SGB Executive

SGB Executive caught up with GM Jonathan McFarland for his take on Mountainsmith’s longevity, momentum and more.

Olin Corp. reported sales at its Winchester ammunition business catapulted 107 percent in the first quarter. The gains were driven by its purchase of the Lake City U.S. Army Ammunition Plant and heightened interest in target shooting coming out of the pandemic.

Helen of Troy said Hydro Flask topped internal plans in its fiscal year ended February 28 and trends have improved as social distancing restrictions have eased. Julien Mininberg, Helen of Troy’s CEO, on a conference call with analysts, said, “We are excited about Hydro Flask growth prospects as the world begins to reopen.”

Garmin Ltd.’s first-quarter revenues came in well above Wall Street targets as all its active segments achieved healthy double-digit gains, led by Outdoor and Fitness. Cliff Pemble, president and CEO of Garmin, said, “Interest in fitness, health, and active lifestyle products has never been higher.”

Crocs Inc. reported sales jumped 64 percent in the first quarter and said it now expects sales for 2021 to climb about 45 percent for the year. The comfy shoe brand has clearly benefited from the comfort footwear trend in the stay-at-home economy but it’s also increasingly being seen as a fashion statement.

New research by Accenture suggests that the pandemic has intensified interest in “conscious consumption” — defined as those who seriously consider the environmental and societal impacts of their shopping choices. Sixty-nine percent of consumers believe brands should do more to make it easier to consume more consciously.

Brevard, NC’s SylvanSport, a manufacturer of camping trailers and affiliated gear, helped pioneer the “RVing meets adventure camping” category, a niche that has boomed during the pandemic. SGB Executive spoke with its CEO and founder, Tom Dempsey for his thoughts behind the RV sales boom and what lies ahead for the brand.

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of April 19, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.

Skechers USA’s first-quarter earnings topped Wall Street’s target on robust international gains, driven by China. Domestic wholesale sales were down slightly due to logistics challenges but Skechers’ officials said demand for its comfort footwear remains strong. They also expect to gain market share as Nike streamlines its wholesale account base.

Active Brands’ recent hiring of former Nike executive Christophe Merkel ushers in a new era for the Norwegian, multi-brand, outdoor company. SGB Executive caught up with Merkel for his take on the company’s future plans, making the jump from Nike, Active Brands sustainability initiatives, and upcoming product initiatives.

SGB Executive collected the latest consumer research into Generation Z, including insights into their online loyalty, gaming habits, environmental concerns, and online and offline shopping behavior.

Nike’s shares are trading lower on Tuesday after Citigroup reduced its rating and price target amid growing consumer boycotts in China.

McKinsey & Co.’s “Future of Wellness” survey found that 79 percent of worldwide consumers said they believe that wellness is important, and 42 percent consider it a top priority. In fact, consumers in every market showed a substantial increase in the prioritization of wellness over the past two to three years.

Shares of Peloton Interactive were down about 9 percent in mid-day trading Monday after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in an unusual move warned people to stop using the company’s Tread+ “immediately” if they have children or pets in the home, citing 39 incidents including one death.  Peloton called the warning “inaccurate and misleading” but some analysts felt the heightened safety concerns could slow subscriber growth.

At the JP Morgan Retail Round-Up, Academy Sports’ officials said strong sales momentum continues for many pandemic-boosted categories but they also spent time elaborating on the chain’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with Nike, The North Face, Adidas and other key brands.