EXEC: Big 5 CEO Looks for End of Weak Winter in Hopes of Spring Baseball Rebirth
The West Coast and Mountain state retailer continues to focus on managing the expenses within its control, considering the ongoing economic challenges, while it waits for the annual floor shift to spring sports and a hopeful lift from youth baseball season.
Rocky Brands, Inc. Posts Flattish Q4 Growth After Shift in Distribution Model
Consolidated fourth quarter net sales increase 1.7 percent to $128.1 million, but grew 8.8 percent excluding certain non-recurring sales in Q4 2023 following the change to a distributor model in Canada and temporarily elevated commercial military footwear sales to a single customer.
Big 5 to Continue Closing Stores as Weak Q4 Sales Trends Drift into Q1
Same-store sales decreased 6.1 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. For the fiscal 2025 first quarter, the company expects same-store sales to be down in the mid- to high-single-digit range compared to the fiscal 2024 first quarter.
EXEC: Salomon Sneaker Sales Exceed $1B in 2024; Winter Sports Equipment Falters
Salomon footwear and apparel now represent approximately two-thirds of the Outdoor Performance segment that also includes the Salomon, Atomic and Armada snow sports equipment brands, up significantly from the 54 percent share in 2022.
EXEC: Arc’teryx Brand Surpasses $2 Billion Mark in 2024 as Sales Grow 36 Percent
Amer Sports CEO James Zheng told analysts and investors on the company’s Q4 conference call that strong growth at Arc’teryx came across all regions, channels, and categories — especially in footwear and women’s, which grew faster than the brand overall.
EXEC: Amer Sports Posts Strong DD Q4 Growth Across Big Three Brands
The company saw continued strong results in Greater China and Asia Pacific, accelerating growth in North America and EMEA. The Technical Apparel segment, including Arc’teryx and Peak Performance brands, led growth with a 34 percent year-over-year increase.
Sports Paradise Welcomes Team Sales Account Executive
Maggie Egan brings four years of experience in the sports and nutrition field to Sports Paradise with a proven track record working with coaches and teams as a market development associate for Gatorade throughout New Jersey and Staten Island, NY.
REI Co-op Names VP of Enterprise Systems
Vignesh Pratap was, most recently, at Nike, Inc., where he worked over three years as senior director of Engineering, Global Technology.
EXEC: REI Co-op Raises $230 Million Through Sale-Leaseback Deals for Four DCs
The chain specialty outdoor retailer has entered into a long-term sale-leaseback agreement with Madison Capital, a New York-based real estate investment firm, for its four Class A distribution center properties.
Former Nike and TNF Exec Nicole Otto Joins Ruggable as CEO
For nearly 17 years, Otto worked for Nike, Inc. ascending through the ranks to run Nike Direct for North America. She was with VF Corporation for over two years as global brand president of The North Face until June 2024.
Scheels to Open Third Store in Wisconsin in 2027
Wauwatosa Scheels will employ 500-plus store associates, the majority of whom will be employee owners hired locally. The store will be the company’s 36th location. A 35th store will open in Fall 2026 in Cedar Park, TX.
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Frasers Abandons Nordic SG Retailer XXL Takeover Effort
Frasers cited the condition requiring acceptance of the Intended Offer by a sufficient number of shareholders to ensure that it would hold more than 50 percent of XXL shares and votes on a fully diluted and converted basis would not be satisfied.
Ross Stores Sets CFO Transition Plan, Promotes Bill Sheehan to Deputy CFO
Company EVP and CFO Adam Orvos will reportedly retire, effective September 30. Sheehan, currently group SVP, finance, has been promoted to deputy CFO and is expected to succeed Orvos as chief financial officer on October 1.
Lids Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Greg Cox was promoted to CFO effective immediately. He has worked for the company for eight years. In his new role, he will lead strategic growth initiatives and operational simplification across the global retailer’s business functions.
Walmart Gets Strong Q4 Lift from U.S. and Global E-Commerce Gains
Globally, e-commerce grew 16 percent with penetration up across all segments. Walmart U.S. comp sales up 4.6 percent with positive growth in general merchandise.
