SGB Update

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.

Equinox, Owner of SoulCycle, Invests In Rumble

Equinox, the operator of Equinox Fitness Clubs, Blink Fitness, Pure Yoga, and SoulCycle, announced a significant minority stake in Rumble, a boxing-inspired group fitness company based in NYC.

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.

Fanatics Opens Japan Office

The Tokyo-based office will lead the initial expansion of Fanatics’ operations throughout Asia, and strategically aligns with the company’s expansion strategy to grow the licensed sports merchandise industry across key global markets.

Traveling With Millenials

Millennials will be the core customer group of airlines, hotels, and travel companies, within five-to-ten years.

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.

Columbia Sportswear To Skip Outdoor Retailer Show

Columbia Sportswear said it has made the “difficult decision” to not attend the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver. Arc’teryx is also not attending, according to a report from Gearjunkie.

Headsweats Welcomes New Ambassador Team

Thirty-five outstanding athletes were selected from over 500 applications based upon their personal and athletic accomplishments within their sport.

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.”

Maurice Sporting Goods Completes Sale To Middleton Partners

Maurice Sporting Goods, LLC, one of North America’s largest distributors of outdoor sporting goods, said it’s again set to pursue growth now that it completed its fully capitalized following its acquisition by Middleton Partners.

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.