EXEC: Sports Direct’s Solid Full Year Performance Offset by Other Parent Company Factors
EXEC: Thule Group CEO Talks Q2 Upside, 2025 Opportunities and U.S. Gains After Weak Q1
EXEC: Trump Looks to Make Public Lands Great Again
EXEC: Trump Announces New Trade Deal with Vietnam
Big 5 Sporting Goods to Go Private via Acquisition by Specialty Golf Retailer and PE Firm
SGB Update

NRF’s Chief Economist Transitions to Senior Economic Advisor
The National Retail Federation announced on Thursday, July 17, that Jack Kleinhenz, NRF’s chief economist since 2010, is stepping down to serve in a new capacity as senior economic advisor. NRF Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews will become NRF’s new chief economist while continuing to lead the research team.

D&M Holding Inks Partnership to Address Ukrainian Ammo Propellant Shortages
The company is partnering with the Ukrainian Defense Industry Joint Stock Company to manufacture specialty chemicals in the U.S. to address the shortage of propellant used in the production of ammunition for the Ukrainian defense forces.

Yamaha Marine’s Torqeedo Appoints Director of Sales
Mary Jo Reinhart will lead OEM and retail sales across North America for Torqueedo, overseeing key distributor relationships and core business operations for its low-voltage product line. Reinhart began her career at the company in 2011 as a customer service rep.

Turner’s Outdoorsman Appoints President
Rob Zubak brings 35 years of experience to the role. Most recently, he was the company’s chief operating officer. The hunting, Shooting and fishing retailer operates 38 stores across California and Arizona.

Rygr Taps Saks, Backbone and TNF Veteran as Company President
Hlidek replaces Brian Holcombe, who co-founded Rygr in 2016 and assumed the role of president in 2023. The company said Holcombe’s nine-year tenure helped shape the agency’s “strong foundation, culture and client portfolio.”
SGB Executive

EXEC: Sports Direct’s Solid Full Year Performance Offset by Other Parent Company Factors
U.K.-based Frasers Group, the parent of Sports Direct, Everlast, and Evans Cycles, among many others, reported a 7.4 percent decline in sales for its fiscal year ended April 27, as continued sales growth from Sports Direct was offset by moves to right-size other sports banners and weakness in its luxury segment.

EXEC: Thule Group CEO Talks Q2 Upside, 2025 Opportunities and U.S. Gains After Weak Q1
Thule Group President and CEO Mattias Ankarberg said the company’s 16 percent currency-neutral growth in the second quarter was driven by new products and categories, providing clear confirmation to him that the company’s high launch pace during the year has paid off.

EXEC: Trump Looks to Make Public Lands Great Again
It is refreshing to see the work the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and its 50 national members have done to develop and maintain a bipartisan approach to issues that threaten to impact access, creation and expansion of Public Lands in the U.S.

EXEC: Trump Announces New Trade Deal with Vietnam
The revised deal includes the elimination of Vietnam tariffs on U.S. goods and a higher tariff on Vietnam shipments to the U.S, although it amounts to less than half of the 46 percent tariff imposed by the Trump Administration in early April.

EXEC: Sport Obermeyer CEO Kris Kuster Talks Year ‘Round Mountain Opportunities in Ski, Hunt & Fish
Kris Kuster, Sport Obermeyer’s new CEO, spoke with SGB Executive about the opportunities he sees for the company in targeting female hunters and anglers, as well as plans to introduce fashion-forward capsules, including those connected to Obermeyer’s hometown of Aspen, the revamp of its online presence, and the impact of tariffs. Kuster also spoke about the impossibility of replacing Klaus Obermeyer.