Aisle Talk, Week Of October 9
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Bump Stock Makers Face Bans, Lawsuits
The clamor over “bump stocks” – the devices used by the Las Vegas shooter to make his rifles fire nearly as fast as machine guns – continues with increasing calls for outright bans and lawsuits arriving.
Did The ‘Pay To Play’ System Cause The U.S.’s World Cup Failure?
The failure of the U.S. men’s national soccer team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia to some points to a broader problem around youth sports participation.
Adidas Winning, Nike And Under Armour Losing With Teens
According to Piper Jaffray’s Taking Stock With Teens research survey, Adidas, Vans, Birkenstock and Supreme are seeing some of the biggest gains in earning teens’ affection. The losers among the larger bands in the active space include Nike, Ugg and Under Armour.
Camping World Snaps Up Uncle Dan’s
Camping World said the acquisition of Uncle Dan’s will position the company for further growth to its expanding e-commerce platform at udans.com, by increasing customer reach and adding new quality product offerings.”
Activist Group Pushes For Major Changes At Deckers Outdoor
Marcato Capital Management, in its proxy statement seeking to replace all 10 Deckers Outdoors’ directors with its own squad, detailed an extensive plan to reimagine Deckers, including the sale of non-core Ugg brands, a rash of store closings, additional cost-reduction initiatives, and aggressive stock buybacks
Russell Looks To Build On Retail Momentum
As detailed in a letter to dealers last week, Russell Athletic has decided to exit the team uniform business. But it’s only because management feels it required more emphasis on bigger opportunities on the consumer retail side of the business, Matt Murphy, Russell’s VP of marketing, said in an interview with SGB.
Hydro Flask Parent Expects H2 Sales Growth To Moderate
On a conference call with analysts, Julien Mininberg, CEO of Helen of Troy, said the industry is seeing “some moderation” in overall demand in the water bottles and hydration space following a period a strong growth overall.
Aisle Talk, Week Of October 2
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
NRA Urges New Rules For Gun ‘Bump-Stocks’
The National Rifle Association on Thursday called for “additional regulations” on bump-stocks, a rapid fire device used by the Las Vegas massacre gunman.
One-On-One With OrthoLite’s Glenn Barrett
The CEO and chairman of Ortholite discusses the keys to successful collaborations, 3D printing and other emerging technologies, new competitors in the space, and the insole category’s newfound respect.
Merry Holiday Forecasts Arrive
The NRF (National Retailer Federation) became the latest organization predicting robust sales for the holiday season. Gains are expected to be helped by low unemployment, rising stock markets and another year of double-digit online spending gains.
NRA Under Attack Following Mass Shooting
With the NRA (National Rifle Association) coming under broad attack following the Las Vegas mass shooting, another unsettling period appears ahead for the gun industry.
Susquehanna Downgrades Finish Line On Recent Run-Up
Susquehanna Financial Group lowered its rating on The Finish Line to “Neutral” from “Positive” because the stock’s recent spike in price now “fairly reflects the probability of a takeout by Sports Direct.”
Russell Throws In The Towel On Uniforms
Kevin Reber, VP of sales, Russell Athletic, said in a letter to team dealers, “We are proud of our heritage, but to build lasting relationships with a new generation of athletes, we will need to focus our efforts and play to our strengths.”
