Tanger Acquires First Open-Air Lifestyle Center
Tanger acquired Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville, AL for $193.5 million using cash on hand and available liquidity. Management expects the center to deliver a first-year return in the mid-eight percent range, with potential for additional growth over time.
Franklin Sports Launches FS Tour Pickleball Paddles
The FS Tour Series includes four pickleball paddles intended to meet the needs of different athletes’ styles of play in “power, control, touch, and hand speed.”
Topgolf Adding Second Arkansas Location in State Capital
Topgolf is wrapping up the year with a second Arkansas venue. Topgolf Little Rock will open on December 22 in the state’s capital. The location will be Topgolf’s 98th outdoor venue and 88th in the U.S.
Flywheel Sports Co-Founder Named CEO of Body20
Body20, the fitness boutique focused on electro-muscle stimulation, hired Jay Galluzzo, former CEO and co-founder of Flywheel Sports, as CEO, succeeding Greg Breitbart, who will transition to a member of the Board of Directors.
ICSC Board of Trustees Elects New 2024 Chair and Vice Chair
The ICSC Board of Trustees elected Jim Taylor, president & CEO, Brixmor Property Group, to serve as ICSC’s chairman and Angele Robinson-Gaylord, SVP, store development americas, Starbucks, to serve as vice chairman for the 2024 term.
FWV Sells CGPR to Integrated Travel and Recreation Marketing Firm
Off Madison Ave acquired PR Agency CGPR from French/West/Vaughan (FWV), the Raleigh, NC-based marketing agency that acquired the company in February 2020. CGPR is the fifth merger and acquisition by Off Madison Ave since 2005.
Peloton’s Chief Marketing Officer Exits to Join Verizon
After less than a year at the company, Peloton Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland, has joined Verizon Communications, Inc. in the same role.
EXEC: Stifel Survey Finds Consumers Prioritize Price/Value Over Sustainability
The survey, which was conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, surveyed active/causal lifestyle brand consumers ages 18 to 55 based in the U.S., UK, Germany, France, and Italy. It found that only one-third of respondents “Highly Prioritize” sustainability when making purchasing decisions, compared to other factors like “Good Value” (68 percent) and “Low Price” (57 percent).
Kizik Amends Credit Facility to Support Growth
Kizik secured an amendment of its credit facility with JPMorgan Chase that provides enhanced financial flexibility to support expansion into new distribution channels, including company-owned retail stores, U.S. wholesale and international markets.
Report: Nike and Lululemon Post Epic Retail Traffic Surges on Black Friday
The Placer.ai data revealed that Nike drew 324.9 percent more retail store visits on Black Friday 2023, Lululemon, for its part, saw a visit bump of 467.7 percent on November 24, bringing the brand closer to its pre-pandemic Black Friday frenzy levels.
Sporting Goods Industry Mourns the Passing of Jim Easton
Jim Easton, the second-generation owner of the Easton sports equipment companies and a pioneer in aluminum-based manufacturing processes used in sports equipment, died at his home in Los Angeles on December 4 at the age of 88.
Topgolf Callaway Brands’ Debt Rating Revised to Negative
S&P Global Ratings revised its debt rating outlook on Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. to negative from stable due to its recent report of weaker-than-expected performance for the third quarter despite maintaining relatively consistent S&P Global Ratings-adjusted EBITDA margins.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Sees Differentiation Reaping Dividends
Speaking Tuesday at the 2023 Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference, Navdeep Gupta, EVP and CFO at Dick’s Sporting Goods, elaborated on how the retailer’s efforts to further differentiate itself both within product and the store experience is driving market share gains.
Nobull Appoints Ex-Timberland President as COO
Nobull appointed Susie Mulder, the former global brand president of Timberland, as chief operating officer, effective immediately.
Dick’s Partners with Notre Dame Athletics
Dick’s Sporting Goods signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Notre Dame Athletics to become its official sporting goods retailer.
