
Rocky Brands Looks For Pickup In 2017
“With respect to the work, western and hunting boot categories, 2017 is off to a better start than 2016, thanks to more operable weather conditions combined with easier comparisons,” said CEO Mike Brooks on a conference call with analysts.

Aisle Talk, Week Of February 13
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.

MC Sports Appoints Liquidators
A joint venture between Tiger Capital Group and Great American Group will conduct the going-out-of-business sale, which is now underway.

FGL Sports Delivers Another Banner Year
Duncan Fulton, president, FGL Sports, said on a conference call with analysts, “There is a lot of optimism and opportunity right now to get more out of the assets that we already have.”

Puma Appoints New North America President
Puma appointed Bob Philion, formerly head of Cobra Puma Golf, as president of Puma North America. Last November, Puma announced that the region’s long-time CEO, Jay Piccola, would retire, mid-2017.

VF Issues Soft Guidance For 2017
VF Corp. reported fourth-quarter earnings were down, in line with guidance. Among its major brands in the quarter, North Face was down 8 percent, Vans grew 14 percent, and Timberland gained 4 percent. The company provided a weak outlook for 2017.
Under Armour Signs French Olympic Judo Champion
The two-time Olympic gold medallist will be the face of Under Armour’s expansion into France, where it has recently opened a new Paris headquarters.

Outdoor Retailer To Leave Salt Lake City
After an unproductive meeting between Gov. Gary Herbert and outdoor industry executives, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) says it hopes to find a new location for the Outdoor Retailer shows “as soon as possible.”

Keen Adds Filmmaker And Professional Snowboarder Zeppelin Zeerip As Ambassador
Keen Inc. added Zeppelin Zeerip, a filmmaker and professional snowboarder, to its ambassador program.

Chaco Presents ‘The Time Travelers’ Film
Chaco will premiere its feature film, “The Time Travelers” by renowned creatives Forest Woodward and Brendan Leonard, at select REI stores in March.

Puma Signs Illumination’s Minions As New Creative Collaborators
Puma, together with Illumination and Universal Brand Development, formed a multi-season partnership with Gru’s Minions from the Despicable Me franchise.
Kate Spade Confirms Takeover Talk
Kate Spade confirmed Thursday that it is considering “strategic alternatives” for the company’s future, which may include a sale.

Rocky Brands Posts Q4 Loss On Creative Recreation Charge
The fourth quarter of 2016 included a non-cash impairment charge related to the Creative Recreation brand of $3 million.
HanesBrands Distribution Center Achieves Safety Milestone
HanesBrands, the parent of Hanes, Champion and Gear for Sports, stated that its Cleveland Distribution Center, located in Kings Mountain, NC, was one of 34 facilities in the state of North Carolina to achieve 2 million employee hours without injury in 2016.

Nike Commits $1.5 Million In Grants From Nike School Innovation Fund
The Nike School Innovation Fund is awarding 100 Oregon high schools a total of $1.5 million in grants with the goal of increasing graduation rates, closing the achievement gap and helping all students in Oregon prepare for future success.