 percent increase in e-commerce sales.
EXEC: Authentic’s Reebok Europe Partner Acquired by Korean Retailer
Coupang, Inc., a Korea-based global retailer, reported plans to acquire the business and assets of online luxury retailer Farfetch, Authentic’s partner chosen to manage Reebok in Europe.
EXEC: Foot Locker Earns Upgrade On Turnaround Prospects
Shares of Foot Locker rose 10.1 percent Thursday after Piper Sandler & Co. upgraded Foot Locker from “Neutral” to “Overweight.” Piper analyst Abbie Zvejnieks believes the sneaker retailer’s turnaround potential compares favorably to other turnaround stories in the active lifestyle space, including Allbirds, Under Armour, VF Corp., and Wolverine Worldwide.
EXEC: McKinsey Identifies Tech Outerwear Among Hot Fashion Trends For 2024
In its The State of Fashion 2024 study, McKinsey & Co. provided a bullish outlook for technical outerwear, stating the category “has been propelled by consumers post-pandemic embrace of healthier lifestyles as well as ‘gorpcore,’ and is likely to accelerate even further in 2024.”
Study: Retailers See Online Sales Boosted by Store Openings
ICSC quantified the impact of opening or closing physical stores on online sales and retailers’ overall performance. Its latest study, the third installment in ICSC’s research on the halo effect of brick-and-mortar retail on online sales, is said to again prove the power of physical retail by demonstrating that a new store boosts online sales, while a closed store impedes them.
EXEC: Nike Scores Two Analyst Upgrades
Citi raised its rating on Nike to “Buy” from “Neutral,” while Barclays gave Nike its “2024 Best Idea” recommendation. Both investment firms cited the potential for Nike to have a margin recovery and brand innovation tied to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
