SGB Executive Outdoor
Wall Street Shrugs Off Lululemon CEO’s Abrupt Exit
Lululemon’s shares rose slightly on Tuesday despite the abrupt resignation of its CEO, Laurent Potdevin, due to an unidentified misconduct. Analysts generally felt the company remained in good hands, led by Glenn Murphy, the former head of Gap Inc.; and some had issues with the way Potdevin steered the company.
Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show Draws 29,000 Attendees
The Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, which debuted for the first time in its new home in Denver, drew over 29,000 total attendees, with more than 7,500 verified retail buyers from 60 countries joined with over 1,000 brands for four days.
Johnson Outdoors Buoyed By Strength In Fishing And Diving
On a conference call with analysts, Helen Johnson-Leipold, CEO, said both its Fishing and Diving segment are benefitting from successful innovations. The Camping and Watercraft Recreation segment “continue to be very challenging” and are being impacted by constrained inventories in the marketplace.
Aisle Talk, Week of January 29
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Deckers Brands Q3 Blasts Past Guidance
Ugg’s 4.3 percent revenue gain was aided by chilly December weather that drove re-orders, store rationalization and enhanced segmentation, and the successful opening up of Macy’s, Amazon and Footaction. Hoka’s sales jumped 65.7 percent and benefited from its expansion into the stability category.
GoPro Sets Six-Point Sales Revival Plan
Wrapping up a disappointing holiday campaign, GoPro reported fourth-quarter results that came in even below a severe downward revision given only on January 8. But management said a move to lower prices in early December had boosted sell-throughs and listed six priorities for 2018 designed to build on that traction.
Academy Sports Faces Layoffs Again
Following a round of layoffs last summer, Academy Sports + Outdoors said it will be laying off approximately 140 corporate employees largely due to the outsourcing of certain IT functions at the retailer.
Hello Denver! (Take Two)
SGB reached out to a number of attendees of the inaugural Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show and heard largely positive feedback. Comments from Klean Kanteen, Vasque, Bogs, Pro-Tec, Massey Outfitters, OrthoLite, Croakies, Implus, Sweet Protection, Maine Outdoor Brands, Walls Outdoor Goods, Dare 2b, Craghopppers, Free Country, Kamik, MSR and Honey Stinger.
Hello Denver! (Take One)
With healthy traffic in the aisles extending into the last two days of the show for many exhibitors, the inaugural Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show was largely a hit. Comments from SCARPA, LEKI, OOFOS, SIA, Smartwool, Osprey Packs, Kari Traa, Oboz, Mountain Khakis, Downlite Outdoor, Stanley, Honeywell Retail and Seirus. More responses to come Thursday.
Susquehanna Sees VF Benefiting from Entrepreneurial Spirit
Susquehanna lifted its estimates and price targets on VF Corp. in part due to a greater entrepreneurial push across brands being established by Steve Rendle, who became CEO at the start of 2017.
Aisle Talk, Week of January 22
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show off to Strong Start
“2017 was wild. 2018 is our new beginning,” said Marisa Nicholson, show director for Outdoor Retailer Thursday morning at the annual OIA Industry Breakfast. “The beginning of a more unified industry as we welcome our friends from the snow sports industry.”
GoPro Downgraded by Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley lowered its rating on GoPro Inc. to “Underweight” from “Equal Weight.” The analysts, led by Yuuji Anderson, warned that GoPro could be in for a “long year ahead” given “limited earnings power” and weak demand for its new camera line.
Susquehanna Upgrades Dick’s SG To Positive On Weather Benefit
Believing the retailer’s fourth-quarter results should surprise on the upside given management’s conservative guidance and the benefits of cold weather, Susquehanna Financial Group raised its rating on Dick’s Sporting Goods to “Positive” from “Neutral.”
Amazon Already Dominant Website For Buying Apparel
Amazon, which has ramped up its investments in the apparel space in only the last few years, appears to have quickly become the leading place consumers buy apparel online, according to a new survey from CPC Strategy.
