Massimo Group Pontoon Boat Sales Crash in Q3, Less Weakness in E-Bikes, ATVs and UTVs
The company said the 14.4 percent decrease in revenue was primarily due to a significant drop in Pontoon boat sales, and a slight decrease in sales of UTV, ATV and e-bikes.
Report: Christmas Gifting Trends and Consumer Insights from YouGov Survey
YouGov data suggests word of mouth remains the best way for companies to make their products the hottest Christmas gift of 2024, with 18- to 34-year-olds twice as likely to get their gift ideas that way versus social media.
S&P: Holiday 2024 Sales Growth Will Fall Short of 2023
S&P Global Ratings is forecasting that holiday sales growth will slow to about 3 percent in 2024 from 4.7 percent last year, remaining below the 10-year average of 5.3 percent. The firm said its outlook is influenced by waning, but persistent, inflation that has pressured household budgets.
October Inflation Rate Gains 20 Basis Points from September’s Year-Over-Year Reading
The CPI, which measures costs across a spectrum of goods and services, increased 0.2 percent for the month. That took the 12-month year-over-year inflation rate to 2.6 percent, up 20 basis points from September.
Winchester Safes Makes Two Key Marketing Hires
Stevie Barefield has joined the company as the new director of marketing and Ainsley Mitchell joins as digital media specialist.
CNBC/NRF: October Retail Sales Bounce Back
Leaders in the year-over-year growth included E-Commerce & Catalog; Clothing, Footwear & Accessories stores, and Health & Personal Care stores. The Sporting Goods sector, which also includes Hobby, Music and Book stores, posted solid (+2.7 percent) month-over-month results but declined year-over-year.
Rural King Opens New Stores in Georgia and North Carolina
The family-owned retailer serving a rural lifestyle, reports that its newest stores are now open in Waycross, GA, the second Georgia store for the retailer this year, and in Rocky Mount, NC.
Leica Appoints Director of Marketing for Sport Optics
Ryan Holm joined Leica USA’s sports optics division and has now stepped into the leadership role as part of Leica’s strategy to reenergize its brand and build on momentum across core verticals such as hunting, birding, and outdoor recreation.
EXEC: Thule Group Set to Acquire Aussie Phone Mount Company
Australia-based Quad Lock is expected to help to strengthen Thule Group’s position in the Asia-Pacific region, where the acquisition increases the share of Thule’s sales from ~5 percent to 10 percent. Direct-to-consumer sales will increase from ~7 percent to 15 percent of sales.
Sig Sauer Inks JV Deal with Indian Defense Plant to Support India’s Military Needs
The company has entered into a joint venture with Nibe Defence and Aerospace Limited to advance small arms and ammunition manufacturing operations in India. The Government of India, Ministry of Defence first awarded Sig Sauer a contract for the SIG716 in 2019 for 72,400 rifles.
Kinsey’s, Inc. Fills Two Open Buyer Positions
New buyers include Louie DuChene and London Sasse, both with prior industry experience. They are said to be filling necessary buyer roles in the company.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Promotes Two Senior Operations Leaders
Scott Schmadeke, SVP, field and fresh operations, has been named EVP and chief operations officer, effective immediately, and Krystyna Kostka, SVP of operations, has been named chief supply chain officer.
L.L.Bean to Open First Indiana Store
The 16,000-square-foot L.L. Bean store will be the retailer’s fourth new location to open in 2024, giving it 61 stores in the U.S.
NRF: Import Cargo Could See Surge Ahead of Potential Port Strike and Trump Tariffs
Import volumes at the nation’s major container ports could be higher than previously expected for the remainder of this year as retailers face another potential East Coast/Gulf Coast port strike and tariff increases planned by President-elect Donald Trump, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Schoeller to Close Swiss Manufacturing Plant, 170 Employees To Lose Jobs
The company cited Switzerland’s high labor and energy costs, the strong Swiss franc, and poor market environment since the pandemic to cover production costs. However, the company will continue production of its high-tech textiles in Asia with no disruption.
