SGB Update Outdoor

Wiley X Restructures Sales Management and Adds 100 Reps
The company hired seasoned industry executive Aaron Quigley as SVP of sales. Quigley joins the brand with over 20 years of experience as a sales executive for companies, including Oakley, Stussy and VonZipper.

Dometic Returns Manufacturing to Elkhart, Indiana
The Elkhart plant will produce the 9100 series of power awnings, with subsequent models added in the coming weeks. Its facility in Mexico will continue to service the aftermarket segment, focusing on logistics optimized through Dometic’s Texas distribution center.

Fischer Sports Recalls RC4 Junior Ski Boots Due to Fall Hazard
This recall involves RC4 50, RC4 60 and RC4 65 Junior Ski Boots in sizes 21.5 to 27.5. The RC4 50 and RC4 60 sold in Rhino Grey and Snow colors.

Birkenstock Opens First Flagship in Mumbai
Celebrating 250 years of tradition in shoemaking in 2024, Birkenstock opened its first flagship store in Mumbai, marking its commitment to the region.

Report: RV Shipments Inch Up in March on Towable RV Growth
Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended the month up 5.9 percent compared to last March. For the first quarter, RVs are up 9.3 percent compared to the year-ago Q1 period last year with 85,941 units shipped through March.

Report: U.S. Footwear Market Flat Year-Over-Year in First Quarter
Circana is reporting that the footwear market turned a corner in the first quarter, in terms of retail sales, as U.S. footwear industry sales revenue remained on par with Q1 2023, at $9.1 billion, and units sold experienced a 1 percent lift.

Newell Brands Sees Turnaround in Sight, but Outdoor Segment Continues Shrinking
The parent company of Marmot, Ex Officio, Stearns, Bubba, Coleman, and Contigo, among others, saw the Outdoor segment fall 25 percent in Q1, reflecting a core sales decline of 20.3 percent and the impact of unfavorable FX and certain business exits.

Hike Doggie Welcomes First Franchise
Barrett Marcum leads the Denver South franchise who reportedly is “a passionate advocate for the well-being of animals, an outdoor enthusiast and a former Hike Doggie hiker.”
Columbia Sportswear Ups 2024 Profit Guide, Maintains Sales Decline
First quarter net sales decreased 6 percent to $770.0 million. The decline primarily reflects lower wholesale net sales in the U.S. and Canada, driven by retailer cautiousness, a challenging competitive environment and generally soft consumer demand.

Alterra Mountain Co. Completes Acquisition of BC Heli Ski Operation
Alterra Mountain Company closed on the purchase of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in Blue River, BC, Canada, further expanding the company’s heli-skiing portfolio, complementing CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures.

Escalade Inc. Swings to Q1 Profit as Gross Margins Spike
Total net sales increased 0.7 percent year-over-year to $57.3 million in the first quarter, primarily due to a return in normalized seasonal demand for basketball products, outdoor games and archery.
Vail Resorts to Sell $600 Million in Senior Notes in Private Offering
The company intends to use the proceeds from the proposed offering to fund the redemption of all $600 million of its outstanding 6.250 percent Senior Notes due 2025 at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of their principal amount and all related fees and expenses.

Mountain Khakis Opens Outlet Store in Utah
The Traverse Mountain Outlet store in Lehi, UT is the brand’s second retail store to open this year, following the addition of its Castle Rock store in Colorado.

Jetty Hires Apparel Industry Vet as COO; Sets Future Plans
The New Jersey-based surf apparel company, with a growing presence in the outdoor and active lifestyle markets, saw the opportunity to add apparel veteran Lee Byrd to the team as it is “focusing on its authentic roots and devotion to the dynamic, moody coast on which it was born.”

Strava Hires new Chief Product Officer and Chief Technology Officer
The U.S.-based internet service for tracking physical exercise that incorporates social network features, hired Matt Salazar as chief product officer and Rob Terrell as chief technology officer.