
VF Corp. Upbeat For Holiday
In an interview with SGB. Steve Rendle, president and CEO of VF Corp., said that while October started “a little slow,” sales have picked up as “the weather began to become more fall like” and the company remains optimistic about holiday selling. He also said he remains bullish on The North Face and Timberland regaining top-line momentum.

Aisle Talk, Week Of October 23
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.

Deckers Abandons Sales Plan After Delivering Blowout Q2
Deckers Outdoor said it is no longer actively pursuing a sale of the entire company while reporting second-quarter results that came in well ahead of guidance.

Columbia Sees U.S. Wholesale Returning To Growth First Half Of 2018
Columbia Sportswear’s third-quarter results came in better than expected as growth overseas and in its U.S. DTC business offset another steep decline in U.S. wholesale revenues. But officials predicted U.S. wholesale growth would resume in the first half of 2018.
Skechers Athletes Dominate Podium At Ironman World Championship
Lionel Sanders and Lucy Charles each finished second in their respective men’s and women’s competitions, and David McNamee took third place for the men.

Columbia Sportswear’s Q3 Tops Estimates
Columbia Sportswear’s third-quarter earnings improved 5 percent on flat revenues. Sales were boosted by its European wholesale and U.S. direct-to-consumer businesses. Improved operating profitability outside the U.S. supported earnings gains.

Deckers Brands Lifts Guidance On Strong Q2
Deckers Brands reported earnings and sales that came in well ahead of guidance in its second quarter ended September 30. Ugg’s sales were down 2.9 percent while Hoka One One jumped 34.4 percent and Teva grew 24.9 percent.

Deckers Concludes Review Of Potential Sale, Launches Stock Buyback Program
As part of that process, Deckers and its advisors contacted 90 potential acquirers, including strategic and financial parties, both domestic and international, but this effort did not result in a transaction.

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect Returns To Knoxville
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance will bring its four-day national buying show to the Knoxville Convention Center, November 7-10, 2017.

Amer Sport Sees Sales Picking Up
Driven by apparel, direct-to-consumer and China, Amer Sports reported sales on a currency-neutral basis rose 3 percent in the third quarter, accelerating from a 1 percent gain seen in the second quarter. Strong growth in apparel, Fitness, and Winter Sports offset declines in cycling, sports equipment and ball sports.

Amer Sports Returns To Growth In Q3
Amer Sports returned to growth on a currency-neutral basis in the third quarter as a 7 percent gain in the Asia Pacific region and a 4 percent climb in the EMEA region offset a 1 percent slide in the Americas. The gains were driven again by apparel, own retail, e-commerce and China.

Nike Accelerating Consumer-Led Transformation
Nike Inc. hosted its 2017 Investor Day today, which provided an overview on how the company is accelerating its next phase of long-term, sustainable and profitable growth. Fueled by the Consumer Direct Offense, the company stated during the investor meeting that it expects to drive high-single-digit revenue growth, expanding margins and mid-teens earnings per share growth on average over the next five years.

Nike Investor Day: Still Bullish On Growth
At its Investor Day, Mark Parker, Nike’s CEO, said he expects digital revenues to expand from 15 percent of revenues to 30 percent over the next five years. Over half of its sales growth over that period will come from “new innovation concepts that will scale across multiple categories.” About 75 percent growth will come from outside the U.S.

Nike Sees Mid-Teens EPS Growth Over Next Five Years
At its Investor Day held at Tiger Woods Center at its Portland headquarters, Nike officials said they expected earnings per share to grow in the mid-teens on high-single-digit revenue growth over the next five years.
Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Eyes 2019/20 Winter Season For Opening Of California Express Gondola
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows formally announced its plan to install a base-to-base gondola connecting The Village at Squaw Valley and the base area at Alpine Meadows. The freshly branded “California Express” gondola is targeted to open ahead of the 2019-20 winter season.