SGB Update Outdoor

Sitka Gear Opens Eighth U.S. Storefront
Sitka Gear has opened a new brand store in Columbus, OH, carrying its technical hunting and outdoor apparel gear. The company will host a grand opening on January 11.

Tilly’s Inc. Appoints PacSun Veteran to Board of Directors
Michael Relich has over 40 years of experience in retail, with an emphasis on systems and information technology. Most recently, Relich served as the co-CEO of PacSun.

Massimo Group Adds New Illinois Distribution Center to Network
With the addition of this Illinois facility, Massimo Group’s nationwide distribution network now has six points of distribution, including Edison, NJ; City of Industry, CA; Port Wentworth, GA; Houston, TX; Garland, TX; and Edwardsville, IL.

Birdwell Names Surf Industry Veteran Lance Eddy as EVP of Sales
Lance Eddy has over 20 years of experience working with multichannel heritage lifestyle brands. Most recently, he served as sales director at RVCA.

Columbia’s Chief Digital Information Officer Exits
Columbia said it would launch a search for Skip Potter’s replacement. In the interim, EVP and CFO Jim Swanson will oversee the company’s digital technology department.

SIA Appoints Four New Board Directors for 2025
Snowsports Industries America (SIA) appointed four outdoor industry veterans to its Board of Directors for 2025: Gary Fleming, Sergio Kiehl, Helmut Holzer, and Drew Saunder to bring a global perspective to the association.

Report: 2024 Holiday Online Spending Sets New Record; Sporting Goods Up Big
Strong discounts this season also drove consumers to purchase higher-ticket items in categories such as electronics, appliances and sporting goods. The share of units sold for the most expensive goods was up 54 percent in sporting goods.

Brixton Appoints Product and Merchandising Chief and Specialty Sales Director
The company has appointed Nadene Wisely as SVP of merchandising, design and development, and Sean Fleuriau as senior director of specialty sales for North America.

Kent Outdoors Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Nate Romney is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience leading finance, accounting and operations departments and has a history of creating high valuation and building scalable processes and corporate structure.

Boa and 5.11 Parent Compass Diversified Starts Year with Board Shuffle
Gordon M. Burns will not be standing for re-election at the company’s 2025 annual shareholders meeting due to other commitments. Nancy B. Mahon has been appointed chair of the Board’s Nominating Committee, replacing Mr. Burns.

Report: Holiday Retail Return Rate Jumps 28 Percent as U.S. Sales Reach $282B
Salesforce is reporting that the data in its system shows that holiday retail sales surged to a record $1.2 trillion globally and $282 billion in the United States, but high returns could dampen retailer overall profit margins.

Lazydays Holdings Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
New CFO Jeff Needles is a Certified Public Accountant, holds an MBA from Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Saint Louis University, John Cook School of Business.

Camelbak, Bell/Giro Parent Revelyst Completes Sale to Financial Firm
The parent of Foresight Sports, Bushnell Golf, Fox, Bell, Giro, CamelBak, Bushnell, Simms Fishing was acquired by SVP in an all-cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion.

Midwest Outdoor and Winter Sports Rep Associations Merge
Midwest Winter Sports Reps Association (MWSRA) and Outdoor Reps Association (ORA) have merged to form Midwest Professional Reps Organization, or M-Pro. The merger was effective on January 1.

Compass Diversified Completes Sale of Ergobaby Business
The parent of the 5.11 Tactical, Boa, Lugano, Primaloft, and Velocity Outdoor subsidiaries has entered into a definitive agreement and completion of the sale of its majority-owned subsidiary, The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc.