Report: Labor Still A Top Challenge For Manufacturers As Optimism Remains Low
As rising interest rates, poor economic conditions and an ongoing talent shortage continue to plague manufacturers, optimism amongst industry leaders remains low, according to a new industry report.
Lululemon Renews Partnership With Xponential Fitness
Lululemon and Xponential Fitness renewed and expanded their partnership for Lululemon Studio with digital workouts from Pure Barre, Rumble, AKT, and YogaSix. The extension builds on the Studio’s launch last October.
PGA Tour, DP World Tour And LIV Golf Ink Merger Deal; Saudis To Chair Board
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) have signed an agreement that combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity.
G-Form Awarded $1.2 Million R&D Agreement With U.S. Army
G-Form has secured its first Other Transaction Authority Agreement for Prototype (OTAp) with the U.S. Army Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC), which ensures the dominance of Army capabilities by creating, integrating, and delivering technology-enabled solutions for soldiers.
Rossignol Group Appoints New GM Of Global Softgoods Division
The Rossignol Group has tapped Liz Wilson as general manager of the Group’s global Softgoods division. After earlier stints at Nike and TNF, Wilson most recently acted as SVP of global product creation for Outdoor Research where she helped to double the brand’s business over four years.
BRC: May U.K. Retail Growth Moderates Despite Trio Of Bank Holidays
U.K. total retail sales increased 3.9 percent in May, against a decline of 1.1 percent in May 2022; this is below the 3-month average growth of 4.7 percent and above the 12-month average growth of 3.4 percent.
Academy Sports Trims Full-Year Outlook On Q1 Shortfall
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. slightly reduced its guidance for the year after reporting results for the first quarter ended April 29 missed plan although the sporting goods chains predicted sales would improve in the back half of the year.
VF Corp. Launches Operations At New Ontario, CA Distribution Center
VF Corp. started operations at its new distribution center in Ontario, CA, employing approximately 550 people during peak periods. The company said the new 1.2 million-square-foot facility is the largest and most efficient within its global network of 46 distribution centers.
New Balance Breaks Ground On Maine Factory Expansion
New Balance broke ground to expand its athletic footwear manufacturing factory in Skowhegan, ME. The $65 million, 120,000-square-foot single-story addition, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, will add 200 jobs and double the factory’s production capabilities.
Gatorade Opens New Sports Science Lab
Gatorade opened its newest Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) Research & Development lab in Valhalla, NY. The R&D facility will support product development across all Gatorade portfolio brands, including Gatorade, Fast Twitch, Propel, Muscle Milk, and Evolve.
Nike Opens A Nike Live Location In Kentucky
Nike opened a Nike Live store at the Oxmoor Center, a shopping mall in Louisville, KY. Dubbed “Nike by Louisville,” the 4,900-square-foot space sits between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Von Maur department store.
SGB Media Reports Top 25 Most-Read Articles For May 2023
SGB Media’s Top 25 most-read articles for May 2023 include the unfortunate news about an industry leader passing away; staff cuts at various companies; a lawsuit against former employees; tough Q1 results amid heavy inventories for both brands and retailers; and several reports covering the Adidas x Yeezy debacle. On the upside, the top stories SGB Media covered for the month included…
USA Pickleball Names New CEO
USA Pickleball, the national governing body for pickleball, named Mike Nealy as CEO, effective mid-June. Nealy replaces CEO Stu Upson, whose last day with the organization was May 31.
Mindbody Hires Chief Revenue Officer And Chief Human Resources Officer
Mindbody hired Brian Fields from Groupon as chief revenue officer and Sara Diniz from Bain Capital as chief human resources officer.
Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo Parent Delivers Solid First Quarter Results On Healthy Demand
BRP Inc., parent company of the Ski-Doo, Lynx and Sea-Doo brands, said that strong deliveries, aided by improvements in the supply chain and inflationary environment, allowed the company to deliver a solid first quarter, outperforming the results of the first quarter of Fiscal 2023.
