SGB Executive

With the pandemic leading to growth in participation in paddlesports, no category has seen more uptick than SUP sales, especially inflatables. But those in the business are also having to deal with production, distribution and pandemic-related supply and shipping delays at a cross-current with unprecedented demand.

In an interview with SGB Executive, Steve Lawrence, EVP and chief merchandising officer, Academy Sports + Outdoors, discussed the chain’s second-quarter performance marked by a comparable sales gain of 11.4 percent on top of a year-ago gain of 27.0 percent as well as management’s bullish outlook for the second half.

BTIG lowered its rating on Nike Inc. to “Neutral” from “Buy” on its belief that supply chain disruptions from the pandemic-driven factory shutdowns in Vietnam have worsened since the company last reported earnings on June 24.

Speaking at Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference, Lauren Hobart, president and CEO at Dick’s Sporting Goods, said the retailer has been able to grab market share over the past couple of years partly because of investments supporting omnichannel execution but also because key brand partners have been narrowing distribution and bringing more differentiated product to the retailer’s selling floors.

Zumiez Inc. was able to counter declines in skateboard sales and supply chain hurdles to deliver a revenue gain in the second quarter of 7.3 percent year-over-year and 17.6 percent compared with the second quarter of 2019. Rick Brooks, CEO, told analysts, “It’s been really good to see how the business responded. We’re maintaining our wallet share of our customers’ business.”

American Outdoor Brands celebrated another strong set of results for the fiscal first quarter ended July 31 as 16 of the company’s 20 brands delivered growth over the comparable quarter last year and 19 of its 20 brands delivered growth over the comp period two years ago in a pre-COVID world.

Academy Sports + Outdoors sharply raised its outlook for the year as it reported record sales and earnings in the second quarter and continues to see a healthy uptick in demand for active lifestyle pursuits that began with the pandemic’s emergence. Academy officials also indicated that the chain has been able to get back in stock in most categories, including fitness and bikes, despite extensive supply chain constraints.

Lululemon shares surged overnight after the vertical active lifestyle retailer posted another strong quarter and announced the company will surpass its 2023 revenue target by the end of 2021, two years ahead of schedule. The company said second-quarter results reflected broad-based strength across its channels, regions and product categories.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released its 2021 State of the Industry Report showing that despite COVID-restrictions, sporting goods sales overall were able to recover to post a small, but positive, growth rate in 2020.

Apres and skiing and riding go hand-in-hand. A growing number of craft ski and distillery brands are taking advantage of that connection by partnering on everything from products to educational programs to increase brand awareness among consumers.

Hydration systems are doing more than keeping their users hydrated on the trail and road. They’re also helping retailers’ bottom lines, with improvements targeting a wide range of outdoor consumers.

In the prospectus for its initial public offering, IFit Health & Fitness identified seven growth drivers designed to capitalize on the expanding connected fitness marketplace.

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of August 3o, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day. This week’s Ambassador Athlete is a Fila-sponsored WTA and ATP Tour player, 17-year-old professional tennis player Robin Montgomery.

Tilly’s Inc. said strong pent-up demand following pandemic-related restrictions and a spike in the graphic T-shirt business helped produce its strongest level of sales and EPS for any quarter since its 2012 IPO. Said Ed Thomas, president and CEO, “Apparel growth has been driven by new trends in bottoms, a surge in the graphic T-shirt business, and a high adoption rate on newness generally.”

While announcing second-quarter results, Duluth Trading unveiled its Big Dam Blueprint strategic plan that recently-appointed CEO Sam Sato expects will guide the apparel chain into a digital-first future. The former Finish Line CEO said the moves are “driven in part by meaningful shifts in consumer behavior.”