SGB Executive

How TJX Bucked Retail Trends In 2019

The TJX Cos. Inc. clearly doesn’t subscribe to the “retail apocalypse.” The parent of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra and other retailers added 223 net stores in 2019 even as competitors shuttered doors. On TJX’s earnings call this week, CEO Ernie Herrman shared some of the reasoning behind the company’s ability to buck the wider industry trend.

Amazon Status Boosts Rocky Brands In Q4, Bodes Well For 2020

When Rocky Brands Inc. was awarded “seller-fulfilled status” on Amazon Prime last year, it opened up a new channel—and significant new high-margin revenue opportunities—for the Nelsonville, OH-based company. The program provided a lift for Rocky Brands in the fourth quarter and should boost the company throughout 2020.

Warm Winter Halts Big 5’s Momentum

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. reported a strong 2019, marked by a comp gain and its strongest margin performance in more than 10 years. However, inclement winter weather has led to a poor start to 2020. CEO Steve Miller said, “Although this year began with solid winter weather conditions in our geography, unfortunately, the conditions turned highly unfavorable over the course of the quarter, particularly in our key California market.”

Wolverine Issues Soft Guidance Despite Accelerated Growth In Q4

Wolverine World Wide reported another quarter of accelerated growth in the fourth quarter for its two biggest brands, Merrell and Sperry, and predicted a recovery year in 2020 for Saucony. Conservative guidance, however, was given for 2020 due to the expected fallout from the coronavirus outbreak and some continued challenges facing the U.S. wholesale channel.

Can Nautilus Catch Its Connected-Fitness Competitors?

On Monday’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call, Nautilus Inc. CEO Jim Barr admitted that the Vancouver, WA-based fitness manufacturer got a late start bringing connected equipment to the marketplace. Despite being late to the category, Nautilus has shifted into high gear and is spinning furiously to gain ground on leaders like Peloton, Echelon and others.

After Solid Debut, FW Apparel Lifts Expectations For Year Two

FW Apparel (the FW is pronounced “forward”) is the skiwear brand that launched last fall. With its inaugural season not yet completed, FW Apparel—whose sister company is Faction Skis—has already begun targeting bigger aspirations for year two. Brand director Olivier Gouby, aka “OG,” spoke with SGB Executive at the recent Outdoor + Snow Show about FW’s lofty expectations.

Gildan Activewear Sees Growth Resuming In 2020

Gildan Activewear reported sales declined 11.3 percent in the fourth quarter and 2.9 percent in the year due to lower imprintables volumes in North America but growth is expected to return in 2020.

Firearms Softness Stymies Ruger In 2019 But Is Turnaround On Horizon?

In his opening remarks on this week’s earnings call with analysts, Sturm, Ruger & Co. President and CEO Chris Killoy called 2019 a “challenging” year for Ruger and the entire firearms industry, both of which were rankled by a host of headwinds. But could those winds be shifting as the 2020 presidential campaign heats up?

Aisle Talk Week Of February 17

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of February 17, 2020.

SFIA Report: America’s Inactivity Rate Lowest In Six Years

SFIA’s 2020 Annual Topline Participation Report found three million more Americans took part in some form of sports in 2019 with fitness, outdoor activities and select traditional team sports showing the most growth. However, the healthier trend is being driven by casual participants and the overall study found income disparities continuing to affect participation in sports and fitness activities and the majority of team sports losing participants.

Puma Again Delivers Broad-Based Growth In Q4

Puma warned that fallout from the coronavirus outbreak will impact first-quarter results but otherwise delivered another stellar quarter with healthy momentum across categories and regions. Among regions on a currency-neutral basis, sales grew 17.6 percent in the Americas, 23.2 percent in EMEA and 14.5 percent in Asia/Pacific.

Conversation With Powdr Co-President Wade Martin

Fresh off an acquisition and the opening of a new Woodward facility, Park City, UT-based Powdr is feeling flow. In this SGB Executive conversation, Powdr Co-President Wade Martin dishes on everything from the health of the ski resort industry to the importance of capital investment allocation to why the company doesn’t view M&A like it’s a game of Risk.

Fitness Paces Garmin’s Record Year

Led by robust growth in its Fitness segment, Garmin Ltd. reported revenues and earnings in the fourth quarter topped expectations. Officials also delivered an upbeat outlook for 2020 with 10 percent growth expected across its Fitness, Outdoor and Marine segments.

Industry Feeling Effects Of Coronavirus

Adidas and Puma on Wednesday became the latest companies in the active lifestyle space to report that the coronavirus outbreak was taking its toll on results in 2020 while warning of further struggles if the epidemic isn’t soon contained. Read how the outbreak has been affecting Nike, VF, Columbia Sportswear, Under Armour, Canada Goose, Skechers and other industry players.

Cole Haan’s IPO To Build On Casualization Push

Cole Haan, which has seen a strong turnaround in recent years with a pivot towards casual and athletic styles, has filed for an initial public offering seven years after being sold by Nike.