SGB Executive

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.

VF Corp. hosted its 2019 Investor Day Wednesday in Beaver Creek, CO, a couple of hours up I-70 from the company’s new hometown of Denver. There, VF’s chairman, president and CEO, Steve Rendle, outlined for analysts and investors the changes completed and the changes yet to come in VF’s ongoing evolution.

Powered by outsized growth in China and across digital channels as well as gross margin expansion, Nike Inc. earnings in the first quarter climbed 25.2 percent to easily eclipse Wall Street’s targets. Nike officials also provided an upbeat outlook for its fiscal year.

On Nike Inc.’s first-quarter earnings call with analysts, CEO Mark Parker doubled down on the company’s commitment to innovation that he had outlined for investors just a week ago. The self-described “product geek” spent much of the call explaining how innovation should be credited for the company’s outstanding earnings report and also how it will drive the company’s success moving forward.

Vail Resorts Inc. officially expanded its empire Tuesday when the Broomfield, CO-based ski area owner and operator closed on its previously announced $264 million acquisition of Peak Resorts Inc. But what impact will Vail’s latest expansion have on the ski and snowboard industry? SGB takes a look.

Recent sports studies find physical fitness linked to better brain function, team sports possibly helping traumatized kids heal and winning teams providing a short-term self-esteem boost to fans. Other studies explored the risks of sports specialization and concussions for girls.

This month last year at its Investor Day, VF Corp. announced an ambitious sales goal for Vans, one of the “big three” brands in its expansive portfolio along with The North Face and Timberland. What’s in store for the 2019 event, taking place Wednesday in Beaver Creek, CO? SGB looks at how VF has made good on the 2018 Vans announcement and also checks in with analysts on what could happen this time around.

Cindy Feinauer, general manager of the stainless steel bottle brand Purist and custom business leader at Specialized Bicycle Components, spoke with SGB Executive recently about Purist’s progress since launching last year. Although the brand is seeing triple-digit growth over 2018, revenue is only one way the company and Feinauer measure success.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB for the Week of September 16, 2019.