Zanders Sporting Goods Appoints President/COO and Director of Procurement
Zanders Sporting Goods promoted Dan Siegler to president and chief operating officer and Luke Poston to director of procurement.

NRF Now Sees 2023 Retail Sales at Low End of Earlier Forecast
The March forecast called for 2023 retail sales to increase between 4 percent and 6 percent over 2022; however, the Fed’s interest rate increases slowed the economy and the NRF believes there is a good chance that sales will end up in the lower range of the forecast, if not lower.

NRF: Import Cargo Volume Could Hit 2 Million TEU Three Months in a Row
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to hit the 2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) mark for the second consecutive month in September and remain there in October.

Yue Yuen Sees Another Sharp Footwear Manufacturing Sales Decline in August
The manufacturer of footwear for most major outdoor and athletic brands, reported that in August, net consolidated operating revenue, declined 19.8 percent after posting a 106 percent increase in the prior-year month.

Mark’s Rolls Out Two New Workwear Retail Formats in Canada
Mark’s, the Canadian retailer owned by Canadian Tire and sister company to SportChek, Sports Experts, Pro Hockey Life, and Helly Hansen, introduced two new industrial-exclusive retail stores—Mark’s WorkPro and L’Equipeur Pro.

EXEC: American Outdoor Brands Execs Detail Fiscal First Quarter Progress
The recent issues with inventory and reduced consumer demand in the broader firearms market at retail had an effect of the company’s Shooting Sports segment, but strong growth in the company’s Outdoor Lifestyle segment offset the decline in the shooting accessories business.
Gatorz Eyewear Hires Product Line Director
Gatorz Eyewear, developing eyewear for military and law enforcement, shooting sports, hunting, and outdoor, hired Marilyse Gagnon as product line director with over a decade of experience in the eyewear industry.
American Outdoor Brands Narrows Fiscal Q1 Net Loss on Flattish Sales
First quarter net sales were $43.4 million for the period ended July 31, a decrease of 0.5 percent versus the comp quarter last year. Traditional channel net sales increased 8.4 percent, while e-commerce net sales declined 10.6 percent.

Smith & Wesson Sees First Quarterly Sales Gain in Eight Quarters
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. reported sales jumped 35.4 percent in the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, marking its first quarterly gain since the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2021.

NRF Acquires Reverse Logistics Association
While hundreds of retail brands offer “gently used” products for sale, others sell excess inventory at a discount. The reverse logistics industry manages the collecting, sorting, repairing, and refurbishing of products for resale or recycling.
Kuiu to Open Store in Dallas
Kuiu, the hunt apparel brand, reported plans to open a store in Dallas, TX, in October, representing its second storefront.

EXEC: Sportsman’s Warehouse Sets Aggressive Markdowns as Business Weakens Further
Shares of Sportsman’s Warehouse are running down about 17 percent in pre-market trading Thursday as the hunt & fish chain’s second-quarter earnings came in well below guidance and another double-digit comp decline was forecast for the third quarter.
Sportsman’s Warehouse Swings to Second Quarter Loss as Comps Fall
The 11.8 percent net sales decrease was said to be primarily due to lower demand across all product categories and a decline in store traffic resulting from the continued impact of consumer inflationary pressures on discretionary spending, partially offset by the opening of 14 new stores.

NSSF-Adjusted NICS Background Checks Slide in August
The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported that the August 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System figure declined 13 percent year-over-year to 1.12 million checks year-over-year, but were up from 1.02 million checks month-over-month versus July.

Vista Outdoor Inc. Files SEC Paperwork to Spin Off the Outdoor Products Group
Vista Outdoor, Inc. publicly filed its Form 10 registration statement on September 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its previously-announced plan to separate its Outdoor Products and Sporting Products segments into two independent, publicly-traded companies.