
Peak Ski Appoints Director of Business Development and Special Projects
Peak Ski Company announced it promoted Catie Park to director of business development and special projects. Most recently, Park was the manager of Peak Ski’s retail operations. Andy Wirth, co-founder and CEO, launched Peak Ski Company, based in Bozeman, MO, in April 2022 with the former Olympic alpine ski racer Bode Miller and has since […]

Snow Peak to open first U.S. Campground
Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield, an extension of Japanese camping brand Snow Peak, will open in early 2024 as the brand’s first campground in the U.S.

EXEC: Rip Curl and Oboz See Trailing 4-Month Sales Down Despite Solid Black Friday
Group sales were reportedly down 12.5 percent year-over-year for the four-month fiscal year-to-date period, reflecting “ongoing weakness in consumer sentiment.” Wholesale sales were disappointing for Rip Curl and Oboz brands.

KOA Survey Points to Interest in Winter Camping
Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s Monthly Report for December 2023 found that approximately 33 percent of campers plan to camp in winter and 58 percent showed some interest, marking a shift toward embracing the outdoors during the colder months.

PrimaLoft Promotes Cavassa to CEO, Joyce to Retire
Compass Diversified appointed Anne Cavassa as CEO of its subsidiary, PrimaLoft Inc., effective January 1, 2024. This move follows Cavassa’s recent appointment as president and as former president and CEO, Mike Joyce, steps into retirement at year end.

The Oberalp Group Hires New PNW Sales Agency for Dynafit, Pomoca
The Oberalp Group, the parent company of Salewa, Dynafit, Pomoca, Wild Country, and Evolv, hired industry veteran Mallory Duncan and his company, Uhuru Mountain Collective, to represent Dynafit and Pomoca in the Pacific Northwest.
Salewa Adds Indie Sales Agency for Pacific Northwest
Salewa hired Katie Borgen and her company, Skadi Collective, to represent the brand in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska).

SFIA names Chief Operating Officer
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association hired Glenn Horine as chief operating officer, effective January 1, 2024, reporting to SFIA president and CEO Tom Cove.

Study: Retailers See Big Online Sales Declines After Closing Brick & Mortar
ICSC found that closing a store reduced online sales in the trade area surrounding that store by 11.5 percent. For emerging retailers, there was reportedly less of an impact, as online sales for largely DTC brands that closed a store decreased by 5.2 percent.

Asics Sells Haglöfs to PE Firm
Asics reported that it sold Swedish outdoor brand Haglöfs AB to the Hong Kong fund LionRock Capital, which acquired 100 percent interest in the company. Terms were not disclosed.

Desiknio Hires New Managing Director and Brand Manager
Desiknio, a manufacturer of e-bikes and sister company to Stromer, hired Morten Kristiansen as managing director and Max-Louis Wolff as brand manager.

IKamper Bolsters U.S. Team with Three New Hires
The manufacturer of rooftop tents and gear expanded its U.S. team by adding Callie Pople, Kara Thrift and Matthew Kim.

GSM Outdoors Acquires Phenix Rods
GSM Outdoors reported it acquired Phenix Rods, marking the company’s entry into the fishing rod space.

Study: The Retailers Getting the Most Online Benefit from New Stores
According to the analysis of the ICSC’s survey of 850 shoppers, department stores had a 50.6 percent increase in online spending, followed by apparel retailers with an 11.6 percent increase in e-commerce sales.

VF Corp. Data Breach Impacting Ability to Ship Orders
The company detected a cybersecurity breach in its systems on December 13 that is “reasonably likely to continue to have a material impact on the company’s business operations,” including its ability to fulfill online orders.