Kastking President Al Noraker to Retire at End of 2024
The Eposeidon-owned fishing tackle manufacturer has announced the retirement of company president Al Noraker. He has led company efforts since 2022 and started his fishing industry career with Fred Meyer in 1980.
IBEX Appoints New Show Director
As the former SVP of business development for the MADA and the Twin Cities Auto Show and the group show manager at Cygnus Business Media, Velline is said to have a proven track record in creating vibrance in existing businesses and new opportunities across various domains.
Axil Brands Posts Strong FY Growth, or How to Survive on 73 Percent Gross Margins
Consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024 increased 17 percent year-over-year to a record $27.5 million, delivering gross margins of 73.4 percent of sales and operating margins of 68.0 percent for the fiscal year.
Belgian Cycling Factory Adds Three Country Managers to Leadership Team
Alexandre Carrie is now managing France and Wallonia, Oliver Esselborn manages Germany and Switzerland, and Peter Wilhelm is the latest addition to BCF’s Country Leadership team.
Reima Appoints NA Wholesale Marketing Manager
Cotopaxi veteran Drew Eakins is Reima’s new wholesale marketing manager for North America. He will be based at the brand’s North American headquarters in Golden, CO.
U.S. Census Bureau Reports 5.2 Percent Y/Y Growth for July Core Retail Sales
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instruments, and Bookstore sales were reported down 6.8 percent y/y from July 2023, doubling the 3.4 percent year-over-year decline reported in June, and down 0.1 percent versus June 2024.
EXEC: Lolë Brands Acquires Sanuk Footwear from Deckers Brands
Katie Pruitt, who has worked for Deckers for nearly 13 years, including four years with Sanuk, was appointed VP and general manager of Sanuk at Lolë Brands. Lolë said she is the “ideal choice to lead the brand into the future.”
Walmart’s Strong Second Quarter Drives Wall Street Indices Higher
Walmart Inc. shares were up in the mid single digits on Thursday morning, Aug. 15 and assisted in driving the stock market up as a whole as analysts heralded strong retail numbers.
TrueTimber Builds on Partnership with Honda
“The addition of four camo patterns to the Foreman ATVs, Rancher ATVs and even more Pioneer series SXS vehicles further solidifies our commitment to providing customers with top-quality products that combine performance, style and functionality.” —Rusty Sellars, CEO, TrueTimber
EXEC: Ahead, Craft, Cutter & Buck Parent Gets Q2 Lift from Sports & Leisure
The Sports & Leisure segment increased 10 percent, and all regions except Other Countries improved their net sales. Net sales from April through June increased to SEK 958.6 (869.2) million.
Rambo Bikes Partners with Indie Rep Group, Extends Reach in Eastern U.S.
By teaming up with Rambo Bikes, MWS Associates will cover key regions from New England to the Southeast and Midwest to broaden its customer base.
Perfect Moment Sales Dip in Fiscal Q1 on Heavy E-Commerce Returns
The end-of-season sale for AW23 included an unusually high percentage of products sold at a discount to make room for a new collection replacing many of the brand’s product lines for AW24, partly due to new restrictions on PFAs in apparel.
Dillard’s Q2 EPS Contracts 42 Percent on Lower Sales, Tighter Margins and Rising Expenses
The department store retailer hit the trifecta as sales and margins fell and expenses rose for the fiscal second quarter. The weakest performances came from men’s apparel, accessories and shoes; the best category was cosmetics.
Report: Online Spending Rose in July, but Shifted to Lower Cost Options
Signifyd’s data shows e-commerce sales are still growing, but consumers are relying on discounts and low-cost options as merchants wonder what it means for the coming Holiday shopping season.
Garmin Response Extends SOS to Google Pixel Smartphones
Beginning in the U.S., Garmin has integrated its satellite SOS emergency response coordination service into Google’s Pixel 9 smartphones.
