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.
IHRSA Bolsters Advocacy Team
IHRSA, which advocates for the Health and Fitness Industry, hired Charles Regnante as government affairs manager.
Zelig Secures Funding Led by Hilco
Zelig, based in Los Angeles, reported it secured $15 million in Series A funding to support the launch of its AI-powered virtual try-on and styling technology (VTO-S). Hilco Global led the funding round, joined by luxury investor Bezikian Zareh, which brings the company to a $100 million valuation.
Lightspeed Commerce Revenues Jump 25 Percent in Fiscal Q2
The POS and payments platform used in the bike shop segment, with expansion into other active lifestyle specialty retail segments, reported strong fiscal Q2 progress in its key fiscal 2024 objectives.
Grand Rapids’ Al & Bob’s Sports to Close
Al & Bob’s Sports, the hunt & fish shop in Grand Rapids, MI, is closing after more than five decades.
Ebay opens Canal Street Wear store in NYC
The company said the streetwear industry is estimated to be worth more than $180 billion and global searches for streetwear have increased by more than 150 percent since the beginning of the year on eBay.
Leatt’s Q3 Revenues Tumble 48 Percent on Sluggish Orders
Leatt Corp., the maker of protective equipment for adventure sports and team sports, reported sales tumbled 48 percent in the third quarter due to “constrained industry-wide ordering patterns.”
Primary Arms Promotes Banda to CFO
Primary Arms promoted Joyce Banda to CFO. As head of Primary Arms Optics, she reportedly played a pivotal role in “shaping the company’s success, leading the company to new heights of innovation and market prominence.”
OR, Surf Expo Parent Sees Strong Core Show Business in Q3; Content Weakens
Emerald Holding, Inc., the operator of Outdoor Retailer and other trade shows, reported sales grew 16.2 percent in the third quarter ended September 30 while underlying earnings improved excluding year-ago event cancellation insurance benefits. Strength in its core trade show segment offset weakness in its content business.
Unifi First-Quarter Impacted by Weak Apparel Orders
Unifi, Inc. reported sales fell 22.7 percent in the fiscal first quarter ended October 1 due to “weak demand and depressed ordering patterns” in the apparel sector. The makers of Repreve-branded recycled and synthetic yarns, based in Greensboro, NC. posted a loss in the period.
Lids Opens NBA Store in Houston
Lids, in partnership with Fanatics and the NBA, opened a second NBA-themed store in The Galleria in Houston, TX, its second flagship in the U.S. following its New York City store that opened in 2015.
Wilson to Open Store in Mall of America
Wilson Sporting Goods Co. celebrated the upcoming opening of its eighth retail store in the Mall of America last week.
October U.S. Employment Numbers Fall Short of Expectations
Many noted that the 150,000 increase in jobs and the 3.9 percent unemployment rate were in line with the pre-pandemic employment picture and some wondered if maybe, just maybe, the market was getting back to normal.
Report: Foot Traffic Data Sees Possible Boost for Sporting Goods Retail for Black Friday
Year-over-year visit gaps at Recreational & Sporting Goods chains, Electronics Stores and Department Stores widened significantly since the end of August, but more recent data looks a little more promising, with all three categories now seeing their visit gaps begin to shrink.
Topgolf Sets Opening for Venue in Mobile, AL
Topgolf announced plans to open a venue in Mobile, AL, on November 17, its third in the state, in addition to Birmingham and Huntsville.