OBIT: Klaus Lenhart, CEO of Leki
Klaus Lenhart, owner of Leki poles, died in a plane crash on Monday. He was 56 years old…
March Golf Rounds Continue Strong
According to Golf Datatech, golf rounds played on a national level were up 29.5 percent in March 2012 over March 2011. The biggest regional jumps came in the Mid Atlantic, New England, East North Central, and West North Central…
Big 5 Stymied by Mild Winter Weather in Q1, Q2 Sales on the Uptick
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp reported a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings on lower margins and a 2.9 percent comp decline. The chain blamed the shortfall on continued macroeconomic weakness in its Western U.S. market, and the absence of winter weather ac
Candian Tire Charity Launches $2M Fundraiser
Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart announced its One Million Red Balls campaign, which begins May 4 and culminates with the charity's fourth annual Jumpstart Day on May 26. The campaign aims to raise $2 million to help 20,000 children from low-income fa
Wolverine Acquires Collective Brand’s PLG Brands for $1.23 Billion
Wolverine Worldwide has agreed to acquire Collective Brands' Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), which includes the wholesale and retail operations of the Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds brands, for $1.23 billion. Investment firms Bl
Grassroots Outdoor Alliances Funds Outdoor Nation Grant
The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance joined forces with Outdoor Nation to launch a new activation grant program that will provide $10,000 to four innovative ‘grassroots’ projects that get young people outdoors and active. Only employees of the more
Adidas Marketing Exec Sent to Prison in Fraud Scheme
Britney Obstar, a former marketing manager at Adidas, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Garr M King to serve one year and one day in prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that resulted in a $336,000 loss to Adidas. Judge King also orde
Adidas Group Ups Full-Year Guidance on Strong Q1 Results
Adidas Group is reporting that preliminary first quarter figures are materially above market expectations. Group sales for the full year are now expected to grow at a rate approaching 10 percent on a currency-neutral basis and net income attributable to s
Report: Wolverine World Wide Chosen as Collective Brands Buyer
Bloomberg News is reporting that Collective Brands Inc., which owns the Saucony, Keds, Stride-Rite and Sperry Top-Sider as well as the Payless ShoeSource discount shoe chain, is opting for an acquisition by Wolverine World Wide Inc., parent of Merrell, Wo
Shoe Sensation Secures Credit Line
AloStar Bank of Commerce has provided a $15 million secured revolving credit facility for Shoe Sensation, a retailer of brand name footwear and accessories. Headquartered in Indiana, Shoe Sensation operates 82 stores in 12 Midwest states…
Patagonia Re-launches Footprint Chronicles
Patagonia Inc. re-launched its Footprint Chronicles website to outline the environmental and social footprint of a majority (90%) of its Spring 2012 product line and provide customers views into every supplier in its supply chain. One click now allows a c
OIA and Nielsen Launch Micro Site to Elicit Input on OR’s Future
Nielsen Expositions and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) have begun soliciting industry input on whether to keep the expanding biannual Outdoor Retailer (OR) show at the Salt Palace Convention Center when its contract expires after the Outdoor Retailer
VF Raises Full-Year Forecast After Strong First-Quarter
VF Corp.'s first-quarter earnings climbed 7.2 percent, beating expectations and boosted by its Timberland acquisition last year as well as double-digit growth across all its coalitions. Bucking a trend of reductions by others, VF also lifted its 2012
Deckers 1Q Net Falls 54 Percent As Margins Weaken, Cuts Year View
Facing surging sheepskin prices and the impact of the warm winter weather on its boot category, Deckers Outdoor Corp. had predicted a tough first quarter. But with margins creeping up, results came in even worse than expected. The company also sharply cut
Crocs Q2 Momentum Continues, Futures Concern
Crocs Inc.'s quarterly results beat Wall Street expectations as strong demand in Asia and the Americas offset weakness in Europe. But the cushy footwear maker joined a long line of vendors disappointing investors with orders coming in less than hoped
