Weston Backcountry Ends In-House Sales, Brings on Independent Rep Team
Weston Backcountry, which has had an in-house sales team since 2016, recently shifted to the independent rep sales model. In 2024, Weston onboarded five new reps to cover the entirety of North America and Canada.
Solo Brands’ COO Departs
Solo Brands announced in a regulatory filing that Matthew Webb has decided to resign as chief operating officer.
Authentic Appoints EVP, Head of Greater China
Authentic Brands Group hired Josh Perlman as EVP, head of Greater China. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the company, previously serving as the managing director at Tristate.
At Tristate, Perlman was instrumental in signing and building brands such as Jack Wolfskin, Fila, Nautica, Spyder and Reebok.
Riddell Sets Leadership Transition
Riddell announced that Dan Arment will be retiring as both president and CEO of the football equipment brand and Riddell’s parent company, BRG Sports, at the close of the year. He will be succeeded by longstanding CFO and COO, Allison Boersma.
EGYM Secures ~$200 million of Growth Capital led by L Catterton and Meritech Capital
The investment from L Catterton, a big player in the connected fitness space, and Meritech Capital, a leading Silicon Valley technology-focused venture firm, is based on a valuation of over $1 billion.
Vail Resorts Pass Sales Kept 23/24 Lift Sales Positive; Fewer Visits Hurt Retail and Rentals
Fourth-quarter Resort Reported EBITDA declined from the prior year and expectations, primarily driven by underperformance in the Australian winter business. During Q4, snowfall at the company’s Australian resorts declined 28 percent from the prior year and was 44 percent below the ten-year average.
Vail Resorts to Cut 14 Percent of Corporate Workforce in Transformation Plan
After ten years of expansion, Vail Resorts has published a two-year Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan (Plan) to continue its rapid growth and global expansion.
Asics Global State of Mind Study: The Desk Break Experiment
Asics enlisted actor Brian Cox to take on the role of the world’s scariest boss to highlight the real threat to our mental health—the desk we work at every day. Asics Global Study found tour mental state starts to decline after only two hours of continuous desk-based working, but just 15 minutes of exercise can help to reverse the effects.
The Curling Group Raises $5 million in Seed Funding to Expand the Sport
The company said the rise in curling’s popularity is reflected in the interest of pro athletes and celebrities, including former NFL star Jared Allen and current NFL players George Kittle and TJ Hockenson, who are part of The Curling Group’s initial investors.
OxeFit Adds Additional Investors on Path to Expand AI-Driven Fitness Programs
The company said that with continued interest from entrepreneur and pro-athlete investors, it will use the new funds to further deliver on its commitment to bring AI to its health and fitness platform.
FluidLogic Investors Look to Expand Hydration Systems to Consumer Categories
The company said this investment will fund new product development and innovation for consumer products in the adventure sports and outdoor endurance categories expected to be available in early 2025.
L Catterton Acquires Majority Stake in Solidcore Fitness Studios
The investment firm has acquired Solidcore, a national network of fitness studios providing targeted strength training on custom-built reformers, from VMG Partners, Kohlberg & Company, and Peterson Partners.
Thorogood Brand Parent Breaks Ground on New Wisconsin Facility
Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Inc., the parent company of the Thorogood brand, is breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art facility in Marshfield, WI.
Puma Appoints Markus Neubrand as CFO
Markus Neubrand replaces current CFO Hubert Hinterseher, who has mutually agreed to step down on September 30, 2024. He will leave the company on December 31, 2024, after successfully transitioning his duties to Neubrand.
American Outdoor Brands Board Approves Share Repurchase Program
The program follows the company’s prior share repurchase program approved last year, which authorized the repurchase up to $10.0 million of AOUT shares that resulted in 412,735 shares repurchased at an average price of $8.70 per share, or roughly $3.6 million in the aggregate.
