Salesforce Data Reveals Global Digital Sales Surpassed $1 Trillion During 2021 Holiday Season
Consumers spent $1.14 trillion online globally and $257 billion in the U.S., compared to $1.1 trillion and $236 billion in 2020, according to Salesforce’s 2021 Holiday Shopping Report.
Walmart Names New Chief Merchant In Exec Shuffle
Walmart appointed Charles Redfield as chief merchandising officer. He is replacing Scott McCall, who is retiring. Chief Customer Officer Janey Whiteside is leaving the company, according to an internal memo attained by the Wall Street Journal.
Holiday Sales Grew 14.1 Percent
Retail sales during 2021’s November/December holiday season grew 14.1 percent over 2020 to $886.7 billion, beating the National Retail Federation’s forecast and setting a record despite challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions and the pandemic, NRF said.
Big 5 Sees Q4 EPS Well Above Guidance
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation pre-announced fourth-quarter results for the period ended January 2 that showed earnings came in above company guidance due to margins coming in significantly ahead of plan. Steven Miller, the company’s CEO, said in a statement, “While issues surrounding the pandemic are ongoing, we believe the business is in a great position heading into 2022.”
USA Rugby Signs Apparel Deal With Castore
USA Rugby has announced a six-year apparel deal with UK-based sportswear company Castore.
TaylorMade’s New Debt Issue Assigned B Rating From S&P
S&P Global Ratings assigned a ‘B’ issuer credit rating to TaylorMade. The rating assignment come as TaylorMade Holdings Inc. announced plans to raise a seven-year, $1.05 billion senior secured term loan B to refinance debt.
Fitness Tech Company Myzone Hits $102M Valuation After BGF Investment
Myzone, the manufacturer of wearable fitness tracking technology, has secured a $17.2 million investment from BGF, the UK’s growth capital investor, alongside tech entrepreneur Vin Murria OBE, who also joins as Non-Executive Chair.
Cool Clubs Opens Clubfitting Studio In SunRidge Canyon
Cool Clubs announced the opening of a Cool Clubs Fitting and Performance Center at SunRidge Canyon in Arizona, its newest of 23 golf club fitting centers worldwide.
Under Armour To Close Store In Downtown Detroit
Under Armour Inc. reportedly plans to close its store in downtown Detroit, according to Crain’s Detroit Business.
Soccer Shots Secures Investment
Soccer Shots, the youth soccer franchisor, has secured an investment from Susquehanna Private Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Columbia Sportswear Appoints VP, U.S. Sales, Columbia Brand
Columbia Sportswear Company announced it has named Jim Beeman as vice president, U.S. sales for the Columbia brand. He was at Nike for 22 years.
Planet Fitness To Acquire 114 Locations From Franchisee
Planet Fitness Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings, LLC, an operator of more than 100 Planet Fitness clubs in the Southeast United States in a cash and stock transaction valued at $800 million. The fitness chain also revealed favorable membership growth trends for 2021.
TaylorMade Earns B1 CFR Debt Rating From Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service assigned a B1 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and a B1-PD Probability of Default Rating to 19th Holdings Golf, LLC, the parent of TaylorMade golf brand. The company is seeking a $1,050 million first lien term loan.
JD Sports Raises Outlook On Merry Holiday Results
JD Sports Fashion, which owns Finish Line, DTLR Villa and Shoe Palace in the U.S., on Wednesday raised its annual profit forecast for the second time in four months. Total revenues for the twenty-two week period ended January in the Group’s same-store businesses were more than 10 percent ahead of the same period in 2020 with an equally positive performance across the Black Friday and Christmas period.
Club Champion Acquires Canada’s Tour Experience Golf
Club Champion announced the acquisition of Canadian fitter and builder Tour Experience Golf (TXG).
