SGB Executive Outdoor

Lafuma group Taking Over Eider

The Lafuma group has taken initial steps to take over the high-end French mountain apparel company Eider. The transaction should be finalized mid-June. Eider posted sales of €21.4 million ($29.3mm) in 2007, including 45% from international sales…

Lululemon Doubles Profits; Slightly Lowers Guidance

Lululemon Athletica said its first-quarter profit more than doubled, but slightly lowered its forecast for the the year due to incremental hires and other strategic initiatives. Earnings for the 13-week period, ended May 4, rose to $8.48 million, or 12 ce

Bruyneel Joins World Bicycle Relief

Johan Bruyneel, the most winning Sports Director in cycling history, has joined the Board of Directors of World Bicycle Relief. Bruyneel is the mastermind behind eight of the past nine Tour de France victories, including Lance Armstrong’s record-setting s

Zeal Optics Opens Boulder DC

Zeal Optics has opened a new distribution, customer service and showroom at its new facility on Pearl Street in Boulder CO…

FINIS Names VP of Sales

FINIS, the maker of swimwear products based in Livermore, CA, named Byron Dana Lindstrom as its VP of sales. Previously, he was EVP of sales with ACCUSPLIT…

Reebok Forms Argentina Joint Venture

The adidas Group and Brazilian shoe company Vulcabras S.A. have agreed to form a joint venture company to distribute Reebok footwear, apparel and accessories in Argentina. Adidas said the transaction does not affect sales and profitability expectations fo

Patagonia’s Crooke Joins Hot Topic

Michael Crooke, former CEO of Patagonia and Pearl Izumi, has become president of Hot Topic, the teen chain. Crooke will oversee all elements of the Hot Topic brand including music, merchandising, planning and allocation, marketing, store design and visual

Nüwa Textiles and its Partners Weave a Sustainable Reality

One of the largest weaving mills in Asia, Nüwa produces more than 20 million yards of fabric per month. Moreover, the company is at the forefront of developing and implementing eco-friendly textile production equipment and processes…

ASICS Fiscal Year Sales Jump, But Net Slides

ASICS Corp. reported a 16.3% jump in net revenues for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 to ¥226.17 billion ($1.99 bn) from ¥167.52 billion ($1.67 bn) last year. Growth in footwear and equipment more than offset a modest decline in apparel sales. Net i

Collective Brands Reappoints Three Directors

Collective Brands, Inc. said Matthew E. Rubel, its CEO and president; Judith K. Hofer, retail consultant; and Robert F. Moran, president and COO of PetSmart, Inc. were re-elected to the Collective Brands Board of Directors at its annual shareholder meetin

Rocket Dog Acquires European Partner

Rocket Dog Brands LLC acquired Passion Sports, Ltd. and Passion Sports International, Ltd., its European Partner. Passion Sports has been distributing Rocket Dog products since 2001 and now operates in 19 countries. In conjunction with the transaction, P

PacSun Lowers Guidance

Citing “the difficult economic environment and the company's regional exposures to the challenging retail markets of California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona,” Pacific Sunwear of California lowered its earnings outlook for the second quarter and the f

Hibbett’s Q1 Net Drops 7.8%

Hibbett Sports, Inc. reported sales increased 9% in the first quarter, to $145.8 million f rom $133.8 million. Comparable store sales increased 0.1%. Net income slid 7.8% to $9.4 million, or 32 cents a share, from $10.2 million, or 32 cents, a year ago. T

Heelys Promotes Marketing Chief to CEO

Heelys, Inc. said its SVP of marketing Don Carroll was been named president and CEO, effective May 20. Prior to joining Heelys on January 2, 2008 Carroll served as managing director of Vector2Group, a Dallas-based management consultancy firm that he co-f