EXEC: Academy Sees Value Focus Driving Share Gains In 2023
Academy Sports + Outdoors saw fourth-quarter sales come in below plan due in part to weakness in the hunt category, but strength in apparel and footwear as well as lower freight costs helped earnings easily top analyst targets. Officials also gave an upbeat outlook for 2023 due to improved inventory content, healthy demand across most categories and the benefit of its value positioning in a more-challenged economic climate.
Yue Yuen Factory Revenues Again Offset Retail Declines in Q4; Full-Year Footwear Sales Up 28 Percent
In the year ended December 31, 2022, revenue attributed to footwear manufacturing activity (including athletic/outdoor shoes, casual shoes and sports sandals) increased by 28.2 percent to US$5.71 billion, compared with the previous year. The volume of shoes shipped during the year was 272.7 million pairs. Average selling prices rose over 12 percent for the year.
EXEC: Crocs “Off To A Great Start” In 2023
Speaking at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference, Andrew Rees, CEO of Crocs, Inc., said the company is “off to a great start” in 2023, driven by innovation and new product introductions from its Crocs and Hey Dude brands.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Bullish On Post-Pandemic Growth
Speaking at the BofA Securities 2023 Consumer & Retail Conference, Lauren Hobart, president and CEO at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Ed Stack, executive chairman, discussed the chain’s transformation and other factors expected to drive continued robust top-line growth for Dick’s in the years ahead as well as why the chain is faring better than other retailers in the current inflationary climate.
EXEC: Famous Footwear’s Q4 Boosted By Athletic
Famous Footwear’s comparable store sales increased 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter, better than initial expectations, due to a strong second half in driven by athletic footwear. On a call with analysts, Jay Schmidt, CEO of Caleres, said, “This late quarter performance was driven by robust demand for key athletic brands, which the Famous team was able to capitalize on due to a stronger in-stock position compared to last year.”
EXEC: Under Armour Downgraded On Competitive Pressures
J.P. Morgan lowered its rating on Under Armour to “Neutral” from “Overweight” due in part to elevated inventory levels that drive promotions across the retail marketplace and more direct competition from Nike and Adidas.
Report: Nike, Adidas And Lululemon Top Millennials’ Favorite Athletic Brands
According to Roth MKM’s 2023 Millennial Survey, Millennials increasingly prioritize health and wellness and favor Nike, Adidas and Lululemon over other activewear brands.
EXEC: American Outdoor Brands Sees Continued Cautious Retail Orders In Near-Term
American Outdoor Brands reported a 27.4 percent sales decline in the third quarter and slashed its growth targets for the current fiscal year. Company officials warned on an analyst call that the cautious ordering patterns due to elevated inventories at retail would not recover until the second half of 2023.
EXEC: Gap’s CEO Says Athleta CEO Departure Related To Product, Not Brand
On the retailer’s fourth-quarter analyst call, Bob Martin, Gap, Inc.’s executive chairman and interim CEO, insisted the departure of Mary Beth Laughton as president is due to continued product missteps and not from the deteriorating health of its women’s activewear brand.
EXEC: Duluth Trading Sees H1 Sales “Slightly Down To Flat” After Tough Q4
DLTH reported net sales of $241.8 million for the fourth quarter, down 10.7 percent compared to $270.8 million in the prior-year quarter. For the full fiscal year 2022, net sales were $653.3 million and were said to be within the range of recent guidance.
EXEC: Journeys’ Sales Weaken Amid Inflationary Pressures
Shares of Genesco fell $6.53, or 13.7 percent, to $41.22 Thursday after the retailer gave a cautious outlook for 2023 and launched a cost-cutting program to help offset inflationary pressures that negatively impacted its flagship Journeys chain this past holiday season. Genesco also plans to close 60 Journeys stores this year.
EXEC: New Adidas CEO Discusses Turnaround Strategy
On his first quarterly analyst call, Bjørn Gulden, Adidas’ new CEO, said the company plans to focus on culture, wholesale service levels, local go-to-market approaches, speed to market, and brand heat to orchestrate a turnaround at Adidas.
EXEC: Dick’s SG To Fast-Track House Of Sport Expansion After Strong 2022
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported plans to return to annual square footage growth, led by its House Of Sports concept, after reporting fourth-quarter results that easily surpassed Wall Street expectations, boosted by a 5.3 percent same-store gain. As many as 75-to-100 House of Sport stores are expected to open by 2027.
EXEC Q&A: Dan Sheridan, President & COO, Brooks Running
Overcoming supply chain obstacles during the first half, Brooks Running managed 6 percent growth in 2022 to reach record annual revenues of about $1.2 billion. Dan Sheridan, president and COO, talks to SGB about how the year played out, brand accomplishments and his outlook for Brooks and the running industry for 2023.
EXEC Q&A: Matt Gold, CEO, Christy Sports
Founded in 1958 in Lakewood, CO, Christy Sports has grown to 63 stores across five Western states and has an online platform. CEO Matt Gold talked with SGB Executive about the store’s uniqueness, commitment to customer service, the pandemic’s impact on business, and the current inflationary environment.
