SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Barre3 Acquires Studio Barre to Expand Female-Owned Business
Studio Barre, the San Diego,CA-based barre brand founded in 2008 by Shannon Higgins, has 11 studios across California, Montana, Rhode Island, and South Carolina will be rebranded as Barre3.

Momentec Brands Names Chief Technology Officer
Christine Rose will oversee Momentec Brands’ technology initiatives, including digital customer-facing platforms, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain systems, and information security.

Dick’s SG Begins Enrolling Non-Employees as Paid Social Media Influencers
Since launching as an internal program in 2023, Dick’s Varsity Team members have created over 1,000 pieces of social media content, garnering over 38 million impressions, and have been featured in 10 campaigns for both Dick’s and its national brands.

Crunch Franchise to Open in Portsmouth, VA
Brian Hibbard, CEO of Fitness Ventures, LLC and the owner and operator of Crunch Fitness locations nationwide, will open a 40,000-square-foot Crunch fitness facility in Portsmouth, VA, in Summer 2025.

Nordstrom to Open Rack Store in Longmont, CO
The Rack store will occupy a 28,000-square-foot space in the Harvest Junction Shopping Center, which includes Marshall’s, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta Beauty, Ross Dress for Less, and other notable retailers. Harvest Junction is owned and managed by an affiliate of Pine Tree.

Report: Import Cargo Trends Remain Fluid Due to Tariff Threats
A strong December brought 2024 to a total of 25.5 million TEU, or Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units, up 14.8 percent from 2023 and the highest level since 2021’s record of 25.8 million TEU during the pandemic.

CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Sees January Reporting Strong Retail Sales Gains
The Sporting Goods, Hobby, Music, and Bookstores segment was down 1.9 percent m/m, seasonally-adjusted, but up 2.82 percent y/y, unadjusted, after a very strong December trend.

Macy’s, Inc. Names Chief Stores Officer of Macy’s
Currently, Barbie Cameron is the senior vice president and regional director of stores for the East Region. Before that, she was the interim chief stores officer at Macy’s since August 2024.

Escalade, Inc. Appoints Armin Boehm as CEO and President
Boehm will succeed Walter P. Glazer, Jr., who, in August 2024, announced his plans to retire as CEO and president. The transition takes effect April 1, 2025.

Coleman, Marmot Parent Sees Q4 Outdoor & Rec Segment Fall 7.9 Percent
Newell Brands, the parent company of Marmot, Ex Officio, Stearns, Bubba, Coleman, and Contigo, among others, reported that the company’s Outdoor & Recreation segment saw another revenue decline in the fourth quarter although it was a significantly smaller decline than in recent quarters.

GoPro’s Q4 Revenues Tumble 32 Percent
GoPro Inc. widened its losses in the both the fourth quarter and year ended December 31 as sales fell 32 percent in the quarter and 20 percent in the year. The maker of action cameras said it’s making progress in its turnaround efforts.

Skechers Q4 Revenues Jump 13 Percent
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. reported profits grew 13.9 percent in the fourth quarter as sales advanced 12.8 percent, due to an 18.0 percent jump domestically and a 9.8 percent increase internationally. Sales topped guidance, but earnings missed due to currency headwinds.

Pickleball Kingdom Franchise to Open in Ocala
Tim Campbell will open a 37,000-square-foot facility in Ocala, FL, featuring 13 professional-grade indoor courts in Summer 2025. The franchisee is a senior operations manager with extensive private and law enforcement experience.

Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Declines for First Time in Six Months
Consumer sentiment fell for the first time in six months and is down 10 percent versus a year ago, according to the final January report for the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

Fossil Group Adds Former Adidas and Salomon Execs to Leadership Team
Fossil Group, Inc. appointed Joe Martin, formerly SVP of Wholesale, Team Services and Omni Operations and Marketplace, North America, at Adidas, and Antonio Carriero, previously chief digital and information officer at Salomon, to its executive team.