SGB Executive

Having gained some traction in turning around the JackRabbit run specialty business, CriticalPoint Capital is moving deeper into sporting goods with its acquisition of Maine-based Olympia Sports. About half of Olympia Sports more than 150 stores will close but the acquired stores will continue to operate under the Olympia Sports’ banner.

A year and a half ago, Helen of Troy Ltd. committed to growing Hydro Flask sales in the Eastern U.S., a goal centered on both amplifying the brand’s message and expanding its distribution across the region. Those efforts are paying off for Hydro Flask and its El Paso, TX-based parent company, both of which have been focused for the past six or so quarters on raising the brand’s awareness and increasing market share in the East.

Athletic brands once again commanded the top-spots among fashion preferences for teens, according to Piper Jaffray’s 38th semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens survey. In fact, 75 percent of females and 87 percent of males prefer an athletic brand of footwear – both new peaks. Some brands increasing appeal with teens were Nike, Lululemon, Vans, Crocs and Champion.

At VF Corp’s recent 2019 Investor Day, VF officials said an “intense reset” has positioned Timberland for sequential acceleration in growth after the brand fell short of expectations over the last few years. Martino Scabbia Guerrini, EVP and group president, said, “Men’s footwear has been probably the most challenged category in our business in the last few years.”

At VF Corp’s 2019 Investor Day, Doug Palladini, global brand president, predicted Vans would expand in the range of 12-to-13 percent over the next five years. The “emotional connectivity” Vans drives with fans is expected to continue to be fuel the outsized growth. Other newer drivers include a more diverse product range, improved segmentation, new retail formats, enhanced customization tools and accelerated growth in China.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of September 30, 2019.

On Wednesday, Caleres Inc. at its 2019 Investor Day laid out a path for modest sales growth and double-digit earnings growth on average over the next three years. The three-year plan marks a shift from heavy investments in brand acquisitions and infrastructure investment in recent years to a greater focus on driving earnings growth and was applauded by Wall Street analysts.

September was another busy month for M&A in the active lifestyle space. Notable transactions occurred in outdoor eyewear (Bollé Brands acquired Spy Optic), sporting goods retail (Sportsman’s Warehouse acquired eight Field & Stream stores from Dick’s) and recreational vehicle manufacturing (Winnebago acquired Newmar). SGB digs into the important details of each deal.

Greg Williamson took over as president of CamelBak at a precarious time for the brand. Not only was he the company’s fifth leader in four years, but when he arrived in July 2018, a key retailer had boycotted CamelBak products. With Williamson leading the charge, the brand’s fortunes are improving. He spoke with SGB about what that journey entails.

SGB goes behind the deal of Kathmandu Holdings Ltd.’s $236 million acquisition of Australian surf brand Rip Curl. We dig into why this addition will help Kathmandu grow into new markets and also reveal why Rip Curl turned down more lucrative offers to join the growing New Zealand-based outdoor retailer.

At VF Corp’s 2019 Investor Day last week, Arne Arens, global brand president, The North Face, predicted The North Face’s revenues would reach $4 billion by fiscal 2024 as the brand capitalizes on untapped opportunities reaching women and in categories such as sportswear and footwear. But a greater emphasis on inclusivity is particularly expected to help draw a wider range of consumers to the brand.

At SFIA’s 7th annual Industry Leaders Summit held in Baltimore last week, technology’s disruptive force was again an overriding theme at the event but developing deeper connections with consumers was at the heart of many discussions.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. on Monday took another important step in the ongoing “strategic review of its hunt business” by selling eight Field & Stream stores to Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. for $28 million. SGB looks at how the deal affects each company.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of September 23, 2019.

Shares of Vail Resorts Inc. jumped $6.63, or 2.9 percent, to $236.90 at market close Friday—after they were up in the high-single digits in morning trading—on the company’s news that 2019/20 pass sales increased 13 percent in units and 14 percent in dollars in the fiscal fourth quarter.