SGB Executive

The majority of stocks in the active lifestyle space took it on the chin in 2022 as broader stock markets in the U.S. saw their worst performance since the 2008 financial crisis. Stocks managing gains included Academy Sports + Outdoors, Deckers Outdoor, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Xponential Fitness, and TJX Cos.

SGB reached out to key leaders in the Active Lifestyle space to share their outlook for 2023. In the first installment, here are a series of responses that gauge what they see for the year ahead.

SGB Media wishes all the best to you and your family for the New Year. We will resume the SGB Update newsletters on January 3, 2023. Cheers!

As the year closes, SGB Media remembers the leaders in the active lifestyle industry who passed in 2022 but are remembered for their contributions.

The new heads of Adidas, Asics, Caleres, Decathlon, DSW, Foot Locker, IFit, Peloton, Under Armour, Reebok, The North Face, and Vans were among the major C-suite moves that recast leadership across the active lifestyle industry in 2022. Below are the notable executive changes SGB reported on in 2022.

Mergers & acquisitions in the active lifestyle space continued at a healthy pace in 2022 despite macroeconomic pressures having the stock market reporting its least favorable annual performance since 2008. Below is the complete list of M&A transactions SGB Media reported on in 2022.

The active lifestyle market struggled through a tough year in 2022 as it worked through higher inventory levels related to upheavals in the supply chain, retail bankruptcies and the changing trade show scene. What did you miss? SGB Media looks back at our Top 25 most-read stories in 2022 published in the last 52 weeks.

Rocky Brands’ sales climbed 17.5 percent in the third quarter as the strong appeal for the retailer’s wide range of functional, affordable footwear offset inflationary consumer pressures. Jason Brooks, president & CEO, in an interview with SGB Executive, talked about his long run at the family-run business, the acquisition of Honeywell’s lifestyle footwear business, and how the company is managing a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Patagonia is taking off the last week of the year again in 2022 and providing all North American employees with paid time off. 

Nike, Inc. had a stand-out performance in its fiscal second quarter ended November 30 as the company beat street expectations on the top and bottom line and, perhaps more importantly, made progress in reducing inventories and raising full-year guidance.

DSW parent Designer Brands, Inc. acquired the Topo Athletic running footwear company. The transaction expands the brand’s reach into the performance athletic and outdoor footwear categories.

Sports Endeavors, the parent of Soccer.com, recently sold a majority stake in the company to Seawall Capital. In an interview with SGB Executive, CEO Mike Moylan, shown left above, said the funding is expected to support continued momentum around the sport of soccer that’s expected to reach another inflection point when North America hosts the 2026 World Cup.

According to the Aspen Institute’s youth sports parent survey, part of the nonprofit’s State of Play 2022 report, the number of hours kids played sports is back to pre-pandemic levels. The report also highlighted strong recoveries for community sports programs and travel leagues but also highlighted challenges with funding and encouraging kids to be active.

Academy Sports + Outdoors last week again raised its earnings outlook for the year as robust merchandise margins elevated its Q3 profits ahead of analyst targets. Ken Hicks, Academy’s chairman, president and CEO, discusses the retail chain’s continued momentum coming out of the pandemic with SGB Executive, its robust transformation over the last five years and rising promotional pressures.