SGB Executive Sportsmans
EXEC: Escalade’s New Interim CEO Walks Through Q3 Results, Tariffs, Product, and Acquisitions
Escalade’s job No. 1 for its Q3 earnings release was to find someone to address investors and analysts on its quarterly conference. Enter 23-year company veteran Patrick Griffin to shed light on sales, tariffs, product and category trends, acquisitions and a holiday outlook. Sales were flat in Q3, as gains in archery, table tennis, billiards, and safety categories were offset by softer market demand in its basketball category, as well as the strategic exit from certain categories.
EXEC: Shimano’s YTD Earnings Impacted by Still High Bike Inventory Levels
Shimano, Inc. reported sales grew mid-single digits in the nine months, with similar gains in both its Bicycle Components and Fishing segments. Earnings declined amid margin pressures with its Bicycle Components segment continuing to be impacted by elevated inventory levels in the marketplace, including in North America and China.
EXEC: Thule Sees Organic Sales Slip 4.0 Percent in Q3 in Tough Market
The North America market reportedly remains weak with cautious retailers and consumers. Sales for Active with Kids & Dogs have increased while Sport & Cargo Carriers decreased slightly. The development in Canada was said to be better than in the U.S.
Super Retail Group Promotes BCF Managing Director Paul Bradshaw to Group Managing Director and CEO
Super Retail Group, the Australian parent of sports and outdoor banners Rebel Sport, BCF and Macpac, appointed Paul Bradshaw, current managing director of BCF, as group managing director and CEO, effective November 1. Michael Wassman was promoted to managing director, BCF.
EXEC: Sturm, Ruger Adopts Stockholder Rights Plan as Competitor Buys Up RGR Stock
The move is reportedly designed to allow all stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment by reducing the likelihood that Beretta would gain control through open market accumulation or other coercive tactics without appropriately compensating the company’s stockholders or allowing the Board sufficient time to make informed judgments.
EXEC: Rutabaga Owner Darren Bush Talks Moving On From Retail – But Not Community
Darren Bush, the owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports, surprised the outdoor community with his recent announcement that he plans to shutter his store in Madison, WI, at the close of 2025, although he believes paddling retail can work with top-notch service.
EXEC: Osprey Posts Strong Fiscal Q2 Growth, Partially Offsets Hydro Flask Weakness
Helen of Troy CEO Scott Uzzell, who has only been with the parent of Hydro Flask, Osprey and OXO since last month, provided participants on a conference call with analysts some perspective on challenging external factors for the company’s consumer brands.
EXEC: OR Summer Market Moving to Minneapolis in August 2026
Outdoor Retailer in 2026 will shift the timing of its annual Summer show from early June to the third week of August and relocate the event from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis, as the show’s owner and organizer, Emerald Holding, reimagines the event post-pandemic.
EXEC: How Wisconsin’s Sherper’s Has Survived 90 Years Serving Outdoor Retail Consumers
SGB Executive spoke with Nathan Scherper, fourth-generation owner and president of Wisconsin’s Sherper’s, about how the outdoor retailer has reached 90 years, backed by its eclectic product mix and unique value proposition. At a time when the outdoor retail market is seeing closures across the country and retailers point their fingers at a variety of reasons, Sherper’s has weathered the storm with its unique approach to retailing and a strong connection to their customers and vendors.
EXEC: Astral Founder & CEO Finds Growth In and Out of the Water
Philip Curry, the founder and CEO of Astral, shared with SGB Executive the origins behind the eco-conscious brand, its success in water shoes, the inroads the company has made in the trail shoe and hemp apparel categories, and the push to extend Astral to the broader outdoor market.
EXEC: Colt CZ’s Revenues Jump 14 Percent In First Half; Colt U.S. Business a Drag
Prague-based Colt CZ Group reported revenues for the first half climbed 13.7 percent to CZK 11 billion ($535 mm), driven by the integration of Sellier & Bellot and substantially higher revenues in the ammunition segment . Gains in most other regions offset a slight decline in the U.S. region due to continued weakness in the U.S. commercial market for the Colt firearms brand.
EXEC: VF CEO Talks Altra, TNF, Timberland, Vans and the Dickies Sale at Investor Conference
Speaking Wednesday, September 17, at Wells Fargo’s 8th Annual Consumer Conference, Bracken Darrell, VF Corp.’s president and CEO, also discussed The North Face’s efforts to sell more premium products in the U.S., Vans’ push to reach more girls and Timberland’s aim to ride the revival in the 6-inch boot.
EXEC: VF’s Dickies Sale (Mostly) Viewed Positively by Wall Street
VF Corp. received largely favorable callouts from analysts following its sale of Dickies to Bluestar Alliance. The sale is expected to provide greater financial flexibility, enabling the company to focus on its core brands, The North Face and Vans.
EXEC: VF Corp. to Sell Dickies Brand to Bluestar Alliance
VF Corp. reached an agreement to sell its Dickies brand to New York-based brand management company Bluestar Alliance, LLC., for $600 million in cash. The sale follows a steep decline in sales for the workwear and streetwear brand in recent years.
EXEC: Outdoor Recreation and Enthusiast M&A Activity Sees Uptick in 2025 YTD Period
Boosted by healthy outdoor participation numbers, heightened consumer engagement in emerging activities such as pickleball and padel, and consolidation efforts by strategic players, M&A deal volume in the sports & outdoor space has surged 63 percent year-to-date, according to Capstone Partners’ just-released Outdoor Recreation & Enthusiasts report.
