SGB Executive

In an extensive interview with SGB Executive, Steve Lawrence, EVP and chief merchandising officer, Academy Sports + Outdoors, discusses how the many drivers of the retailer’s 16.1 percent same-store gain in 2020 will support growth in 2021 and beyond.

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of April 5, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.

The athletic apparel and athletic footwear categories again grew mindshare among the Gen-Z generation, led by increased interest from girls, according to Piper Sandler’s 41st Biannual Taking Stock With Teens Spring 2021 Report. Nike and Lululemon were again the big winners in the active lifestyle space. Other brands increasing in popularity among teens were Crocs, Shein and PacSun, while Vans and Adidas lost ground.

SGB Executive sat down with CEO David Mellon, a former Simms executive and head of product for Black Diamond, for the reason behind the brand’s footwear launch, the fishing industry and the brand’s sustainability efforts.

Led by ex-Costa VP Al Perkinson, a new team has launched Bajío Sunglasses, a line of shades aimed to fill the void as the only independent premium eyewear brand in the market. SGB executive spoke with Perkinson for his take on the industry, new brand, launching a company amidst the pandemic, and more.

Swedish companies POC and Mips are entering a new phase of their decade-long partnership. SGB Executive caught up with POC CEO Jonas Sjögren to glimpse what the future holds for the headwear brand.

Inventory levels were just as hot a topic as sales and margins on recent quarterly investor calls as delays caused by congestion at the nation’s ports risk restraining top-line growth in the months ahead. Here is a roundup of recent discussions on analyst calls regarding inventory flow.

The Top National stories and the Latest headlines across the Active Lifestyle Market for the week of March 29, 2021 covered in the SGB Updates and delivered to your inbox every business day.

SGB Executive caught up with VP of Innovation Rob Falken to dive into its latest foot-betterment technology.

Nike ranked second only to Kering, the parent of Gucci, Saint Laurent and other luxury labels, in Business of Fashion’s first-ever Sustainability Index. Also achieving relatively high scores among companies in the active lifestyle space was Puma, VF Corp and Adidas.

Taking advantage of the pandemic-driven increase in backcountry skiing, Colorado’s Bluebird Backcountry, the first “human-powered” ski resort, made as big of strides as its participants in its second year of operation and new Colorado location.

Lululemon Athletica reported same-store sales climbed a better-than-expected 21 percent in the fourth quarter as online sales continued to vault. Robust sales guidance is again seen for the current year as Lululemon officials expressed confidence that the pandemic has accelerated growth opportunities.

Academy Sports + Outdoors Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings jumped four-fold to come in well above Wall Street’s target as sales momentum continued across numerous categories and apparel rebounded. Academy officials were also optimistic that many trends would continue to boost its 2021 results.

Omega Sports Inc., based in Greensboro, NC, filed a bankruptcy petition in Charlotte, NC with a plan to reorganize around its remaining seven stores. Vendors holding sizeable unsecured claims in the bankruptcy include New Balance, owed $261,110.17; Brooks Sports, $248,424; Under Armour, $225,620; and On Running, $159,318.65.

At its Investor Day event, Nautilus Inc. laid a long-term strategic plan to nearly double sales by 2026 as it looks to take advantage of the dramatic shift toward at home-fitness. Shares of Nautilus, however, remain under pressure due to a weak outlook for margins.