SGB Executive

Two-thirds of Rocky Brands Inc.’s wholesale partners have been deemed essential during the coronavirus crisis, while the company’s own e-commerce channel has seen a spike in sales, both of which helped the company navigate an otherwise difficult first quarter.

According to a global survey of sports industry leaders from WFSGI (World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry), a majority, 60 percent, believe they will need 91-to-180 days to get back to business after the pandemic. The survey has not, unsurprisingly, painted a bleak picture of sales and cash flow shortfalls and supply chain bottlenecks while detailing key priorities and mitigation strategies.

The owners at Charm City Run, Big Peach Running, Brooklyn Running and Playmakers discussed their challenges and opportunities ahead in the face of COVID-19. Elevated inventories and following social-distancing guidelines were among their concerns. New digital tools, a localization push and running’s newfound popularity among home-bound Americans offer some hope.

Last year was one of transition for REI Co-op, highlighted by a surprising and controversial change at CEO. But 2019 also saw the Kent, WA-based retail giant continue to ramp up its investment in the outdoor community.

Adidas on Monday reported a 19 percent drop in sales for the first quarter, as more than 70 percent of its stores worldwide remain closed as a result of Covid-19. For the second quarter, officials forecast a loss as currency-neutral sales are expected to sink more than 40 percent.

Describing it as the “most unusual earnings call in our 21 years of being a public company,” David Weinberg, COO at Skechers USA, stressed that the footwear giant has taken the necessary steps to weather the fallout from COVID-19 and believes the brand is well-positioned to benefit when stores re-open. The troubling question, he admitted, is when will stores re-open.

Top National Stories and the Latest Headlines from SGB Updates across the Active Lifestyle Market during the week of April 20, 2020.

While golf is faring better than many other sports in the age of coronavirus, pain points have emerged across an otherwise solid industry. SGB Executive digs into the impact of this pandemic on golf play, manufacturing and retail.

TRX, the maker of functional training equipment and training content, is paying it back to fitness trainers that have driven the company’s robust growth amid COVID-19 challenges while taking steps to it pay it forward to consumers stuck at home. Here, Founder Randy Hetrick talks about how COVID-19 is elevating the opportunity in home fitness, the potential shake out in fitness, and what he believes will be some personal growth opportunities created by the crisis.

A strong start to Q1 helped Crocs Inc. withstand the severe financial hit that came in March as the coronavirus sparked rampant store closures and declining consumer spending. But global economic softness and the slow reopening of businesses in many markets where Crocs operates will provide significantly fiercer headwinds for the company.

This article, part of an occasional series on how companies are adapting to digital processes in the age of coronavirus, looks at the newly developed sell-in program for climbing shoe brand Evolv. General Manager Bill Sinoff shares the reasoning behind it and why some components of this new model may stick around.

Wolverine Worldwide reported first-quarter sales tumbled 16 percent as business in March evaporated due to COVID-19. But company officials said they have quickly embraced a six-point plan to accelerate online sales and help it generate $150 million to $200 million of operating cash flow in 2020.

The hottest category this side of a six-foot social distance is the ubiquitous neck tube primarily used in a variety of outdoor pursuits to protect wearers from the elements. Now, the makers of those products have seen demand spike as consumers look to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

Many members of Gen Z are struggling with adolescence and now have to deal with COVID-19. A number of surveys have detailed the challenges younger generations are facing handling social distancing restrictions and COVID-19’s potential fallout. 

Catic Wellness Group (CW Group) has taken draconian steps to open up its fitness clubs again in China, including mandating that members work out in masks and take temperature checks, installing disinfection stations throughout premises, and banning showers. But the fact that the clubs re-opened could provide a path and some hope for other fitness clubs struggling to envision re-opening.