SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
Duluth Trading Warns Of Sales Slowdown
Shares of Duluth Trading fell $5.94, or 25.2 percent, to $17.60 Friday after the company reported fourth-quarter earnings that came in well short of Wall Street’s targets because of delivery challenges and a poor response to newer offerings. Guidance for the current year was also significantly cut with a sales recovery not expected until the second half.
IMF Study Finds Tariffs Can’t Fix Trade Problems
New research from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finds that if the U.S. and China raise tariffs to 25 percent on all goods traded between the two countries, the U.S. economy would lose between 0.3 and 0.6 percent in growth, the Chinese economy would lose between 0.5 and 1.5 percent, and global growth would slow by 0.1 and 0.2 percent.
Sports Participation Roundup
Extensive research from Women In Adventure touting the strong connection between women in the outdoors and their mental well-being highlighted the latest round of sports participation surveys and studies. Research also arrived on running-race sign-ups, tennis participation, gym memberships, tackle football and more.
PHIT America Founder Rails Against Esports Sponsorships
In an open letter to the sporting goods industry, PHIT America Founder Jim Baugh decried how top sports brands, the International Olympic Committee and many collegiate athletic directors are embracing the esports phenonom. He wrote, “Esports are tearing down the fabric of the sports industry and they represent short-term financial gains for companies that cater to these gamers. It’s like a money grab.”
Lululemon Crushes It In Q4
Firing on all cylinders, Lululemon Athletica reported a blow-out fourth quarter marked by a 17 percent comp gain while predicting comps would surge in the low-double digits for the current year. Growth is expected to be driven by stepped-up store openings and category expansions as well as by further building on the recent momentum seen in digital, international and men’s.
Tariffs Less Worrisome For Some, Not Others
While no trade deal has been reached between the U.S. and China, the news around tariffs has been more favorable than unfavorable since the start of the year. But some industry players still have been raising prices, purchasing early to avoid hits and taking other steps to mitigate their potential impact.
Amazon Reports Roundup
A number of retail studies arrived over the last few weeks on retail’s disruptor, Amazon, including the e-commerce giant’s break-through in apparel, expanding dominance in product search, private-label shortfalls, trust credibility, digital advertising pushes and more.
Nike Sees No Slowdown In Momentum
Shares of Nike Inc. closed down nearly 7 percent on Friday after the company reported North America sales in the third quarter and fourth-quarter guidance that both missed Wall Street’s targets. But sales in the third quarter still more than doubled the growth rates of its closest rivals, Adidas and Under Armour, as Nike officials insisted its Consumer Direct Offense initiative is only getting started.
Delta Apparel Eyes Fast Growth At DTG2Go
Speaking at the 31st Annual ROTH Conference, officials at Delta Apparel Inc. said DTG2Go, its digital print and fulfillment business, is poised to expand at a 20 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in the years ahead with digital screen-printing just starting to take off.
Esports Set To Take Off
EMarketer became the latest research firm to come out with the bullish forecast on the growth potential of esports as well as the related advertising opportunity to reach a hard-to-reach and coveted millennial demographic. The reports come as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Fanatics, Champion and others have all recently inked sponsorship deals.
Aisle Talk Week Of March 11
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Brooks Running Company’s promotion of Dan Sheridan to a newly configured role of EVP and chief operating officer.
Dorel Sports Q4 Hurt By Softness In Mass Channels
Dorel Industries Inc. reported that profitability in its Dorel Sports’ segment came in below plan in the fourth quarter due to a slowdown in bicycle sales across the board at Pacific Cycle that targets the mass channel. Martin Schwartz, president and CEO of Dorel Industries, said the exit of Toys “R” Us didn’t benefit the mass channel as much as projected.
Strong Boot And Retro Sales At Journeys Lifts Genesco’s Q4
Powered by healthy momentum for the Journeys chain, Genesco Inc.’s earnings before non-recurring items rose 18.8 percent in the fourth quarter. The company was also aided by a better-than-expected performance by the recently-sold Lids Sports Group in its last quarter with the company.
Adidas’ Supply Chain Problems Stunt North America’s Momentum
Adidas warned investors it will miss its 2019 growth target because supply chain bottlenecks in the first half of the year are making it difficult to meet demand. The growth is particularly expected to slow in North America, where it has doubled its business in the last three years to take market share from rival Nike
Dick’s Traffic Doldrums Continue
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and outlined a number of initiatives to jump-start comp growth, including replacing its hunt sections in another 120 stores with faster-turning categories and switching out its licensed Reebok brand for a new private-label athletic label. But shares of Dick’s fell as management predicted only minimal top-line recovery in the current year.
