Report: High Prices Top Back-To-School Stressors for Parents
RetailMeNot’s 2024 BTS survey found that parents sending their kid(s) back to grade school will spend, on average, $506, and those sending their college-age kids BTS will spend, on average, $821.
Lightspeed Commerce Narrows Fiscal Q1 Loss as Revenues Increase 27 Percent
Transaction-based revenue was $174.1 million, an increase of 44 percent year-over-year, and Subscription revenue came in at $83.3 million, an increase of 6 percent year-over-year.
U.S. Manufacturing Sector Contracted in July for Fourth Consecutive Month
The ISM is reporting that economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in July for the fourth consecutive month and the 20th time in the last 21 months.
EXEC: Marucci is “Standout Performer” in Fox Factory’s Q2; Bike Biz Stabilizing
Marucci, acquired in November 2023, was a “standout performer” for Fox Factory Holding Corp. in the second quarter, Mike Dennison, Fox Factory’s CEO, said on an analyst call. Fox Factory’s bike business was down, but the category’s prolonged destocking phase has shown signs of nearing an end.
Johnson Outdoors Sees Fiscal Q3 EPS Fall Nearly 90 Percent Year-over-Year
The company reported that challenging marketplace conditions, primarily due to lower consumer demand for outdoor recreation products and heavy promotional activity, impacted performance.
EXEC: Jobs Report Sends Markets Lower on Concerns Over U.S. Economy
The U.S. economy only added 114,000 non-farm payroll jobs in July, fewer than the 175,000 expected by economists. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent — its highest level since October 2021.
EXEC: Black Diamond Making Progress with Repositioning Despite Top-Line Weakness
Black Diamond’s sales again fell sharply in the second quarter but management of its parent, Clarus Corp., told analysts the brand is making progress rationalizing its product lines under a “fewer, bigger, better” emphasis and reducing promotional pressures amid the continued slow stabilization of the North American wholesale channel. Neil Fiske, president, Black Diamond Equipment, still cautioned that the overall outdoor marketplace won’t fully recover until 2025.
Skechers Launches Footwear Collection With John Deere
The new work, outdoor and fashion offering for men and children pairs John Deere’s iconic heritage with Skechers comfort technologies.
Onebeat Expands Executive Leadership Team, Appoints Chief Revenue Officer
Sevonne Eliyahu brings nearly two decades of growth strategy and executive experience at tech giants, including SimilarWeb and LivePerson.
Sportsman’s Warehouse Secures $45 Million Term Loan
With the addition of the $45 million term loan, the company’s total borrowing capacity, which includes its revolving credit facility, is now $395 million.
Fox Factory Specialty Gets Marucci Lift to Offset Q2 Decline in Bikes
The increase in Specialty Sports Group sales was primarily related to the inclusion of $41.6 million in net sales from Marucci, which the company acquired in 2023, partially offset by a $22.9 million reduction in bike sales.
Black Diamond’s Q2 Weakness Weighs on Parent; Pieps Up For Sale
Clarus Corp. logged a Q2 loss as sales sunk 2.4 percent. A 13.6 percent sales gain in its Adventure segment was offset by a 9.7 percent slide at Black Diamond that was blamed on weakness in North American DTC operations and softness in Europe. Clarus lowered its full-year earnings guidance to reflect weakness as well as investments in its Adventure segment while indicating it’s exploring a sale of its Pieps snow safety brand.
EXEC: Smith Parent Sees Shift in Brand Success and Challenges in Q2
Smith’s Q2 wholesale revenues of helmets were said to be hampered by lower re-orders of winter products due to a late start to the ski season and a bike business still partially overstocked at the point of sale.
NSGA Names Hayley Fansler Business Development Director
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) promoted Hayley Fansler to business development director. Fansler joined NSGA in March 2018 as business development manager.
Moody’s Sees Vista Outdoor’s Continued Strategic Reviews as ‘Credit Negative’
The prolonged strategic uncertainty at Vista Outdoor since the original spin-off plan was announced in May 2022 and continued delays in choosing between potential sales offers or a spin-off are credit negative for Moody’s because it diverts management focus and company resources away from core business operations.
