SGB Executive

Powered by double-digit growth in both its Delta Group and Salt Life Group segments, Delta Apparel Inc.’s earnings advanced 12.9 percent in the fourth quarter ended September 28 as revenues expanded 16.2 percent. Highlights included a 54 percent hike in DTG2Go’s revenues and the second consecutive quarter of growth for Soffe.

Gap Inc. said growth at Athleta slowed in the third quarter due to in-store traffic and assortment challenges, but expansion for the concept was ramped up to 30 stores for the current year.

The 2019/20 season begins with a new look and feel across much of the industry—a fresh coat of wax, so to speak—so SGB took a look at the changes that occurred since last spring (or summer for a few lucky resorts and riders). Our winter sports preview touches on the least you need to know about the changing industry landscape—and also says farewell to an industry legend.

With a fresh round of tariffs arriving on September 1 and another scheduled to land on December 15, tariff-mitigation strategies were again widely discussed by vendors on recent quarterly conference calls. So far, the impact has been minimal with more concerns expressed about 2020. Tariff insights from VF Corp, Under Armour, Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Vista Outdoor, Clarus and more.

On a media call Tuesday arranged by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), executives at Keen, Krimson Klover and Vista Outdoors as well as trade experts discussed the impacts of new tariffs on List 4 products as well as the ongoing tariffs on List 1-3. Beyond any direct costs, the panel lamented how the ongoing uncertainty is wrecking havoc with business planning. Some surprising repercussions are also occurring.

Boosted by strong traffic, TJX Cos. reported third-quarter results handily beat expectations, prompting the off-pricer to raise guidance for the year. TJX officials also indicated they’ve been able to mitigate tariff-hits so far with vendors bringing in product earlier but remained highly uncertain about the impact for 2020.

Shares of Kohl’s Corp. plummeted $11.38, or 20 percent, to $47.02 at market close Tuesday after the Menomonee Falls, WI-based retailer earlier in the day reported a 28 percent dip in earnings and subsequently reduced its earnings outlook for the remainder of 2019.

After a successful debut in Denver last June, Kick Show—the B2B trade show for the run specialty channel that’s hosted by the Running Industry Association—will return to the Mile High City and to the same venue, The Curtis Hotel, in May 2020. RIA’s executive director, Terry Schalow, spoke with SGB about what’s coming for year two of the industry’s “working trade show.”

Nike’s decision to pull distribution from Amazon is expected to be a positive catalyst for any other retailer of Nike merchandise, but particularly sellers of moderate-priced footwear. But analysts also believe the move reveals deeper insights into Nike’s evolving distribution strategy.

Snowsports Industries America (SIA) is getting back into hosting large-scale, live shows—albeit with a different target market than its former signature event. About two and a half years after selling its annual B2B event Snow Show, SIA announced Friday it had agreed to acquire a pair of B2C snow sports expos. SIA leaders share why this move is another step in a new direction for the trade association.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of November 11, 2019.

Amid a challenging political climate for the firearms industry, American Outdoor Brands Corp. (AOBC), the parent of Smith & Wesson, announced it would split into two publicly traded companies— Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. (firearms) and American Outdoor Brands Inc. (outdoor products and accessories, or OP&A). SGB digs into why the company chose the spinoff route.

Nike’s move to stop selling footwear and apparel directly through Amazon is apparently an admission that the art of policing Amazon’s third-party sellers is becoming more challenging as the marketplace continues to grow. But it also reinforces Nike’s ambition to directly connect with consumers.

Despite Canada Goose Holdings Inc.’s upbeat second quarter—which included revenues doubling in Asia—its shares tumbled $4.22, or 10.8 percent, to $34.82 at market close Wednesday on the news that political turmoil in Hong Kong is disrupting the company’s operations and sales.

Iconix Brand Group said cost-control efforts led to improved operating profits in the first quarter. Sales fell sharply due to the loss of direct-to-retail (DTR) agreements – including Danskin at Wal-Mart – but Starter delivered healthy gains.