SGB Footwear

VF Reports Better-Than-Expected Fourth Quarter

VF Corp. reported better-than-expected results in the fourth quarter as revenue increased 12 percent, or 10 percent currency neutral, driven by broad-based strength across VF’s international and direct-to-consumer platforms, Outdoor & Action Sports coalition and Workwear businesses. On a currency-neutral basis, Vans’ global sales soared 35 percent, The North Face added 6 percent and Timberland increased 8 percent

FGL Sports Q4 Boosted By Chilly Winter

FGL Sports marked a return to mid-single digit comp growth in the fourth quarter with the boost of chilly Winter. Canadian Tire Corp, its parent, also indicated it acquired Sher-Wood Athletics as part of an overall effort by the company to increase its number of owned brands and appointed TJ Flood as president, FGL Sports.

Dick’s Celebrates Olympic Contenders

SGB reached out to Ryan Eckel, VP of Brand at Dick’s Sporting Goods, to discuss the inspiration behind the Contenders program, which allows U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls to work in Dick’s locations to help support their dreams. Twelve participants in the retailer’s Contenders program are participating in PyeongChang.

Asics America Widens Q4 Loss

Asics America widened its loss in the fourth quarter but saw earnings improve significantly in the full year. Sales in the region slid 7.2 percent in the quarter.

January Retail Sales Climb 5.4 Percent

An improving economy fueled a healthy 5.4 percent increase in retail sales year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said. Among sectors, sporting goods stores showed the only year-over-year decrease, down 5.9 percent.