SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
Athleta Again Delivers Double-Digit Growth For Gap Inc.
“I believe that this gem in our portfolio, which is becoming a very nicely sized gem, remains underappreciated,” said Art Peck, Gap Inc’s president and CEO, of Athleta on a conference call with analysts.
Aisle Talk Week Of May 21
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Nike Acknowledges Diversity Shortfalls In FY16/17 Sustainability Report
In the company’s just-released FY16/17 Sustainable Business Report, Nike Inc. stated that leadership representation for women globally and underrepresented minorities (URM) in the U.S. “have not evolved as fast as we would have liked” since the company’s last sustainability report arrived in 2016. The report also lists an extensive number of steps Nike is taking to improve diversity and inclusion efforts.
Fanatics To Make Nike Jerseys For NFL Fans
Mirroring the company’s upcoming MLB partnership with Under Armour, Fanatics secured the rights to make NFL jerseys and related merchandise under the Nike logo. For the NFL, aligning with Fanatics promises to significantly expand revenues with Fanatic’s expanding capabilities around on-demand production.
Kohl’s Delivers Blow-Out Q1 On Active Strength
Led by 10 percent comp growth in its active assortments, Kohl’s Inc. reported first-quarter earnings that easily topped Wall Street’s targets and lifted its guidance for the year. Nike, Under Armour and Adidas led the active gains and the department-store operator is planning a 30-store test that will see square footage dedicated to active expand by 40 percent.
The Running Event Has A New Owner
Oakley Dyer, corporate vice president, strategy & corporate development, Diversified Communications, told SGB Executive, “We always look for industries that have a need for face-to-face interactions for buyers and sellers as well as a need for content and education. The Running Event and Running Insight fit this perfectly.”
U.S.-China Trade War ‘On Hold’ … But Should Companies Remain Wary?
The looming trade war with China that dominated headlines all spring and forced U.S. companies to fear heavy tariffs on their imports is now on hold. But is it really?
Nike’s COO Eric Sprunk Urges Montana Grads To ‘Have A Bias For Action’
Standing in as the commencement speaker for the 2018 graduating class of the University of Montana, Eric Sprunk, Nike Inc.’s COO and former UM alum, urged graduates to “be somebody who actually does something,” “continue learning the rest of your life” and “fail forward.”
Aisle Talk Week Of May 14
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Fanatics Hires Joe Bozich As First COO, Fanatics Brands
Fanatics Inc, has hired Joe Bozich, founder of Knights Apparel, as the first ever COO of Fanatics Brands, the company’s in-house apparel division, as the company continues ramp up vertical-manufacturing capabilities. In an interview with SGB, Fanatics Brands President Raphael Peck said Bozich will particularly focus on wholesale execution.
Champion Projected To Reach $2B In Sales By 2022
At the company’s Investor Day Meeting on Tuesday, HanesBrands’ officials set a goal of having Champion’s global sales reach more than $2 billion by 2022, up from $1.4 billion in 2017. The growth is expected to driven by expanded lifestyle offerings driven by its newfound cachet in fashion circles, aggressively expanding direct-to-consumer and expanding Champion’s geographic reach.
The Spring Of Nike’s Discontent
March, April and May should be a time for Nike Inc. to focus on promoting new products and growing North American revenue, but this spring the global footwear giant has instead been stumbling over accusations of workplace harassment, which has led to a host of high-profile executive departures
Whack-A-Mole: Inside The Fight Against Knockoffs, Counterfeits & Fake Sites
SGB goes inside the fight against counterfeits, knockoffs and fraudulent websites by looking at how two companies—Nite Ize and Scott Sports—are combatting the problem, as well as outlining steps a business can take to mitigate risk.
Aisle Talk Week Of May 7
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Herschel Walker (pictured) being appointed to President Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Mizuno Americas Sales Lag, Profitability Recovers
Mizuno Corp.’s sales slid 14.2 percent in the Americas region in its fiscal year ended March 31. But the decline was partly due to efforts to clean up inventories and reduce lower-margin sales that bolstered underlying profitability. Some sales recovery was predicted for the Americas region in the years ahead.
