One-On-One With Schoeller CEO Siegfried Winkelbeiner
SGB recently spoke with Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO of Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG, about the company’s 150th anniversary, its role as a leader in sustainability, its focus on the future and what’s next for the textile industry.
Vans, Adidas And Lululemon Finding Teen Love
Vans became the fastest-growing brand in Piper Jaffray’s semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens survey while overtaking Nike as the No. 1 footwear brand among upper-income females. But Nike/Jordan improved mindshare as “top trend” and positive momentum with teens was also seen for Adidas, Lululemon, Champion, Crocs and several other brands in the active lifestyle space.
Vans Begins Journey To $5B In Style By Driving VF Corp.’s Strong Q2
The path that Vans will travel en route to $5 billion in annual revenue by 2023 is sure to be strewn with economic headwinds and market deviations along the way, but the action lifestyle brand is kicking off its quest toward that ambitious destination in style. Vans revenue grew 26 percent in the second quarter ended September 29, boosting parent company VF Corp.’s revenue 15 percent to $3.9 billion for the period.
The North Face Sees Lifestyle Offerings Driving Q2 Momentum
With continued over-sized growth for The North Face in the EMEA region and some improvement in the Americas in the second quarter due to strengthening demand for lifestyle apparel offerings, VF Corp. slightly raised the company’s sales outlook for the outdoor brand for the current fiscal year.
Timberland’s Struggles Continue In Q2
Timberland saw a small sales decline in the second quarter ended September 30 due to the impact of a customer bankruptcy in the workwear channel and the timing of shipments. VF Corp., the brand’s parent, still expects Timberland to show a gain of 2 to 4 percent in fiscal 2019.
Aisle Talk Week of October 15
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Mammut North America—a division of Swiss-based Mammut Sports Group AG—parting ways with the company’s managing director, Joe Prebich (pictured), for undisclosed reasons.
Skechers Seeing Boost From Chunky Shoe Trend
Shares of Skechers USA rose $3.60, or 13.8 percent, to $29.72 Friday after the company reported earnings topped guidance in the third quarter, thanks to tigher cost controls. A healthy bounce-back was also predicted for the fourth quarter, led by a return to growth in the company’s domestic-wholesale segment with the help of robust demand for the brand’s D’Lites chunky style.
5.11 CEO Francisco Morales Talks Retail Expansion, Tactical Sector Growth
Francisco Morales, newly appointed CEO of 5.11—the tactical gear brand he co-founded in 2003—spoke with SGB about what’s driving the company’s brick-and-mortar growth, the explosion of the tactical sector and the importance of having a supportive parent company like CODI.
Oppenheimer Upgrades Nike On “Technological Evolution” Promise
Oppenheimer lifted the rating on Nike Inc. to “Outperform” due to the company’s investments in building a “digitally-enhanced” business model that are expected to “enhance most facets of its business.”
Winnebago Shares Climb After Earnings, Revenue Beat
Shares of Winnebago Industries grew $1.45, or 4.6 percent, at market close Wednesday following a fourth-quarter earnings report that beat Wall Street expectations on both earnings per share and revenue. However, softness in the RV market and slowing profits brought shares down to earth after an early morning surge of 17 percent.
Study: China Tariffs To Accelerate Nearshoring Of Apparel
In a new report, McKinsey & Co. predicts that nearshoring–or sourcing in the U.S. or countries close to the U.S.–will accelerate in the apparel industry in the years ahead. Many trends (e.g., speedy fashion shifts requiring quick turnarounds, advances in automation, sustainability concerns) are arriving to make nearshoring more attractive as others (e.g., rising wages in Asia, China tariffs) are making sourcing from Asia less so.
SGB Executive Q&A: Cascade Designs COO Dave McDonald
Dave McDonald, who was recently appointed COO of Cascade Designs—the Seattle, WA-based company that owns and operates a portfolio of popular outdoor brands—spoke with SGB about his new role and how he plans to help the longtime company improve its operational excellence.
Cowen Calls Out Active Lifestyle Upstarts
In a note, analysts at Cowen Group highlighted six up-and-coming or rebounding brands – Fila, Puma, Rhone, Allbirds, Fanatics and StockX – that are causing some disruption in the active lifestyle space with the potential to do more.
Fitness Takes A Hit With Sears Bankruptcy
In a blow to a number of fitness equipment suppliers, Sears, as expected, on Monday filed for bankruptcy protection. One fitness company, Icon Health And Fitness Inc., landed on Sears’ list of the top-20 unsecured creditors, owed $12.1 million.
Implus Amplifies One-Stop-Shop Empire With SKLZ
In an interview with SGB Executive, Seth Richards, CEO of Implus, and Todd Vore, president, discuss the company’s game-changing acquisition of SKLZ, what it means to its expanding fitness platform and the evolution of Implus’ dynamic one-stop-shop solution for accessories that now covers 20 brands.
