Report: Black Friday Sees Record Online Spending
According to Adobe Analytics, a record $9.8 billion was spent online in the U.S. for Black Friday, up 7.5 percent year-over-year (YoY). Adobe had estimated this year’s Black Friday sales at $9.6 billion.
NGF Sets Leadership Transition
The National Golf Foundation appointed Greg Nathan as CEO. Joe Beditz, the current CEO, will transition to executive chairman. The NGF Board approved the changes to take effect on January 1, 2024. Nathan assumed the role of president earlier this year,
Puma Appoints GM for Puma Japan
Puma hired Ryokusai Inoue as general manager of Puma Japan, effective immediately. He replaces Kohei Hagio, who has held the position since 2021.
Wolverine World Wide Sees Debt Ratings Downgraded
Moody’s downgraded Wolverine World Wide, Inc.’s debt ratings to reflect Wolverine’s “ongoing steep revenue and earnings declines and Moody’s expectations that the challenging retail environment will hinder the company’s ability to realize significant near-term benefits from its turnaround efforts.”
Fanatics Commerce’s Debt Ratings Downgraded to Negative
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Fanatics Commerce’s debt rating to reflect the online fan website’s “significantly weaker than expected earnings and cash flow and the risk that the increasingly difficult operating environment will challenge its ability to achieve the appropriate level of returns on its current investments and return EBITDA and EBITDA margins back to their previous levels.”
G Fuel Names New CEO, Secures Investment
G Fuel, a brand of caffeinated drink mix sold by Gamma Labs, appointed Bryan Crowley as CEO while securing a “significant cash investment” from Kingswood Capital Management and First Bev.
EXEC: Wall Street Reacts to Strong Q3 for Dick’s and Hibbett
The third-quarter earnings beats and raised guidance for both Dick’s Sporting Goods and Hibbett increased investor confidence that the athletic retail space is positioned to at least outperform the broader retail sector in a challenging marketplace, although some analysts were concerned about margin pressures at Dick’s.
SGB Media Thanksgiving Schedule
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, SGB Media is taking time to be with family and will not publish the SGB Evening Update on November 22 or the SGB Morning and SGB Evening Updates on November 23, or November 24. Publishing will resume on November 27, 2023.
Beachbody Completes Reverse Stock Split
The Beachbody Company, Inc. announced that the company’s board of directors had approved a reverse stock split of all of its common stock at a ratio of one post-split share for every fifty pre-split shares, effective November 21, 2023.
EXEC: Kohl’s Shares Fall on Choppy Q3 Results, Sharp E-Commerce Decline
The retailer had a solid back-to-school season, and through the first eight weeks, sales were tracking above expectations, but warmer weather during the latter part of September and into October had a clear impact on demand for fall seasonal goods, especially in store.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Beats Q3 Expectations, Bullish on Holiday Selling
Boosted by a “very strong” back-to-school selling season, Dick’s Sporting Goods posted above-plan third-quarter results, lifting its guidance for the year. Lauren Hobart, president and CEO, told analysts, “We are pleased with how our consumer is holding up within the sporting goods industry and then particularly that they’re choosing Dick’s increasingly to meet their needs.”
EXEC: Hibbett Gets Q3 BTS Footwear LIft as Nike Loyalty Partnership Starts to Bear Fruit
Men’s and kids were reportedly both down in low-single-digits, driven by a low-teens decrease in Apparel. Footwear results in both men’s and kids were said to be up in low-single-digits. The Women’s business was up in mid-single-digits, driven by a mid-teens increase in Footwear offset by weak Apparel results.
EXEC: Foot Locker Shares Downgraded by BTIG Analysts
BTIG is taking the opportunity to step to the sidelines despite continuing to believe in the “significant low-hanging fruit at FL and the company’s potential as CEO Mary Dillon implements her playbook.”
Deloitte Sees 13 Percent Hike In Spending Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Spending during the Thanksgiving week period is expected to be up 13 percent from last year, with shoppers expected to spend an average of $567 during the Black Friday-Cyber Monday (BFCM) shopping events, according to Deloitte’s 2023 Black Friday Cyber Monday Survey.
Xponential Fitness Hits Major Milestone
Xponential Fitness, Inc. opened its 3,000th studio, with the debut of CycleBar Loveland located in Fort Collins, CO.
