SGB Update

NPD Tracker: Retail Continues To See Spending On Activities Rises

U.S. consumers have started to spend on in-person experiences again, but the pull-back on general merchandise retail spending that is expected to coincide with it has not yet materialized. Experiential spending reached 91 percent of 2019 levels, as of the end of 2021, but general merchandise retail spending remained elevated at 19 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to The NPD Group.

Fanatics Partners With WWE

The WWE signed a long-term merchandising deal with Fanatics. The deal includes official WWE NFTs, offered through Fanatics’ Candy Digital division, trading cards, which will operate through Topps, which Fanatics acquired from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner earlier in 2022. It also includes physical and digital licensed merchandise, with Fanatics launching a WWE shop this summer.

FDRA Launches The Footwear Trade Show Council

The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) has created the Footwear Trade Show Council (FTSC). Its purpose is to align industry trade shows into one collaborative alliance to share information, best practices and industry dates.

ALPS Brands Partners With Everest.com

Everest.com, the outdoor marketplace, announced it is partnering with ALPS Brands. Everest.com will house four storefronts on its site—ALPS OutdoorZ, ALPS Mountaineering, Cedar Ridge, and Browning Camping & Hunting Blinds.

The Pro’s Closet Adds Two Leadership Hires

The Pro’s Closet, the online seller of used bikes, announced that Kaitlin Cameron has joined the company as its new chief marketing officer and Paul Calandrella as its vice president of strategic initiatives.

Vista Outdoor’s Debt Ratings Upgraded

S&P Global Ratings upgraded Vista Outdoor Inc.’s debt ratings. The rating agency said Vista Outdoor’s operating performance through December 2021 was stronger than originally projected due to robust demand for its ammunition business and favorable trends for outdoor products.