SGB Update Outdoor

Bass Pro Asking Former Cabela’s Owners/Execs To Donate To Severance Fund
According to a report from the Omaha World-Herald, Johnny Morris, the CEO of Bass Pro, is asking former Cabela’s executives and owners to donate some of the money they earned in the sale to Bass Pro to a severance fund for Cabela’s employees. Morris has pledged to match any donation.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Names Michael Mullican Chief Financial Officer
Academy, Ltd. d/b/a Academy Sports + Outdoors, announced the full time appointment of Michael Mullican as chief financial officer, effective January 10, a position he has held on an interim basis since September 2017.
L.L. Bean Joins The Cotton LEADS program
L.L. Bean has confirmed its commitment to sourcing responsible cotton by joining the Cotton LEADS program. The leading global retailer joins more than 470 program partners.
Nordstrom Lifts EPS Guidance On Improving Holiday Sales
Nordstrom, Inc. announced an increase in its net sales of 2.5 percent and an increase in comparable sales of 1.2 percent for the nine weeks ended December 30. The department store operator lifted its EPS guidance for the year.
Honey Stinger Signs James Russell Gill III
James Russell Gill III, professional ultra-endurance runner, owner and CEO of Bad to the Bone Sports and race director for the Ultra Race of Champions, has signed on as an athlete with Honey Stinger, maker of honey-based energy products.
Uvex Aligns With Fischer Skis U.S. For American Distribution
Beginning January 31, 2018, Fischer will manage sales, marketing and distribution of Uvex’s winter product range throughout the U.S. market and Canada.
ICSC Sees Robust Holiday Gains
This holiday season saw an increase in consumer spending according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), which released its annual Post-Holiday Shopping Survey. This year’s survey showed that the average spend on gifts and other holiday-related items was $841.50 this season, compared to $711 last year, representing a gain of 18.3 percent.

Helen of Troy’s Houseware Sales Increase 2.6 Percent In Q3
The gain reflected an increase in online channel sales, incremental distribution with existing customers, international growth, and new product introductions for both Hydro Flask and OXO brands that helped offset weak store traffic at traditional brick and mortar retail, and the unfavorable comparative impact of strong sales into the club channel.
Ruffwear Partners With National Ski Patrol
The new partnership speaks to the support of both organizations for the work patrollers do with avalanche rescue dogs all over the country.
Mystery Ranch Appoints Marketing Director
Mystery Ranch announced the internal promotion of Ryan Holm to the new position of marketing director.
Outdoor Retailer Sets Education Schedule
Snowsports Industries America (SIA), the non-profit trade association for the winter sports industry, and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the non-profit trade association for the outdoor industry, released the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show Industry + Intelligence schedule and the Outdoor University education schedule.

Moody’s Revises Boardriders’ Rating Outlook To Positive
Moody’s said the combination of Boardriders and Billabong “combines the two premier companies in the global action sports apparel industry with complementary business philosophies, product offerings and geographic footprints, which could potentially drive material cost savings over time.”

Big 5 Cuts Q4 Guidance On Weather Woes
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. slashed its fourth-quarter earnings guidance as “extraordinarily dry and warm weather conditions” led to a double-digit comp decline in December.
Kohl’s Lifts Guidance On Strong Holiday Comps
Kohl’s Corp. reported that its total and comparable sales for November and December 2017 combined increased 6.9 percent over the same period last year.
Retail Imports End 2017 With 7 Percent Growth as Industry Sales Continue to Increase
Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports grew 7 percent during 2017 over 2016 as retail sales continued to increase and the industry wrapped up the year with a strong holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.