
Johnson Outdoors’ Fishing Momentum Offsets Watercraft/Camping Doldrums In Q2
On a conference call with analysts, Helen Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO, said both Minn Kota and Humminbird in the Fishing segment are being boosted by successful innovations. Growth in the Watercraft and Camping segments, on the other hand, is being restrained by retail bankruptcies and overall consolidation over the last 18 months.

GoPro Ramps Up Marketing Spend
First-quarter success in international markets without the benefit of sustained marketing support has GoPro Inc. bullish on sales prospects in those regions, and really everywhere the company’s products are sold.

Olin Corp Sees Winchester’s Earnings Declining In 2018
Olin Corp reported a sharp decline in earnings at the company’s Winchester segment due to reduced commercial demand and higher-commodity material costs. Olin officials no longer see Winchester’s results improving in 2018, but also assured analysts it has no plans to sell the business.

Crosman And 5.11 Up, Liberty Safe Down For CODI
Compass Diversified Holdings (CODI) reported healthy growth for Crosman and 5.11 in the first quarter but Liberty Safe saw a steep decline.

Golf Club Sales Drive Acushnet’s Q1 Performance
Strong demand for Titleist golf clubs–most notably the 718 irons, Vokey SM7 wedges and Cameron Select putters–helped drive parent company Acushnet Holdings Corp.’s strong first quarter.

Adidas AG’s North American Momentum Continues
Adidas AG said a slowdown in Western Europe and continued weakening the company’s key footwear franchises in the first quarter was more than matched by strong sales momentum overall in North America and Greater China, an accelerating apparel business and strong full-price selling.

Versa Accelerates Fitbit’s Revenue Shift Toward Smartwatches
Smartwatches composed about 30 percent of Fitbit Inc.’s revenue in the first quarter, but based on executive commentary during yesterday’s earnings call, look for the products to grab even an larger share of the company’s top line in future earnings reports.

Fitness And Outdoor Drive Garmin’s Q1 Growth
Powered by robust gains in its Outdoor, Fitness and Aviation segments, Garmin Inc. reported sales climbed 10.8 percent in the first quarter.
The Fēnix drove Outdoor and the new Forerunner launch helped lift Fitness.

Ellett Brothers To Buy AcuSport In Asset Sale
The assets of AcuSport, a Bellefontaine, OH-based distributor of shooting and hunting products that filed Tuesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, will be acquired by Ellett Brothers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Sporting Cos., the parties have announced.

April M&A Roundup: What’s In Store For Volcom?
April was relatively quiet with fewer notable deals in the sporting goods, outdoor and lifestyle brand verticals, but some large companies such as Columbia and Nike acquired growth while some brands such as Volcom were put on the market.

Big 5 Wacked By Weather Woes In Q1
Big 5 Sporting Goods reported that a lack of cold weather crushed its winter business early in the first quarter while the arrival of chilly weather restrained its spring business later in the quarter.

Under Armour Elevates ‘Loud Brand, Quiet Company’ Focus
A mostly positive first quarter that saw Under Armour Inc. beat analyst expectations on earnings and revenue has the company doubling down on the “loud brand, quiet company” strategy announced earlier this year.

Vista Outdoor To Exit Firearms, Sports Protection And Paddle Boards
On a conference call with analysts, Christopher Metz, CEO of Vista Outdoor, explained the strategy behind the company’s decision to focus on brands within four distinct categories, ammunition, hunting/recreational shooting accessories, hydration bottles and packs and outdoor cooking products, while divesting Bell, Giro, Blackburn, Jimmy Styks and Savage and Stevens firearms.

Champion Shines Again For HanesBrands In Q1
HanesBrands Inc. said Champion’s sales outside of the mass channel in the U.S. catapulted over 50 percent in the first quarter, driven by strong consumer demand, space gains in the specialty channels and growth in the online channel.

SGB Executive Q&A: Hibbett Execs Discuss New App, Digital Strategy
Jeff Rosenthal and Bill Quinn of Hibbett Sporting Goods spoke with SGB Executive about how the company’s newly unveiled app fits into the retailer’s digital strategy and was designed to meet consumers’ shopping and buying demands.