SGB Executive

Hibbett Remains Optimistic As Digital Initiatives Ramp Up

The leadership team at Hibbett Sports Inc. fully understands that the company is far behind competitors’ digital investments, but the company is making concerted efforts to catch up, and digital progress showed up in Hibbett’s first-quarter earnings.

All Brands Deliver For Deckers In Q4 But Ugg Stands Out

Revenue growth across the Deckers Brands portfolio—Ugg, Hoka One One, Teva and Sanuk—allowed the Goleta, CA-based footwear company to close fiscal 2018 on a “high note,” said President and CEO Dave Powers.

Athleta Again Delivers Double-Digit Growth For Gap Inc.

“I believe that this gem in our portfolio, which is becoming a very nicely sized gem, remains underappreciated,” said Art Peck, Gap Inc’s president and CEO, of Athleta on a conference call with analysts.

Nike Acknowledges Diversity Shortfalls In FY16/17 Sustainability Report

In the company’s just-released FY16/17 Sustainable Business Report, Nike Inc. stated that leadership representation for women globally and underrepresented minorities (URM) in the U.S. “have not evolved as fast as we would have liked” since the company’s last sustainability report arrived in 2016. The report also lists an extensive number of steps Nike is taking to improve diversity and inclusion efforts.

Can Sportsman’s Warehouse Sustain Firearms Growth?

Firearms and ammunition revenue growth boosted Sportsman’s Warehouse in the first quarter, but it’s too soon to say how much the retailer is benefiting from its competitors pulling out of gun sales and how well these categories will perform throughout the year.

Fanatics To Make Nike Jerseys For NFL Fans

Mirroring the company’s upcoming MLB partnership with Under Armour, Fanatics secured the rights to make NFL jerseys and related merchandise under the Nike logo. For the NFL, aligning with Fanatics promises to significantly expand revenues with Fanatic’s expanding capabilities around on-demand production.

LL.Bean Chairman Urges UNH Grads To Lead ‘Adventure-Filled” Lives

In his commencement address for the University of New Hampshire’s 2018 graduating class, Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean’s chairman, called the outdoors “a critical antidote to this hyper-competitive, hyper-stressed, tech-driven world we live in.” While technology powers the world in wonderful ways, “it will never fill your soul like a sunrise in the mountains,” he said.

Ellison Leaves J.C. Penney At Precarious Time

Shares dropped sharply at J.C. Penney Co. Tuesday with the announcement that Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison would be leaving the retail giant to take over as the CEO of Lowe’s, effective July 2.

Kohl’s Delivers Blow-Out Q1 On Active Strength

Led by 10 percent comp growth in its active assortments, Kohl’s Inc. reported first-quarter earnings that easily topped Wall Street’s targets and lifted its guidance for the year. Nike, Under Armour and Adidas led the active gains and the department-store operator is planning a 30-store test that will see square footage dedicated to active expand by 40 percent.

The Running Event Has A New Owner

Oakley Dyer, corporate vice president, strategy & corporate development, Diversified Communications, told SGB Executive, “We always look for industries that have a need for face-to-face interactions for buyers and sellers as well as a need for content and education. The Running Event and Running Insight fit this perfectly.”