EXEC: Volumental’s Brent Hollowell Talks Fit for Feet
Volumental, the Swedish footwear fit tech company, recently hired industry veteran Brent Hollowell as general manager for its North American operations, responsible for accelerating growth in the region. Hollowell talked with SGB Executive about his role, Volumental’s push into North America, the barriers to fit tech, and the potential of generative AI in the fit process.
Birkenstock Stumbles on First Day of Trading as a Public Company
When Bloomberg declares your debut on Wall Street as a publicly-traded company the worst opening for a listing of $1 billion or more in New York in over two years, you may have a problem.
National Outdoor Leadership School Appoints New President
Sandy Colhoun brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the school’s mission to this role, having served as the interim president for the past eight months. Colhoun was unanimously elected president by the NOLS Board of Trustees on October 5.
Alterra Mountain Set to Acquire Helicopter Skiing Company
The company plans to acquire Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in Blue River, BC, Canada. Upon closing, the heli-skiing operation will further expand Alterra’s heli-skiing portfolio, complementing CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures.
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Expands Stake in Norwegian Retailer
Shares of XXL, the struggling Oslo-listed sports retailer, are reportedly surging after the company reported that Frasers Group, the UK-based parent of Sports Direct, purchased 117.4 million shares of the company, bringing its total holding to 162.1 million.
EXEC: BRC Sees Weaker UK Retail Growth in September as Non-Food Sales Decline
The British Retail Consortium reported that total UK retail sales were 2.7 percent in September, against a growth of 2.2 percent in September 2022, supported by a 9.5 percent inflation rate.
EXEC: JD Sports Completes Shares Purchase of Iberian Sports Retail Group
Effective October 10, JD acquired 49.98 percent of shares of ISRG from Balaiko Firaja Invest, S.L. and Sonae Holdings, S.A. for cash consideration of €500.1 million ($531.2 million) and now owns 100 percent of ISRG shares.
Trust for Public Land Appoints Luis Benitez as Chief Impact Officer
In his capacity as CIO, Benitez will reportedly play a pivotal role in guiding, advancing and overseeing several key areas of TPL’s work including marketing and communications, federal affairs in Washington D.C. and TPL’s Land and People Lab.
Alterra Mountain Company Names New President and COO of Stratton
Alterra Mountain Company announced that Matt Jones has been named the new president & COO of Stratton, the ski resort in Vermont.
Sporting Insights Appoints Joint Managing Director
The U.K.-based market research firm announced that Richard Payne has taken on a new position as joint managing director of the company, alongside managing director, John Bushell.
Report: UK Holiday Spending Increase Will Fall Short of Inflation Growth
The 3.4 percent growth for the holiday selling period, driven by 9.3 percent inflation for the year, still falls short of last year’s increase and marks a second quarter of slowing growth in 2023.
Thor Industries Increases Quarterly Dividend
Thor Industries, Inc. reported that its Board of Directors approved an increase in the amount of its regular quarterly dividend to 48 cents per share from 45 cents, an increase of approximately 7 percent.
NRF: Import Volumes Slowing Heading Into Holiday Selling
Import cargo volume at the major container ports in the U.S. has hit its expected peak for the year and should gradually slow moving into the holiday season, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation(NRF) and Hackett Associates. Ports have not reported September numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.94 million TEU, down 4.3 percent year-over-year. October is also forecasted at 1.94 million TEU, down 3.1 percent year-over-year.
Birkenstock Holding Makes Debut on Wall Street Today
Birkenstock Holding is set to list its U.S. initial public offering at $46 a share, slightly below the midpoint of its projected range between $44 and $49. The stock is set to begin trading Wednesday morning at the open of the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BIRK.
EXEC: Report Sees Crocs, Hoka, New Balance, and On Increasing Teen Appeal
Crocs, Hoka, New Balance, and On were among the brands in the active lifestyle space that increased their appeal with teens in Piper Sandler’s 46th Semi-Annual Taking Stock With Teens Survey. Nike dominated teen mindshare in footwear and apparel but lost brand appeal in the performance category, while Adidas, Converse, Under Armour, and Vans ost ground with teens. Lululemon had a mixed performance.
