Results for ""eric smith""

On Nike Inc.’s first-quarter earnings call with analysts, CEO Mark Parker doubled down on the company’s commitment to innovation that he had outlined for investors just a week ago. The self-described “product geek” spent much of the call explaining how innovation should be credited for the company’s outstanding earnings report and also how it will drive the company’s success moving forward.

Vail Resorts Inc. officially expanded its empire Tuesday when the Broomfield, CO-based ski area owner and operator closed on its previously announced $264 million acquisition of Peak Resorts Inc. But what impact will Vail’s latest expansion have on the ski and snowboard industry? SGB takes a look.

This month last year at its Investor Day, VF Corp. announced an ambitious sales goal for Vans, one of the “big three” brands in its expansive portfolio along with The North Face and Timberland. What’s in store for the 2019 event, taking place Wednesday in Beaver Creek, CO? SGB looks at how VF has made good on the 2018 Vans announcement and also checks in with analysts on what could happen this time around.

Cindy Feinauer, general manager of the stainless steel bottle brand Purist and custom business leader at Specialized Bicycle Components, spoke with SGB Executive recently about Purist’s progress since launching last year. Although the brand is seeing triple-digit growth over 2018, revenue is only one way the company and Feinauer measure success.

Camber Outdoors has a new executive director. Emily Newman was tapped to lead the nonprofit after the interim ED, Diana Seung, left to join Jack Wolfskin. With a tumultuous start to 2019 in the rear-view mirror yet still cognizant of past missteps, Camber believes it found the right person to lead the organization into this next chapter. Here’s what Camber shared about the news—including why a person of color wasn’t hired.

As SGB first reported Monday, Diana Seung has been named general manager of Jack Wolfskin’s North America operation, which will be based in Salt Lake City. In this key role for the German-based brand that Callaway Golf Co. bought last year, Seung is charged with spearheading Jack Wolfskin’s lofty ambitions for this market. Here’s what she and the company shared about that endeavor.

Winnebago Industries Inc.’s $344 million acquisition of luxury recreational vehicle maker Newmar Corp., announced earlier this week, was obviously a market-shifting move for the industry. But could it propel the RV manufacturer into other “outdoor lifestyle” categories?

Less than a year after being sold by Vista Outdoor Inc. to a European private equity firm, Bollé Brands is bolstering its eyewear platform with the acquisition of U.S.-based Spy Optic. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the addition of the Carlsbad, CA-based eyewear brand gives Bollé a strategic play in the U.S. market and tees up plenty of expansion opportunity for the company.

Representatives from outdoor brands NEMO Equipment Inc., VF Corp., Columbia Sportswear Co. and Nester Hosiery spoke Thursday about the wide-ranging impact that tariffs are having on their companies. The cost of the trade war, they said, extends far beyond a dollar amount and is taking a toll on hiring, expansion and, perhaps most worrisome, product innovation.

Two of the biggest names in the active lifestyle industry will close their doors and their cash registers on September 20 to participate in the Global Climate Strike. Burton and Patagonia in recent weeks announced they won’t open their retail stores, process online sales or otherwise engage in day-to-day business practices next Friday so company employees can join one of the events happening worldwide. Here’s why they’re putting purpose over profit.

CamelBak is officially coming back to REI Co-op. The hydration pack and bottle brand last week inked its first contract with the outdoor retail giant in more than a year and announced plans to scale up over the coming seasons with a full line of products on REI shelves by Spring 2021, according to CamelBak President Greg Williamson.

As Lululemon Athletica Inc. continues on a five-year vision of growing its core business in the low-double digits annually, the company’s aspirations go far beyond executing on the three pillars of product innovation, omni-guest experience and market expansion. It also requires working up a good sweat.

Clarus Corp. President John Walbrecht took his message about the company’s “superfan” brand strategy on the road this week when he presented at the 2019 Gateway Conference in San Francisco. Here’s what he shared about Clarus’ unwavering vision for its portfolio.

Camping World Holdings Inc. has put outdoor retail in the proverbial rear-view mirror and set its sights on selling only recreational vehicles and accessories—even as the RV market sputters along. As SGB detailed Tuesday in our August M&A Roundup, Camping World last month sold a pair of outdoor specialty retailers. Now that the company has shed some light on its larger plan, those moves are just a hint of what’s to come.

M&A heated up in the final full month of summer with several market-shifting transactions occurring in the active lifestyle space. August’s biggest moves included Camping World and Accell Group unloading non-core assets and Nike adding to its portfolio.