SGB Executive Outdoor

As Headwinds Mount, Is Camping World Making The Right Moves?

Headwinds continue to batter Camping World Holdings Inc., with such factors as a soft RV market, tough comps with 2018, operational restructuring and even a lawsuit taking a toll on the company. Is Camping World making the right moves in response?

Bogs’ Bounce Back Continues In Q1

Bogs, continuing on the recovery seen in 2018, saw revenues jump 23 percent in the first quarter. The gains were due primarily to higher sales to outdoor and online retailers.

Coleman Distribution Loss Drives Down Newell’s Q1 Performance

Outdoor equipment brand Coleman lost distribution at a key U.S. retailer, for coolers in particular, which was a key driver in parent company Newell Brands’ poor first-quarter performance that saw a 6.4 percent revenue decline in its Home & Outdoor Living segment. However, the company is “about to lap that distribution loss” by the end of Q2.

Johnson Outdoors Q2 Boosted By Strength In Fishing And Diving

Johnson Outdoors Inc. said it faced challenges in its kayak and tent businesses in the second quarter March 29, but still managed to show a slight increase in profits in the period due to momentum in its larger Fishing and Diving segments.

Unifi Lowers Outlook Again

Unifi Inc. for the third quarter in a row lowered its outlook for the year due to competitive pressures in the polyester space, especially from low-cost imports heading into the U.S.

Big 5 Delivers Robust First Quarter But Weak Outlook

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. delivered a strong first quarter as cold weather boosted its winter business. But the California-based sporting goods chain also warned of a loss in the current quarter due to a later Easter this year and also warned that overall sales appear soft.

Unity Needed For Snow Sports Industry To Boost Participation

As this historic ski and snowboard season winds down, it’s time for the industry to gather for an après drink and find ways to reverse the trend of declining participation. SGB spoke with numerous stakeholders about how they can contribute to the cause and why building on the momentum of this epic season is so critical.

Cherokee Global Brands Sees Double-Digit Q4 Growth For Hi-Tec

Cherokee Global Brands reported sales declined 11 percent in the fourth quarter due to a shift from direct-to-retail (DTR) through a wholesale licensing model. A bright spot, however, was the Hi-Tec brand, which delivered a 12 percent gain in revenues year-over-year.

Rocky Brands Inc. Ramps Up Reinvestment After Strong Q1

Marketing efforts clearly paid off for Rocky Brands Inc. in the first quarter, with the company reporting a 9.1 percent earnings increase on a 7.4 percent revenue gain, both of which beat Wall Street’s estimates. Now the company plans to double down on that strategy by reinvesting some of the profits from last quarter into a revamped and rejuvenated marketing strategy aimed at taking more share across end markets.

Consumers Willing To Pay Up For Sustainability

According to CGS 2019 U.S. Consumer Sustainability Survey, more than two-thirds of Americans consider sustainability when making a purchase and are willing to pay more for sustainable products. Gen Z shoppers led the way, with 68 percent having made an eco-friendly purchase in the past year.

Nike Inc. Creating Separation In Athletic Apparel

Nike Inc.’s athletic apparel offering is gaining mindshare among consumers in four categories—innovation, fashion, style and value—mostly at the expense of Under Armour, according to a recent survey from Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets.

Columbia’s CEO Tim Boyle Speaks Up On Speaking Out

In an interview with the Portland Business Journal last December, Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle said one of his New Year’s resolutions was to get on President Donald Trump’s enemies list and he’s publicly taken on the Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration to the partial government shutdown and tariff dispute. Boyle said it’s a matter of principles.

Birkenstock’s David Kahan Talks About Fan Love

At FDRA’s Footwear Executive Summit, David Kahan, CEO, Birkenstock Americas, discussed today’s rapid pace of change and how change can be “scary.” But he said a large part of Birkenstock’s explosive growth in recent years has been driven by re-focusing on the passionate following – albeit initially small – that had long existed for the brand.

JD Sports Off To Strong Start In U.S.

So far so good for Finish Line under its new owner, JD Sports. JD Sports said Finish Line’s comps were up 7 percent in 2018 with sales trends improving as the year progressed. The first JD stores to land in the U.S. are also seeing encouraging initial results.

Academy’s Struggles Continued In 2018

In an update, Moody’s Investors Service confirmed the debt ratings and outlook of Academy, Ltd., the parent of Academy Sports & Outdoors, while also indicating that the retailer’s financial performance continues to erode. The report noted that Academy’s comps declined in the mid-single-digit range and EBITDA declined 12 percent in 2018.