SGB Executive

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of August 23, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day. This week’s Ambassador Athletes are the “On Run Crew”.  A “collective team spirit that motivates us to achieve extraordinary goals together.”

Cliff Sifford participated in his final earnings conference call with analysts as Shoe Carnival CEO this week as the family footwear retailer once again reported fiscal Q2 results that exceeded expectations and drove the family footwear retailer to increase its third-quarter and full-year guidance.

Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods jumped 13.3 percent on Wednesday after the retailer reported earnings far ahead of Wall Street’s targets and aggressively raised its guidance for the year. Analysts roundly raised price targets with many believing Dick’s has proven it has shown structural improvement over the last year. Supply chain disruption was cited among the near-term risks.

There has been a changing of the guard of sorts in the paddlesports category in the past few years, with new CEOs and companies behind such venerable brands as Hobie, Jackson Kayak, Confluence Watersports Kokatat, MTI/Ocean Kayak, and more. But what do these new owners think of the industry and its future, and what are their plans for their brands? To find out, SGB Executive canvased the companies and retailers to shed light on this new wave of ownership coming to the watersports world.

Emboldened by a record-breaking second quarter, Dick’s Sporting Goods said it now expects same-store sales in 2021 to climb in the range of 18-to-20 percent, up from guidance of 8-to-10 percent previously,  while hiking its earnings targets. Dick’s officials also delivered their most upbeat comments on potential long-term benefits coming from changed behaviors due to the pandemic.

YKK goes high-tech, producing a zipper pull with a digital component, Touchlink, allowing consumers to interact with brands and brands to engage their consumers, creating a digital footprint of every purchase. SGB Executive catches up with Brian La Plante of YKK USA’s global marketing group for more on the innovation and how brands are receiving it.

Most vendors in the active lifestyle space reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised their 2021 guidance as demand remained resilient. However, supply chain concerns, marked by continued port congestion and recent factory shutdowns in Vietnam that could limit second-half growth, were widely discussed on recent quarterly calls with analysts from VF Corp., Columbia Sportswear, Deckers Brands, Inc., Under Armour, Vista Outdoor, Yeti, Skechers USA, and Wolverine Worldwide. 

On, the Swiss running brand backed by tennis champion Roger Federer, filed for an initial public offering on Monday in the U.S. The company is reportedly seeking a valuation between $4 billion and $6 billion. The filing details the company’s rapid growth, including sales surging 85 percent in the first half of 2021.

Foot Locker reported second-quarter sales and earnings that crushed Wall Street targets, led by an uptick in sales from its women’s and kids categories as well as strong full-price selling. Upbeat guidance was also delivered for the second half as recent heightened supply chain risks are seen holding off until the end of the year.

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of August 16, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day. This week’s Athlete is Kara Goucher, who was one of the first whistleblowers in the case against Alberto Salazar, her former coach, whose name was removed this week from The Alberto Salazar Building at Nike’s Beaverton campus in Oregon after the disgraced coach was handed a lifetime ban for sexual and emotional misconduct.

Kohl’s Inc.’s second-quarter sales in its active department rose 40 percent year-over-year and gained over 20 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s CEO, on an analyst call, “Customer demand and sales remain high for our key national active brands of Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and Champion.”

The TJX Companies, Inc. reported second-quarter sales and earnings came in well ahead of management’s expectations as gangbuster sales in the home category continued and apparel gains accelerated from its recent momentum. Margins are expected to benefit going forward from continued robust growth and price adjustments.

Reebok’s sales peaked at $3.2 billion in 2004 and have shrunk to $1.4 billion in 2020. However, the brand was able to deliver growth for the majority of the 14 years under the ownership of Adidas and profitability ended being the main challenge toward the end. SGB Executive takes a look back at the brand’s ups and downs since being acquired by Adidas in 2016.

Smartwool, now owned by VF Corp., continues its long-held practice of sustainability. Lately, however, with its environmental ethos emboldened by VF’s push for product circularity in its brands, the company has stepped up its game. In speaking with its Sustainability and Social Impact Senior Manager, Alicia Chin, SGB Executive learned about recent initiatives that continue the brand’s commitment to being a steward for the planet.  

With the Canadian government opening its borders to U.S. tourists on August 9, after being closed since March 2020, outfitters north of the border are rejoicing, but is it enough to save a second straight season of losses? SGB Executive checks in with Canadian outfitter Madawaska Canoe Centre to get its outlook on the outdoor industry amid the pandemic.