Circana Sees Consumers Shift Back to Value and Need in January
During the combined weeks ending January 11 and January 18, discretionary spending was down flat compared to the prior year, the company reported, with major environmental events impacting the country.
Crunch Franchisee to Break Ground on New Location in Grand Prairie, Texas
CR Fitness Holdings, LLC announced plans to break ground on a new 34,254-square-foot fitness facility, projected to open in late Fall 2025, in Grand Prairie, TX.
Bain & Co. Releases 2025 Retail Forecast, Outlines Key Initiatives for Retailers
Bain suggests in its report that retailers face a pivotal moment in 2025. The firm said that for retailers to thrive in 2025 it will require fresh strategies around emerging technologies, customer loyalty, operations, and adaptation.
Pickleball Kingdom Coming to Lexington, KY in Summer 2025
The 42,300-square-foot facility in central Kentucky will have 17 professional-grade indoor courts led by the experienced franchise group Pickleball X Equity, which is led by Dhaval and Sanjay Patel.
ColdVentures Taps Medco for ColdVest Distribution in U.S. Sports Med Market
ColdVentures, a medical device company focused on manufacturing portable emergency cooling devices to help people during heat-related emergencies, has inked a distribution agreement with Medco Sports Medicine, to bring its ColdVest to the U.S. sports medicine market.
Newton Golf Company Sees Steep Growth Trend in 2024
The golf equipment company expects to see 2024 sales post almost ten-fold growth for year-over-year with gross margins of at least 65 percent.
APGA Tour Names Chief Operating Officer
Solomon Hughes joins the APGA from Intersport where he served as director of Marketing and Development. Previously, Hughes held various positions within the golf industry, including as a regional director for the American Junior Golf Association.
EXEC: Saucony Posts 60 Percent Retail Growth in China
The MS (China) Sports Company Limited, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Xtep International Holdings Limited, operates under licensing and royalty agreements for the Merrell and Saucony brands and subsidiaries in China.
Women’s Sports Foundation Welcomes New Board Members
The WSF welcomed seven new members to its Board of Trustees on January 1. This group of cross-sector professionals joins the Foundation following its 50th-anniversary celebration in 2024, helping to propel its mission further..
Fitbit to Pay $12.5M Fine for Failing to Report Ionic Smartwatch Defect
Despite possessing information that reasonably supported the conclusion that the Ionic Smartwatch contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of serious injury, Fitbit did not immediately report to the CPSC as required.
Golftec Promotes Chris Koske to Chief Marketing Officer
Chris Koske is a 20-year veteran of the golf and sports industries. As CMO (CMO), Koske will oversee brand strategy and marketing for Golftec enterprises, including its flagship Golftec brand and the Skytrak brand.
Fitness Ventures to Open a Crunch Fitness in Rockford, IL
The 40,000-square-foot fitness facility is Fitness Ventures, LLC’s 61st gym in the U.S. and second in Illinois. Brian Hibbard, CEO of Fitness Ventures, plans to open 15 more Crunch Fitness franchise locations in 2025.
Pickleball Kingdom to Open in Nashville, TN
The Nashville South location underscores the continued growth of pickleball across Tennessee. This announcement follows the opening of a Pickleball Kingdom in Hendersonville, TN last week, further solidifying the company’s presence in the region.
Bass Pro Shops To Open Outdoor Superstore in Mississippi
The new 75,000-square-foot outdoor superstore is scheduled to open in 2027 along the I-10 corridor in Biloxi, MS. This will be the first Outdoor Superstore for Bass Pro Shops in southern Mississippi.
EXEC: Puma SE Shares Fall Over 20 Percent on Analyst and Investor Concerns
Puma SE shares opened 16 percent lower in Europe on Thursday morning, January 23, after the company’s pre-announcement of 2024 fourth quarter and full-year results caused a stir overnight.
