As the White House looks to reopen the country, our latest Coronavirus Notebook looks at this week’s grim economic news that drove the president’s decision. We also recap our recent COVID-19 business coverage in case you missed anything.
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Retail Sales Plunge In March, But Bloodbath Just Beginning
U.S. retail sales plummeted 8.7 percent to $483.1 billion in March from the previous month, their largest dip in three decades since the government started tracking the data, the Department of Commerce reported Wednesday. But that is just the first sign of what is sure to be a season-long bloodbath across the retail sector for any business not selling essential items such as groceries.
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Behind The Deal: Why Exxel Outdoors Proceeded With Latest Acquisition
Exxel Outdoors announced its acquisition of outdoor apparel and gear brand Compass 360 during an unlikely time for U.S. business expansion. Exxel CEO Harry Kazazian spoke exclusively with SGB Executive about the company’s reasons for moving forward with the deal despite the economic uncertainty.
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OIA’s Lise Aangeenbrug On Outdoor Industry’s Challenges, Path Forward
In another installment of SGB Executive’s series of interviews with industry leaders exploring how businesses are coping with the coronavirus, Outdoor Industry Association’s new executive director Lise Aangeenbrug discusses the challenges facing the outdoor industry, how OIA is helping member businesses cope and the industry’s path forward out of this unprecedented crisis.
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Survey: Teens Still Embracing Sneaker Culture
Sneaker culture is alive and well among teenagers, especially males, even as teens’ overall spending has declined amid the coronavirus, which has quickly become one of their top concerns. That was one of many key takeaways from investment bank Piper Sandler, which published its semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens Survey this week.
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SIA’s Nick Sargent On What Lies Ahead For Snow Sports Industry
In another installment of SGB Executive’s series of interviews with industry leaders exploring how businesses are coping with the coronavirus, Nick Sargent of Snowsports Industries America dishes on these troubling times for snow sports businesses, how SIA is responding and why he’s confident the industry will come back stronger than ever.
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Which Public Companies Will Emerge Strongest From COVID-19 Crisis?
How are active-lifestyle brands like Crocs, Nike and Lululemon plus retailers like Dick’s, Foot Locker and Hibbett navigating the coronavirus? Susquehanna’s most recent note says that the current crisis is weighing on all businesses, but some are better positioned than others. Here’s their ranking of 19 public companies based on who will emerge the strongest from this crisis.
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April 6 Coronavirus Notebook: Who Else Is ‘Winning’ During Crisis?
For this latest installment of the Coronavirus Notebook, SGB Executive looks at more “winners” that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic—including a water filtration and purification brand—plus a recap of our recent coronavirus coverage in case you missed it.
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Outdoor Industry’s Signature Event Finally Called Off
Outdoor Retailer ended weeks of speculation Thursday afternoon when it finally pulled the plug on Summer Market in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which is ravaging U.S. business activity, including the cancellations of large gatherings like trade shows. OR will now pivot to a digital format, as other events have done in response to the crisis.
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Why Sportsman’s Warehouse Is Well-Positioned During The Coronavirus Crisis
Jon Barker, CEO of Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc., says the company is “positioned as well as anyone” in sporting goods retail in terms of dealing with the coronavirus—but it goes beyond selling firearms and ammunition. He spoke with SGB Executive about why Sportsman’s is in such a good spot.
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March M&A Roundup: Public Companies Make Moves Before Deals Dry Up
Three public companies—Compass Diversified Holdings, Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. and Clarus Corp.—announced key acquisitions last month before the coronavirus all but stopped M&A activity. Most of the transactions that were announced came in the first half of March before social distancing took hold, the stock market collapsed, and businesses began shuttering operations and laying off employees.
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Goal Zero’s Demand Soars Amid Coronavirus
Goal Zero is one company that has seen a surge in demand for its products amid the coronavirus pandemic. SGB Executive looks at the drivers behind these the portable power brand’s soaring sales and the supply chain challenges it’s overcoming.
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Snow Sports Specialty Channel Coping With Lost Spring
With ski resorts emptied and shops shuttered because of the coronavirus, what should be a booming season for snow sports specialty retailers has become the spring of their discontent. The channel is seeking ways to cope, but there’s no playbook for navigating this uncharted, unprecedented crisis.
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March 27 Coronavirus Notebook: Crisis Brings Out The Best In Brands
For this latest installment of the Coronavirus Notebook, SGB Executive looks at the myriad contributions from brands across the active-lifestyle marketplace in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including pivoting production lines to make personal protective equipment, providing gear for first responders and making cash donations.
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Sportsman’s Warehouse On A Roll, But Uncertainty Brewing
A savvy combination of opportunistic and strategic moves fueled Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. in the fourth quarter and should bolster the company as the coronavirus crisis escalates. But like most retailers, uncertainty related to the COVID-19 outbreak has tempered the company’s expectations for this quarter and beyond.