SGB Executive

Recreational running event participation was down in 2018 from the previous two years, led by declines in Europe and the U.S. and slightly offset by growth in Asia. That was among the chief conclusions of The State of Running 2019, a new report on global running participation produced by RunRepeat.com and the IAAF.

Firearms distributor United Sporting Cos. expected Hillary Clinton to win the 2016 presidential election, so it boosted inventories in preparation for the certain rush of gun purchases. But that miscalculation led USC to become the latest victim of the “Trump Slump”—a term used to describe how the current firearms-friendly presidency has quelled concerns over gun rights and stunted sales.

At Stifel’s 2019 Cross Sector Insight Conference on Tuesday in Boston, Crocs Inc’s officials elaborated on the company’s decision to significantly reduce its exposure to sourcing from China but spent most of the time discussing its growth resurgence in recent quarters, driven in large part by a focus on digital.

Speaking Monday at Stifel’s Cross Sector Insight Conference, Barry Hytinen, HanesBrands’ CFO, said product segmentation remains “very critical” in helping the Champion brand continue its healthy growth streak and avoid any inventory imbalances.

“It was just the right thing to do.” Outdoor Retailer’s Marisa Nicholson and Nalgene Outdoor’s Elissa McGee take SGB behind their companies’ initiative to eliminate the sale of single-use plastic bottles at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market and distribute 25,000 reusable bottles to attendees.

Vail Resorts reported a strong finish to the 2019 North American ski season, helping recover from a shortfall in destination visitation in the pre-holiday period. More encouragingly, season pass sales through May 28 are off to a healthy start.

Zumiez Inc. reported first-quarter earnings that handily topped expectations in large part due to a surprising comeback in skate hardgoods sales. Said Richard Brooks, CEO, on a conference call with analysts, “The speed that skate changed, that skate hardgoods became a driver, was pretty remarkable.”

The Running Industry Association’s inaugural Kick Show in Denver, CO, drew acclaim from exhibiting brands and attending retailers alike. The event gave them an opportunity to showcase not only their products or their stores, but the importance of the run specialty channel for the industry.

Despite Yeti’s sales expected to reach nearly $900 million this year, Matt Reintjes, president and CEO, told attendees the William Blair 2019 Growth Stock Conference that a major driver of growth will be just raising awareness of the brand.

Terry Schalow, executive director of the Running Industry Association, sat down with SGB Executive at this week’s inaugural Kick Show in Denver, CO, where he dished on the origins of, and need for, this new running industry event as well as the health of the run specialty channel. Here’s what he shared with us.

G-III Apparel Group Ltd. reported first-quarter earnings exceeded guidance and reiterated its outlook for the year. Shares, however, fell about 10 percent as sales in the quarter missed guidance and officials warned of a further deteriorating retail business and tariff uncertainties.

Caleres Inc. lowered its guidance for the year as Famous Footwear joined several other retailers that were unable to recover from a poor February. Again, the cold and rainy weather in many parts of the country took the blame. Famous is also expected to be down in the second quarter.

May was busy for M&A in the active lifestyle space, headlined by a European lifestyle retailer entering the U.S. market through a timely acquisition and private equity firms purchasing a well-known fitness equipment company and longtime ski maker.

The likely arrival of tariffs on Mexican imports is the newest wrinkle added to the ongoing trade challenges facing the active-lifestyle industry. The last week also saw a host of other retailers lament that some of the Chinese tariff costs would have to be passed on to consumers and talk of possible retaliatory bans against U.S. brands.