EXEC: Inside the Champion Discussions and Actions at HBI
Like many other CEOs in the active lifestyle retail market these days, Stephen Bratspies is working through heavy retail inventories, shifting consumer trends and the effects of inflation. But Champion offers an even bigger challenge—a fickle consumer’s changing preferences.
EXEC: Mizuno’s Fiscal Q2 Sales Expand Across All Regions; Running and Golf Decline
Mizuno Corp.’s sales grew 8.1 percent in the fiscal second quarter ended September 30 and 23.8 percent in the half. The Japanese-based sporting goods sales and profits reached record levels in the six months, with sales increasing across all geographies and in all its main business categories.
EXEC: Adidas CEO Sees U.S. Marketplace Challenges Lasting Well into 2024
On Adidas’ third-quarter conference call with analysts, Bjorn Gulden, CEO, said Adidas’ sales in the U.S. “will probably not grow at all in the first half” of 2024 as North America lags other regions in rightsizing inventory levels. He said, “Inventory levels in the U.S. in general is still an issue. I think it lags about six months versus the rest of the world.”
EXEC: Inside Wolverine’s Plan for the Future—and the New Realities of 2023
New CEO Chris Hufnagel said WWW continues to reshape its portfolio, reduce inventory and redesign the company to become consumer-obsessed brand builders, focused squarely on building compelling products and telling amazing stories.
OrderMyGear Acquires DistributorCentral
OrderMyGear (OMG), based in Dallas, TX, announced it acquired DistributorCentral, a technology provider for suppliers and distributors in the promotional products industry.
Kohl’s Lays Out Board of Directors Transition Plan
Board Chair Peter Boneparth will retire from Kohl’s at the end of his current term in May 2024, and Michael Bender will become Board chair upon Boneparth’s retirement. The Board also appointed Adolfo Villagomez as a new independent director, effective November 7
CTC Sees Helly Hansen Sales Up Big in Q3; SportChek Q3 Comps Down
Parent company Canadian Tire reported SportChek’s Q3 comparable sales were down 7.4 percent as strong growth in team sports was offset by weakness in more discretionary categories. Helly Hansen revenue was up 28.2 percent in Q3.
Wolverine World Wide Accelerates Transformation Plan as Q3 Plummets
The acceleration of the initiatives comes as the company reported dismal third quarter results that reflected an ongoing business that was down in strong double digits across most of the enterprise.
Altra Launches VIA Olympus 2
Altra launched the VIA Olympus 2, the second iteration of its max cushion shoe.
HanesBrands Sees 19 Percent Fall in Champion Sales
HanesBrands, Inc. reported sales fell 9.5 percent in the third quarter, dragged down by a 19 percent decline at the Champion brand. HanesBrands’ sales were slightly below guidance while EPS was in line with targets on improving margins and expense reductions.
Yeti Lifts EPS Outlook on Strong Margins and Drinkware Strength
Yeti Holdings, Inc. raised its EPS guidance for the year after seeing margins in the second quarter top expectations, expanding over 600 Basis Points. Q2 Sales were flat as a 6 percent gain in drinkware sales offset a recall-related decline in cooler sales.
Topgolf Callaway Brands Shares Fall on Lower Full-Year Guidance
MODG shares fell more than 20 percent overnight after losing nearly 5 percent of their value during the day on Wednesday. The company cut its full-year guidance on weaker-than-expected Topgolf same-venue sales growth.
EXEC: Under Armour Can’t Dodge North American Turbulence
Under Armour reported sales and earnings in the fiscal second quarter ended September 30 topped analyst targets, but annual sales guidance was reduced due to further deterioration in the North American wholesale business. CEO Stephanie Linnartz told analysts, “Several forces are at play here, including inflation and consumer confidence, normalizing inventory levels amid still broad promotions, and overall softness in our future wholesale order book.”
NRF Economist: Holiday Sales Will Have a ‘Whole New Set of Dynamics’
NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said job gains have “slowed but not tumbled,” with payrolls climbing by 150,000 positions in October and the three-month moving average at 204,000 despite downward revisions for August and September.
New Wave Group Gets Lift from Tenson Deal to Post Q3 Sales Growth
The Swedish-based owner of Ahead, Auclair, Craft, Cutter & Buck, and Tenson AB, reported that net sales increased 5 percent (+1 percent currency-neutral) to SEK 2,337.0 million, but sales would declined had it not been for sales from the acquired outdoor gear brand Tenson.
