SGB Update Apparel

On Brand to Open First Australian Store
The 390-square-meter flagship store draws inspiration from Melbourne’s “urban landscape,” is is the company’s 42nd globally.

Orvis Sets Layoffs and Store Closures; Discontinues Catalog
The 112 employees affected by the layoffs represent 8 percent of Orvis’ workforce. In the U.S., Orvis operates 70 retail stores and 10 outlets. In the UK, the company operates 18 retail stores and one outlet. The company did not disclose what store would be affected by the closures.

Salomon Opens Pop-Up In New York City, Plans Store Openings
The brand’s first store in SoHo, will serve as a test for Salomon as it plans to open five stores in 2025, beginning with a permanent space in New York City.

Beyond Yoga Launches Club Beyond, a NYC Experiential and Retail Pop-Up
From October 11-16, Club Beyond, located at 31 East 17th Street, will offer two to three classes a day in fitness and wellness with guests and instructors, with workshops, brand experiences and the first Beyond Yoga retail store in the city.

Report: Growing Participation Rates Supporting Outdoor Rec Sales and M&A
Capstone suggested that financial performance across the sector is expected to improve as firms work through excess inventories, limit promotion activity, and mitigate margin pressures.

Academy Sports’ Debt Ratings Raised by S&P
S&P Global Ratings raised Academy Sports And Outdoor Inc.’s debt rating because the retailer has sustained S&P’s adjusted leverage well below the 2x area despite modest EBITDA margin contraction.

REI to Close Again on Black Friday, Encourage ‘Nature Therapy’
REI Co-op will again close all stores, distribution centers, activity centers, call centers, and headquarters on Thanksgiving and Black Friday Outdoor and pay its employees to spend the day outside.

Ames Watson to Lead Champion’s U.S. Collegiate and Teamwear Business
Ames Watson will oversee Champion’s U.S. collegiate apparel and teamwear business through GearCo, which is managed and operated by Ames Watson, following its sale to Authentic Brands Group.

Dick’s SG to Hire Fewer Seasonal Workers This Year
The retailer plans to hire nearly 8,000 seasonal workers for this year’s holiday season, a step back from the 8,600 planned hires in 2023. A steady decline in employee turnover since 2021 led DKS to a decrease in the number of seasonal workers this year.

Elevate Outdoor Collective Promotes Josee Larocque to CEO
The parent company of the K2, Marker, Dalbello, Völkl, Ride, Line, Backcountry Access, Atlas Snow Shoe, Tubbs Snowshoes, and Madshus brands said COO Larocque replaces CEO John Colonna, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

Report: Holiday Shopping Intentions Driven by Consumer Optimism, Quest for Value
This year’s household food and grocery costs will impact holiday shopping for 62 percent of consumers, but more holiday shoppers, 57 percent, feel positive about personal finances than in 2023.

Amazon Plans to Hire 250,000 Holiday Workers, Same As Last Year
Amazon aims to add 250,000 U.S. seasonal employees during the 2024 holiday season, matching its target number from 2023.

Fear Of God CEO to Lead Everlane
Alfred Chang, the CEO of luxury streetwear brand Fear of God, was appointed CEO of Everlane. The company was founded in 2010 by Michael Preysman and Jesse Farmer with the mission of selling clothing with transparent pricing.

GSM Outdoors Acquires Roboworm
Roboworm has produced hundreds of millions of bass worms. “When you think of impactful soft plastic brands in the bass fishing space, you can’t have the conversation without talking about Roboworm.” —Crispin Powley, SVP of fishing, GSM

PrimaLoft Beefs Up Product Team
PrimaLoft, Inc. appointed Chris Gallo as senior vice president of product strategy and Andrea Paulson as senior vice president of innovation and technology. Gallo was most recently at Nobull while Paulson was at Saucony.