SGB Executive Outdoor
SGB Updates Will Not Publish on Regular Schedule This Week; Website is Live
SGB Media will not publish its regular SGB Morning Update or SGB Evening Update newsletter cadence the week of Independence Day, July 4, 2025. SGB will resume normal distribution on Monday, July 7.
EXEC: Belgian Cycling Factory Opens UK/Ireland Distribution Office
The UK division is a partnership between Russell Merry, a long-time industry veteran with leadership roles at Hot Wheels, Cycling Sports Group, and Frasers Group/Evans Cycles, and Jochim Aerts, CEO of Belgian Cycling Factory, headquartered in Beringen, Belgium.
EXEC: Nike, Inc. Forcing Australia’s SurfStitch Into Liquidation
Nike claims SurfStitch owes it $237,760 and is demanding that the company be placed into liquidation. Edwin Narayan and Domenic Calabretta, from Mackay Goodwin, were appointed as administrators earlier this month to sort out the retailer’s finances.
EXEC: Sport Obermeyer CEO Kris Kuster Talks Year ‘Round Mountain Opportunities in Ski, Hunt & Fish
Kris Kuster, Sport Obermeyer’s new CEO, spoke with SGB Executive about the opportunities he sees for the company in targeting female hunters and anglers, as well as plans to introduce fashion-forward capsules, including those connected to Obermeyer’s hometown of Aspen, the revamp of its online presence, and the impact of tariffs. Kuster also spoke about the impossibility of replacing Klaus Obermeyer.
EXEC: Topo Athletic CEO Tony Post Talks Meteoric Growth for the Running Brand
SGB Executive talks with Topo Athletic’s Founder and CEO Tony Post about the brand’s momentum, recent product wins, its partnership with DBI, tariff turmoil, and future opportunities.
EXEC: Giant Group May Bike Shipments Crater Nearly 30 Percent
May shipments declined 29.3 percent y/y to NT$5.06 billion, pushing the five-month year-to-date period to a decline of 8.3 percent y/y to NT$27.6 billion. The May decline builds on a 7.3 percent decline in May 2024.
EXEC: Switchback Spring 2025 Through the Eyes of the Industry
Sights and sounds from the inaugural Switchback Spring event in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring photos from show attendees, exhibitors and Outdoor Industry Association.
EXEC: Bain Study Sees Luxury Sector Facing Soft Second Half
Luxury consumption is expected to contract 2 percent to 5 percent for the year, according to a recent report from Bain & Company, across key luxury categories, as price fatigue and macroeconomic turbulence continue to weigh on consumers
EXEC: Switchback Spring Brings Energy Back to a National Outdoor Show
While energy was high and attitude was positive, the show, unfortunately, did not escape the usual backroom banter and aisle talk about the venue’s few shortcomings, particularly about timing. Diversified will need to be cautious about whom they listen to and the motives of those pushing in each direction, as the outdoor industry risks a déjà vu event with this new potential gem.
EXEC: Boulder’s Full Cycle Bikes & Colorado Multisport Acquired by Mike’s Bikes
Mike’s Bikes, the 18-store bike retail chain based out of California’s Marin County, has acquired Boulder’s Full Cycle Bikes & Colorado Multisport in an all-cash deal. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
EXEC: Rip Curl Inches Up, Oboz Sinks for Parent KMD’s YTD Period
Rip Curl global direct-to-consumer sales continued to grow year-over-year (YOY) through the second half of fiscal 2025 to-date, with strong comparable sales results in North American flagship stores.
EXEC: Yakima to Transition DACH Region Distribution to Grofa Action Sports GmbH
Grofa Action Sports GmbH will serve as exclusive distributor in the Germany, Austria and Switzerland region, effective August 1, 2025. Phobos will transition to a distributor at that time for Czechia and Slovakia and as a Master Distributor for select developing markets in Europe.
EXEC: Koroyd, Smith, and Burton Settle U.S. Patent Dispute with Exclusive Patent License Agreements
Under the settlement terms, WaveCel technology is now restricted to use solely by Burton in those licensed, redesigned snow sports helmets, and may not be offered, supplied, or integrated with any other brands or partners in the snow sports helmet market.
EXEC: OIA Study Finds Outdoor Stores Still Missing Emerging Casual Consumers
At a session this week at Switchback Spring being held in Nashville, Kelly Davis, director of research at the Outdoor Industry Association, highlighted new consumer research that shows the outdoor space remains fixated on “Core” consumers at the expense of reaching the more “Active” and “Casual” participants.
EXEC: Havaianas Parent Inks North America Distribution Deal
The company stated that the Distribution Agreement does not foresee any initial cash outflow for either party and will have an initial length of four years commencing from the date of its execution. The agreement may be extended if certain previously agreed-upon metrics are met or by mutual agreement.
