Retail Reports Roundup
Studies arrived last week including Nike dominating apparel brands’ preferences, mixed views on social commerce, AI benefits to supply-chain efficiency, wide-ranging checkout opportunities and free delivery’s expanding appeal as well as another merry holiday forecast.
Reima’s Successful U.S. Debut Has Kidswear Brand Eyeing More Growth
Reima, a Finland-based maker of functional kidswear, debuted in the U.S. about a year ago, and the stateside expansion has been a successful one thanks to landing some premium retailers and successfully building brand awareness, according to Matti Lehtovirta, international sales director, who shared some company updates this week with SGB via email.
Founder Sport Group Snaps Up Teamwork Athletic Apparel
SGB talked to John Anton, CEO of Founder Sport Group, formerly Badger Sportswear, about what attracted the company to Teamwork Athletic Apparel, what changes can be expected and consolidation opportunities in the team uniform space.
Aisle Talk Week of September 17
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including sales growth at Gregory Mountain Products and High Sierra helping Samsonite International S.A.’s financial performance in the six months ended June 30.
Wall Street Reacts Positively To Under Armour’s Job Cuts
Shares of Under Armour Inc. rose $1.24, or 6.6 percent, to $20 at market close Thursday following the company’s early morning announcement that the company would increase the number of job cuts as part of a broader restructuring plan.
Skechers Downgraded On Inventory, Foreign Exchange Concerns
Shares of Skechers USA sunk $1.26, or 4.5 percent, to $26.58 Thursday after Cowen & Co. lowered the company’s rating on the stock to “market perform” from “outperform” due to concerns over high inventories and foreign currency headwinds.
U.K. Analyst Bullish On JD Sports’ U.S. Entry
In reporting results last week for the first half, JD Sports indicated the company was moving full-steam ahead with plans to test the JD flagship concept in the U.S. while leveraging its merchandising talents on Finish Line locations. One U.K. analyst, Jonathan Pritchard at Peel Hunt, believes JD Sports has strong potential to shake up U.S. sneaker retailing.
SGB Executive Q&A: Mountainsmith President Jay Getzel
Jay Getzel, president of Golden, CO-based gear maker Mountainsmith, spoke with SGB recently about what’s truly important in light of the company’s 40th anniversary, a shift in the way it sells on Amazon and what’s on the horizon for this proudly independent brand.
Wall Street Sees Nike Boost From Colin Kaepernick Ad
Nike is increasingly seen getting a boost from the brand’s decision to include Colin Kaepernick in its “Just Do It” anniversary ad campaign, according to investor notes from Piper Jaffray and Canaccord Genuity. Canaccord conducted a poll that found consumers “overwhelmingly supportive” of the campaign.
Industry Voices Grow Louder In Opposition To Trade War
President Trump’s claim that increased tariffs on foreign goods have resulted in an improved business climate for U.S. companies has been widely rejected by representatives of the outdoor, sporting goods and active lifestyle industries, who are growing louder in their opposition to the administration’s escalating trade war.
Should The Outdoor Industry Welcome Selling On Walmart.com?
That was the question explored last week on RetailWire.com, the retail online discussion site, following the launch of Walmart’s Premium Outdoor Store and the consequent revolt after a number of outdoor vendors pulled their product from the site under pressure from outdoor retailers. Panelists were fairly split on the question.
Retail Reports Roundup
Studies arriving last week included a prediction that for the first time ever, more purchases will be made with mobile phones than ever during the upcoming holiday season. Research also found Nike’s chatter among Gen-Z getting louder, consumer reluctance to being targeted via customer segmentation methods, apparel shopping journeys increasingly starting online and the appeal of reward-based promotions and speedy checkouts.
SFIA: Sports Industry On The Mend
The sporting goods industry not surprisingly bounced back in 2017 after a brutal 2016 marked by the liquidation of Sports Authority, according to the 2018 SFIA State of the Industry Report. But the report still finds a cautious outlook for most industry players with many struggling to adjust to the digital disruption of retail.
Cherokee Global Brands’ Goal: ‘Think Like A Retailer’
A second-quarter net loss and revenue decline didn’t appear to derail Cherokee Global Brands. The company beat Wall Street estimates and then saw shares jump 17 percent, or 15 cents, in midday trading Friday before moderating to low-double-digit growth later in the day.
Aisle Talk Week of September 10
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including the results of a new poll from Quinnipiac University that shows American voters approved, by a ratio of 49-to-37 percent, Nike’s decision to include Colin Kaepernick in the company’s “Just Do It” anniversary ad campaign.
