DSW Wants To Be Best Buy Of The Footwear Space
At its Investor Meeting on Tuesday, DSW officials unveiled a new name change, Designer Brands, to herald their extensive efforts to reinvent the company’s business model with last November’s acquisition of Camuto Group. At the event, Roger Rawlins, CEO, cited competition from vendors going direct-to-consumer (DTC) as a main reason for the change, even bigger than any threat from Amazon.
Esports Set To Take Off
EMarketer became the latest research firm to come out with the bullish forecast on the growth potential of esports as well as the related advertising opportunity to reach a hard-to-reach and coveted millennial demographic. The reports come as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Fanatics, Champion and others have all recently inked sponsorship deals.
Zumiez Sees Localized Assortments Driving Momentum
Wrapping up its third year of merry holiday results, Zumiez Inc.’s earnings and same-store sales came in well above guidance in the fourth quarter. On a conference call with analysts, Rick Brooks, CEO, credited the chain’s focus on localized merchandise assortments for its recent hot streak.
Tilly’s Finds Booming Online Sales Offsetting Weak Mall Traffic
Tilly’s reported same-store sales leapt 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter, its strongest comp gain since Q311. The run-up was carried by a 49.6 percent hike in online sales, representing the action-sports chain’s strongest e-commerce comp result since Q410.
Aisle Talk Week Of March 11
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Brooks Running Company’s promotion of Dan Sheridan to a newly configured role of EVP and chief operating officer.
Dorel Sports Q4 Hurt By Softness In Mass Channels
Dorel Industries Inc. reported that profitability in its Dorel Sports’ segment came in below plan in the fourth quarter due to a slowdown in bicycle sales across the board at Pacific Cycle that targets the mass channel. Martin Schwartz, president and CEO of Dorel Industries, said the exit of Toys “R” Us didn’t benefit the mass channel as much as projected.
Strong Boot And Retro Sales At Journeys Lifts Genesco’s Q4
Powered by healthy momentum for the Journeys chain, Genesco Inc.’s earnings before non-recurring items rose 18.8 percent in the fourth quarter. The company was also aided by a better-than-expected performance by the recently-sold Lids Sports Group in its last quarter with the company.
Adidas’ Supply Chain Problems Stunt North America’s Momentum
Adidas warned investors it will miss its 2019 growth target because supply chain bottlenecks in the first half of the year are making it difficult to meet demand. The growth is particularly expected to slow in North America, where it has doubled its business in the last three years to take market share from rival Nike
Conversation With Callaway Golf CEO Chip Brewer
Chip Brewer, President and CEO, Callaway Golf Co., spoke with SGB Media recently about the still-developing plans to grow the company’s newest asset—outdoor apparel brand Jack Wolfskin—as well as his expectations for the golf industry in 2019.
Dick’s Traffic Doldrums Continue
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and outlined a number of initiatives to jump-start comp growth, including replacing its hunt sections in another 120 stores with faster-turning categories and switching out its licensed Reebok brand for a new private-label athletic label. But shares of Dick’s fell as management predicted only minimal top-line recovery in the current year.
RV Industry Convenes As Market Continues To Accelerate
The $50 billion recreational vehicle market keeps finding new horizons to explore and the next leg of its journey begins this week when the industry gathers in Salt Lake City, UT, for a revitalized trade show that is aligned with the start of camping season. “RVX: The RV Experience” is the new event offered by the RV Industry Association, and it’s just one reflection of a changing marketplace.
Wall Street: Nike’s Share Gains On Adidas Seen Accelerating
With quarterly results soon arriving from both firms, two reports from Stifel and Cowen arrived finding Nike’s growth accelerating largely at the expense of Adidas.
Mixed Signals Cloud Camping World’s Outlook
After Camping World Holdings Inc. on Thursday posted a fourth-quarter loss of $71.5 million, or earnings per share of (83) cents, due to an impairment charge and costs related to Gander Outdoors openings, the company’s stock tumbled in the high single digits. But a slight market rebound on Friday served as another example of the mixed signals that Camping World conveyed in its fourth-quarter earnings report.
Aisle Talk Week Of March 4
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Bass Pro Shops announcing it will close a distribution center in Sidney, NE, the former hometown of Cabela’s, as well as a merchandise return center in Oshkosh, NE.
American Outdoor Brands Provides Bleak Outlook For Firearms
American Outdoor Brands, the parent of Smith & Wesson, reported year-over-year increases in revenue and operating profits in the third quarter ended January 31 with the help of successful promotions, but also delivered a soft outlook going forward with no signs of a pickup in firearms demand.
