Caleres Touts ‘Exciting’ Acquisition Of Vionic Group
Last month’s $360 million acquisition of Vionic Group so far has checked all the boxes that Caleres Inc. was targeting with the deal, and now the company will look to its newest asset to boost top- and bottom-line growth.
Athleta’s Momentum Continues
Gap Inc. said its Athleta chain continued to deliver healthy positive cop gains in the third quarter, led a strong performance by its newer girls offerings during the back-to-school season.
North Face Amps Up Engagement And Storytelling In Williamsburg Concept Store
In a walk-through of North Face’s new Protoype concept in Williamsburg, Mark Parker, the brand’s VP of direct to consumer (DTC), said the store showcases North Face’s expansive lifestyle offerings, puts a major focus on community engagement and will serve as a testing lab for future retail ideas. Said Parker, “This is a place where we’re going to play and learn.”
Kohl’s Sees Q3 Comps In Active Segment Jump 10 Percent
The Active segment for Kohl’s, which has grown to represent about 20 percent of the retailer’s mix, saw comps climb 10 percent in the third quarter and Kohl’s officials believes the chain is increasingly being perceived as a go-to place for active apparel. Shares slipped on a weak guidance for the fourth quarter.
TJX Shares Slip On Q3 Gross Margin Dip, Earnings Miss
Shares of The TJX Cos. fell $2.14, or 4.4 percent, Tuesday as increased freight costs and supply chain expenses offset the company’s strong expense leverage in the third quarter, dropping gross margin 90 bps to 28.9 percent.
Recovery The Theme At NYC Marathon Expo
Products supporting recovery for runners dominated many of the offerings at the recent NYC Marathon Expo but an overall message of recovery for the industry was also heard from attending exhibitors. Said Luke Rowe, SVP at CEP, “The bottom was hit and they’re bouncing back.”
Nordstrom, Macy’s Stand Out In Disparate Q3 For Department Stores
Department stores are a mixed bag heading into Black Friday and the 2018 Holiday Season, as companies like Nordstrom Inc. and Macy’s raised guidance with hopes of closing out the year on strong footing while J.C. Penney and Dillard’s continued looking for ways to keep from stumbling.
Performance Bicycle, ASI Parent Company ASE Files For Chapter 11
Advanced Sports Enterprises Inc.—parent company of retail chain Performance Bicycle, wholesale distributor ASI and five bike brands—on Friday announced it is seeking Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The company said in a press release that “the move is intended to facilitate the company’s long-term, strategic goals of enhancing profitability and reaffirming its commitment to its employees, vendors and the communities it serves.”
Delta Apparel Boosted By Digital Print Growth
Delta Apparel reported a sharp uptick in earnings in its fourth quarter ended September 29. Strong results from its expanding digital print and fulfillment businesses offset weakness at both Salt Life and Soffe tied to Hurricane Florence.
Shoe Carnival Blasts Past EPS Targets On Robust BTS Selling
Shoe Carnival Inc. significantly raised its earnings guidance for the year after reporting third-quarter results beat plan due to robust back-to-school selling and fatter margins. Same-store sales expanded 4.5 percent with a mid-single-digit increase in both women’s and men’s non-athletic and a low single-digits in adult athletics.
Aisle Talk Week of November 12
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Tony Hawk announcing the launch of D/CAL, a hybrid brand consultancy and creative agency, with Adam Wilson, Jared Prindle and Ryan Maconochie.
SGB Executive Q&A: Scarpa North America CEO Kim Miller
Scarpa North America CEO Kim Miller sat down with SGB recently to discuss a wide range of topics, from the changes he’s seen in the footwear business over a long career to Scarpa’s success as a family-owned boot and shoe maker for 80 years to how the industry can raise its voice on such issues as public lands.
New Era Plan To Close Derby Plant Causes Political Brouhaha
A number of legislators and union officials decried New Era’s plan to close its manufacturing plant in Derby, NY, the company’s only headwear-manufacturing facility in the U.S. Charles Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader who represents New York, said, “This is devastating news for Buffalo. I sincerely hope that New Era, a hometown Buffalo company, will reconsider.”
Canada Goose CEO: Baffin Is ‘Dream Acquisition’
Canada Goose Holdings Inc. President and CEO Dani Reiss couldn’t hide his excitement on Wednesday morning’s conference call with analysts when discussing the company’s recent addition of footwear maker and fellow Canadian and cold-weather brand Baffin Inc. “This is a dream acquisition for me as I’ve been watching and admiring Baffin for many years and I know them very well,” Reiss said.
Life Fitness Sees Connectivity Driving Fitness Equipment Growth
In essentially its initial public offering, Life Fitness Holdings, the commercial fitness equipment leader being spun off from Brunswick Corp., predicted generally modest growth for the fitness equipment sector overall in the years ahead. But the company expects to continue to grab share through its reach into an increasingly digitized commercial fitness landscape.
