REI Co-Op Appoints VP of Foundation Technology
Guillaume Ledieu joined the company as vice president of foundation technology, a newly created role focused on “supporting the advancement of REI’s foundational business capabilities to drive operational efficiencies and effectiveness of its end-to-end value chain.”
Foundation Outdoor Group Opens European Headquarters
Foundation Outdoor Group, the seller of fishing rod and tackle gear based in Oviedo, FL, opened a European headquarters and distribution center called Outdoor Group Europe AB in Halmstad, Sweden to spearhead growth in the region.
Pard Optics Expands Nationwide Coverage with Odle Sales
Pard Optics announced that it increased the territory that Odle Sales serves for the company to now include the entire United States.
Pnuma Outdoors and Heated Core Appoints Director of Sales
Pnuma Outdoors and Heated Core hired Mike Meiran as director of sales. Most recently he worked at Kinsey’s Archery Products in various roles for the company’s private label brands and OEM division.
Moody’s Assigns B2 Rating to Varsity Brand’s New Debt Offering
Moody’s Investors Service assigned a B2 rating to Varsity Brands Holding Co., Inc.’s new senior secured first lien notes due December 2026. Varsity Brands is the parent of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit.
Solo Brands Delivers 8 Percent Q3 Revenue Growth On Wholesale Boost
Solo Brands Inc. reported significant improvement in adjusted earnings in the third quarter ended September 30 as sales advanced 8.0 percent, led by wholesale channel gains. The company, based in Grapevine, TX, reiterated its outlook for the year.
Planet Fitness Sees 8.4 Percent System-Wide Comp Growth
Planet Fitness, Inc. reported net earnings jumped 45.3 percent in the third quarter ended September 30 as total revenue grew 13.6 percent and system-wide same-store sales increased by 8.4 percent.
Wattbike Appoints E-Commerce Specialist
Indoor cycling brand Wattbike hired Ahmed Khodja as the director of direct-to-consumer, a new role for the company. He joins Wattbike with a “formidable track record in e-commerce strategy, following a decade working for Fanatics.
PrimaLoft Hires Anne Cavassa as New President
PrimaLoft, Inc. hired industry veteran Anne Cavassa as president, joining CEO Mike Joyce. She assumes responsibility for day-to-day operations, and the two will collaborate to advance company growth.
DPS and Phantom Glide Partner with Members of All Mountain Group
DPS Skis and Phantom Glide will work with All Mountain Group reps Tyler Merritt and Erik Mushial starting with the fall 2023 sales season.
Free Fly Taps Former Quiksilver VP to Run Global Wholesale Effort
An industry veteran and advocate for surfing, Reilly brings his “knowledge, enthusiasm and connections within the surf industry to his new role.”
Smith Optics Gives Nice Lift to Parent Co. in Third Quarter
At constant-currency exchange rates, the company’s sales decreased 3.9 percent in Q3, improving from the 6.6 percent decline recorded in Q2, which was said to be mainly due to the return to growth of the Smiths Sports business in North America.
Sports Basement to Open Store in Long Beach
Sports Basement is opening a location in a former Sears store in Long Beach, CA. The opening will mark the Bay Area sporting goods chain’s second location in Southern California after opening in Fountain Valley in 2022.
ISPO Partners with Joor on Long-Term Deal
The giant sports tradeshow ISPO Munich and digital wholesale ecosystem JOOR have entered into a long-term partnership that aims to enhance and extend the digital selling opportunities available to ISPO brands.
General RV Center Appoints Sales Manager
General RV Center, the family-owned RV dealer based in Wixom, MI, promoted Nicole Akers from sales associate to sales manager.
