SGB Update Footwear

Warm Winter Causes Bob’s Stores to Miss Q4 Targets…

The TJX Cos. Inc. saw its Bob’s Stores division just miss its target of halving the operating loss as forecast at the start of the year. On a conference call with analysts, newly anointed CEO Carol Meyrowitz attributed the near miss to the “unusually wa

Crocs, Inc. Raises Growth Targets for 2007…

Continuing to prove its doubters – including many short-sellers – wrong, Crocs Inc. reported fourth quarter earnings that easily beat prior projections, and hiked its fiscal 2007 revenue and earnings growth targets to more than 45% over fiscal year 2006.

Pacific Sunwear Breaks Down Business at Roth OC Conference…

At the Roth OC Conference, Pacific Sunwear gave a little more insight into their business than they typically have in the past. The company said that at PacSun, the business splits 57/43 between guys and girls, but that they hope to get the girls side up

SOS Expands Media Team…

The SportsOneSource Group has expanded its Media Services Group team, adding one additional full-time editor and a west coast ad sales manager. Tom Ryan, who had been an editor with SGB and ran the Outdoor Business online venture for VNU, has joined the c

Pacific Brands’ Slow Outdoor Sales Offset H1 Footwear Gains…

Thanks to strong gains in its Homegoods and Footwear groups, Pacific Brands Limited was able to post increases on both the top and bottom line for the first half of fiscal 2007. However, decreases in both sales and EBIT in the Outerwear & Sport division o

ORWM: Footwear Brands Push Ahead with Green RandD…

For years, footwear companies were regarded by environmentalists as notorious for environmental abuses. According to a study conducted by adidas, the average pair of shoes with leather uppers produced in 2005 used nearly three kilowatt/hours of energy, 57

Axcent Forms EU Subsidiary for Descente Athletic…

Axcent Sports has held the license to sell and design Descente apparel for the bike and run market in North America, Europe and Australia since 2002. Most of the company’s European business has been done through third-party distributors, but the company,

Thule Targets €1 Billion by 2009…

Thule finished off the 2006 fiscal year with double digit organic-growth and several acquisitions under its belt to boost the top line by nearly a third. The integration of these acquisitions did have a slight impact on profits, which did not keep pace wi

Rodale, owner of Runners World, Acquires Running Times

Running Times has been acquired by Rodale Inc., the owner of Runner's World. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Running Times will continue to operate under the Running Times brand, and will be independent of Runner's World…

Rocket Dog Acquired by Venture Funds

Rocket Dog has been acquired by Golden Gate Capital and Circle Peak Capital. The seller was New York Transit, Inc., a privately held fashion footwear company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mike Womack and the existing management team will continue

Warnaco’s Swimwear Profits Sink in Q4 on Ocean Pacific Sale

The Warnaco Group Inc. said its swimwear group's sales grew 1.3% in the fourth quarter, to $84 million from $83 million a year ago. Operating income in the segment, which includes Speedo, fell to $8.4 million from $12.5 million, reflecting losses rel

Payless, Nike Launch High-Tech Sneaker

Nike Inc. brought out soccer stars Brandi Chastain and Hope Solo and world-renowned volleyball player Logan Tom at a New York press event to help launch Tailwind, a women’s performance footwear and accessories brand that will be exclusive to Payless ShoeS

Mizuno Names Custom Fitters of the Year

Mizuno named 16 of its retail partners as Club Fitters of the year. The recipients were evenly split with 8 winners Green Grass shops and 8 Off-Course retailers…

WSA Decides to Keep Later Spring ’08 Show Dates

The WSA Show announced the decision to maintain existing dates and locations for the February 2008 show. The show, in the three-day format which will begin in August, will take place as scheduled Feb. 21-23, 2008 at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center and

Thule’s 2006 Sales and Earnings Climb

Thule's fiscal 2006 sales were up 33% to SEK 4,217 million ($577.7 mm) compared to fiscal 2005 sales of SEK 3,160 million ($420.9 mm), an organic growth of 10.6%. EBIT operational income before depreciation of excess value and one-off items was up 25