SGB Executive

Mammut Enhances Digital Capabilities By Acquiring Mountain Hub

Swiss-based apparel brand Mammut added to the company’s capabilities with Wednesday’s announcement that the brand had acquired Mountain Hub. SGB spoke with Joe Prebich of Mammut and Brint Markle of Mountain Hub (pictured) for a behind-the-scenes look at the deal.

Wall Street Cheers Lululemon’s CEO Hire

Shares of Lululemon Athletica rose slightly on Wednesday as Wall Street analysts unanimously applauded the hiring of Calvin McDonald, the CEO of the Sephora cosmetics chain, as its next CEO.

What’s Behind Brooks Running’s Shop-In-Shop Initiative?

On June 16, Brooks Running announced the company was partnering with 30 run specialty shops in the U.S. and Canada to launch the company’s first shop-in-shop program. SGB Executive reached out to Mike Billish, VP of U.S. sales, to explore the new program.

Oakley Resumes Growth In Luxottica’s Q2

Oakley saw a return to growth in the company’s core sports channel in North America in Luxottica’s second quarter ended June 30, although Sunglass Hut was the strongest performer for the Italian-based eyewear giant.

Outdoor Industry Leaders Issue Call-To-Action On Participation

Likening outdoor participation to a “leaky bucket,” the Outdoor Foundation Board Chair Sally McCoy, said at the OIA Industry Breakfast that the industry has been able to “get some people in but we’re losing more out the bottom.” Moreover, she said Outdoor Foundation research confirms “we’re late in the game” as far as reversing trends.

Experience Counts … Demo Day Kicks Off Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

Outdoor brands took to Denver’s Confluence and Commons parks Sunday afternoon to showcase some of their newest offerings for 2019 and give retailers a chance to paddle SUPs, pedal e-bikes and check out dozens of products from water bottles to energy bars to a stand-to-pee accessory for women.

Vans, The North Face Fuel VF Corp.’s Sizzling First Quarter

Continued strength in VF Corp.’s biggest brands—Vans, The North Face and, to a lesser extent, Timberland—along with balanced geographic and channel sales, helped the company deliver a standout first quarter with earnings well above Wall Street’s expectations.

Aisle Talk Week of July 16

Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Boa Technology Inc. opening the company’s new environmentally friendly headquarters in Denver, CO.

Skechers Shares Tumble On Q2 Miss And Poor Outlook

Skechers USA’s shares fell $6.95, or 20.9 percent, to $26.30 on Friday after the company reported second-quarter earnings that fell well short of guidance and provided a soft outlook for the third quarter. Investors were reportedly frustrated that Skechers’ focus on funding long-term expansion efforts is coming at the expense near-term earnings improvement.

SGB Executive Q&A: Royal Robbins CEO Michael Millenacker

A little more than a year after Royal Robbins died, the company he founded in 1968 is under new ownership, yet retains the spirit of its namesake. Current President and CEO Michael Millenacker (pictured) spoke with SGB about where the company is heading under Fenix Outdoor and why the brand’s 50-year-old vision remains intact.

Sports Direct Burned By Outside Investments

While underlying earnings are benefiting from its “Elevation” efforts to upgrade its stores, Sports Direct reported that its U.S. business, consisting of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, showed loss in its fiscal year ended April 29 and a number of other investments aren’t paying off.

Adidas Downgraded On Heightened Competition

Wells Fargo Securities downgraded shares of Adidas due to renewed growth in North America at Nike, continuing explosive growth at Vans and some lackluster results from the launch of new Adidas platforms.

SGB Executive Q&A: Boa CEO Shawn Neville­

Shawn Neville, CEO of Boa Technology Inc., takes SGB behind the scenes of the company’s new Denver headquarters, where the maker of fit systems for a variety of gear is developing ambitious plans for growth.

SFIA Webinar Stresses Urgency In Applying For Tariff Exclusions

On a webinar Wednesday, David Cohen, an international trade expert with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg and Bill Sells, SVP government relations & public affairs at the SFIA, discussed the urgency for affected sporting goods companies to seek exclusions to avoid the latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports. The first deadline in the exclusion process is less than 10 days away.