SGB Update Outdoor

Walmart Closes Four Stores In Chicago

Walmart reported it will close four of its eight stores in Chicago after stating the stores were losing “tens of millions of dollars a year, and the retailer’s annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years.”

Dillard’s Debt Ratings Upgraded

S&P Global Ratings raised the debt ratings on Dillard’s Inc. as the department store chain has maintained a “stable performance and a conservative financial policy even in the volatile retail operating environment of the past year.”

Marolina Outdoor Adds Industry Veterans To Team

Marolina Outdoor, the parent company of Huk Performance Fishing and Nomad Outdoor, hired Dean Rurak as CEO and Bill Ferreira as senior vice president of sales and merchandising, effective May 1.

Yukon Outfitters Names Sales Chief

Yukon Outfitters hired John Bissert as vice president of sales and business development. Most recently, Bissert was senior sales director for Sporting Goods, RV Marine & Promotional channels at The Coleman Company/Newell Brands.

Yue Yuen Manufacturing Business Falls 21.3 Percent In March

Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, the subsidiary of Pou Chen Corporation that manufactures a large percentage of global athletic and outdoor footwear, reported that its net consolidated operating revenue for March was $696.5 million, a 10.0 percent decline versus the year-ago month.

Pou Sheng Retail Sales Surge 29.8 Percent In March

Pou Sheng International (Holdings) Limited, the China-based retail subsidiary of Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, reported that net consolidated operating revenue for March was RMB 1.73 billion, up 29.8 percent from RMB 1.34 billion in the year-ago comparable month.

Sun & Ski Sports Opens Salt Lake City Location

Sun & Ski Sports will officially open its 33rd store in Murray, UT, on April 14. Representatives from On, Hoka, Cannondale, Shimano, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, and Haro will attend the grand opening.

Xtep International Sees 20 Percent Retail Sales Growth In First Quarter

The Board of Directors of Xtep International Holdings Limited, which operates retail stores in China for K-Swiss, Palladium, Merrell, and Saucony, in addition to Xtep brand stores, reported that retail sell-through growth in the first quarter, including brick & mortar and online channels, increased approximately 20 percent versus the year-ago comparable period.

Gunpowder, Inc. Forms Executive Leadership Team

Gunpowder, Inc. reported forming an executive leadership team, promoting Carie Breunig to the chief operating officer, Leah Berg to president and Caitlin Conley to vice president of finance. Agency Founder Ryan Chuckel will remain in the CEO role.

North St. Bags Moves Headquarters

North St. Bags, the maker of bike panniers and bags, is moving its headquarters to a renovated building in inner North Portland, OR.

Vista Outdoor Promotes Vanderbrink To CEO, Sporting Products Segment

Vista Outdoor, Inc. promoted Jason Vanderbrink to Sporting Products’s CEO, effective immediately. Vanderbrink has been with the company since 2005 in executive leadership roles, including senior vice president of sales and president of Sporting Products.