SGB Update Outdoor

Outdoor Brands Invests In Public Lands Defense
The Conservation Alliance has awarded five grants from the organization’s Public Lands Defense Fund to groups working to defend the Roadless Rule, the National Environmental Policy Act, and Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. The awards were funded with the support of Velocio, Patagonia, and The North Face.

Early Summer Months Looking Grim For Southeast Destinations
Approximately two months after destination resorts scattered throughout the Southeast were expected to launch their all-important summer season, widespread uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic have brought destination visits to participating resorts to an almost virtual halt, according to DestiMetrics and Inntopia.

Solid Winter Ski Season Ends With A Thud At Western Mountain Resorts
Just six weeks after the winter season was abruptly ended on March 15 in the wake of complete ski resort closures mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic, mountain destinations “officially” ended the 2019-20 ski season at the end of April. As mountain towns emptied out quickly, lodging properties in six western states ended the season on a disappointing note, according to DestiMetrics in their monthly Market Briefing from Inntopia.

Cycling Sales Surge In First Quarter
Cycling sales increased 31 percent to $1.3 billion in the first quarter of the year, according to NPD. More than half of those sales dollars came in March as stay-at-home orders arrived across the country.

Monte Rosa Sports Acquires Odlo International
Monte Rosa Sports Holding has acquired Swiss-based apparel specialist Odlo International and its subsidiaries from Herkules Fund III.

Thin Air Virtual Media Show Invites Retailers To Register
Thin Air, the new virtual trade show for the outdoor industry to be held from June 24 to 26, has opened up registration to outdoor specialty retailers.

The Big Gear Show Postpones Inaugural Event To 2021
The Big Gear Show (BGS), an outdoor industry trade show focused on hardgoods, with an emphasis on paddling, cycling, climbing, and camping gear, announced the cancellation of its inaugural event, originally planned for July 22 to 25 in Salt Lake City.

Baffin, Salomon, ENDVR.io, And More Join Forces To Launch The Shop Local Project
Baffin, Salomon, ENDVR.io, and many more in the retail industry have come together to support independent specialty retailers facing COVID-19 through a not-for-profit initiative, The Shop Local Project.

Kind Bar Founder Invests In Yellow Leaf Hammocks
Daniel Lubetzky, founder of Kind snack bar, made a $1 million investment in Yellow Leaf Hammocks. The investment was revealed on the “Shark Tank” television show’s season finale, which aired on Friday.

VF Corp.’s Q4 Sales Sink 11 Percent
VF Corp. reported revenue in the fourth quarter ended March 31 decreased 11 percent on a reported basis and fell 10 percent in constant dollars. Among key brands, currency-neutral sales were down 6 percent at Vans, 13 percent at The North Face, 18 percent at Timberland, and 2 percent at Dickies. Companywide sales and adjusted earnings both missed Wall Street’s targets.

Columbia Sportswear To Reopen 30 U.S. Stores With An Eye On Safety And Helping Communities
Columbia Sportswear Co. will reopen 30 Columbia branded stores in ten states on Friday, May 15, 2020, bringing back more than 250 of its furloughed retail workers.

Revolve Group’s Q1 Sales Improve 6 Percent
Revolve Group, Inc., a fashion e-tailer aimed at Millennial and Generation Z consumers, reported sales rose 6 percent in the first quarter to $146.1 million from $137.3 million a year ago.

Moosejaw, Walmart Collaborate To Launch Two Outdoor Brands
Moosejaw, in collaboration with Walmart, is introducing two gear and apparel lines, Lithic and Allforth. The brands mark the first product collaboration between the two companies since Walmart acquired Moosejaw in 2017.

REI To Open New Store In South Carolina In August
REI plans to open a store in the BullStreet District of Columbia, SC in August. The opening had been expected in May but was delayed in response to COVID-19.

Cat Footwear Appoints Chip Coe As President
Chip Coe has been named the new global brand president of Cat Footwear, a division of Wolverine World Wide Inc.