Report: Christmas Gifting Trends and Consumer Insights from YouGov Survey
YouGov data suggests word of mouth remains the best way for companies to make their products the hottest Christmas gift of 2024, with 18- to 34-year-olds twice as likely to get their gift ideas that way versus social media.
Thermore Launches First Consumer Campaign: “Power Comes from Within”
Imagined by the global creative team, Innocean Italy, the brand’s manifesto highlights the quality and versatility of its synthetic insulation and its commitment to wellness, comfort and sustainability, featuring apparel companies, Aspesi, Emporio Armani and Karbon.
REI Co-op Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
The specialty retailer said Abigail Jacobs brings an impressive background leading marketing for major consumer retailers including Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm and the Pottery Barn brands.
Wolverine Worldwide Opens Boston Innovation Hub for Product and Design Teams
The 11,000-square-foot facility will accommodate employees from the company’s design and product teams, including Saucony product team members in design, development, product management and merchandising.
S&P: Holiday 2024 Sales Growth Will Fall Short of 2023
S&P Global Ratings is forecasting that holiday sales growth will slow to about 3 percent in 2024 from 4.7 percent last year, remaining below the 10-year average of 5.3 percent. The firm said its outlook is influenced by waning, but persistent, inflation that has pressured household budgets.
October Inflation Rate Gains 20 Basis Points from September’s Year-Over-Year Reading
The CPI, which measures costs across a spectrum of goods and services, increased 0.2 percent for the month. That took the 12-month year-over-year inflation rate to 2.6 percent, up 20 basis points from September.
Winter Occupancy Down on Higher Rates at Western Mountain Resorts
Overall, winter occupancy and rates are pretty even with last winter as of October 31, but the first three months of the season, from November through January, are more sluggish than usual. December is the biggest concern.
Altra Footwear Opens First Colorado Outlet Store
Located at the Outlets at Castle Rock, this new Colorado location will retail past-season and gently-used Altra products to running enthusiasts at significant savings.
Roadsurfer to Expand North American Rental Operations in 2025
The brand is well-established in Europe and dominates the RV rental market. With 14 new rental stations planned worldwide for 2025, the company will operate 90 locations across Europe, the U.S. and Canada, expanding its fleet to around 10,000 vehicles.
Perfect Moment Ltd. Appoints Head of Global Business Development
Rosela Mitropoulos is expected to lead the development and execution of the company’s global sales strategy for wholesale, online marketplaces and directly operated retail stores.
CNBC/NRF: October Retail Sales Bounce Back
Leaders in the year-over-year growth included E-Commerce & Catalog; Clothing, Footwear & Accessories stores, and Health & Personal Care stores. The Sporting Goods sector, which also includes Hobby, Music and Book stores, posted solid (+2.7 percent) month-over-month results but declined year-over-year.
Rural King Opens New Stores in Georgia and North Carolina
The family-owned retailer serving a rural lifestyle, reports that its newest stores are now open in Waycross, GA, the second Georgia store for the retailer this year, and in Rocky Mount, NC.
Leica Appoints Director of Marketing for Sport Optics
Ryan Holm joined Leica USA’s sports optics division and has now stepped into the leadership role as part of Leica’s strategy to reenergize its brand and build on momentum across core verticals such as hunting, birding, and outdoor recreation.
EXEC: Thule Group Set to Acquire Aussie Phone Mount Company
Australia-based Quad Lock is expected to help to strengthen Thule Group’s position in the Asia-Pacific region, where the acquisition increases the share of Thule’s sales from ~5 percent to 10 percent. Direct-to-consumer sales will increase from ~7 percent to 15 percent of sales.
On Holding Continues Aggressive Growth But Higher Q3 Costs and EPS Miss Worry Street
On saw its highest gross profit margin since its IPO in September 2021, reaching 60.6 percent of net sales in Q3 2024, reportedly driven by growth in the DTC channel and a “continued disciplined approach to full-price sales.”
