SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Crocs Inc. Sees Q4 Growth Slow as N.A. Wholesale Declines
Fourth quarter revenues were $960 million, an increase of just 1.6 percent, or 1.5 percent on a constant-currency (CC) basis, from the corresponding period in 2022. North America Wholesale declined 5.1 percent in Q4.

Skechers U.S.A. Completes a Retail 5K on Way to Store Number 10,000
Expanding its international store count, key store openings for Skechers leading up to the milestone are in Chile, Greece, India, Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the 5,000th store in Bogotá, Colombia.

Yeti Drinkware Surpasses $1 Billion in 2023; Cooler Recall Nets Margin Gain for Year
The net impact of recall reserves associated with the stop sale of certain soft coolers included in the recalls initiated in Q1 2023 had a 480 basis point impact on the increase in gross margin compared to the prior-year quarter.

Tennis Industry Association Rebrands as Racquet Industry Research Group
TIA rebranded to the Racquet Industry Research Group, noting, “It’s more than just a name change; this evolution signifies a broader mission to provide research and data to the entire racquet sports community.”

Hanesbrands, Inc. Cutting 159 Jobs, Closing NC Distribution Center
HBI plans to permanently lay off another 159 workers in April when it repurposes a DC in Winston-Salem, NC, according to a WARN notice sent to the state of North Carolina on February 5, with an effective date of April 5, 2024.

Hartford Sales Group Appoints New Rep for NorCal Coast
Mark Blesius joined the award-winning agency, covering the Northern California Coast. Blesius was, most recently, the senior regional account manager covering the Southwest region for Asics America.

VF Corp. Aligns with Activist Investor, Appoints New Indie Board Member
VF will appoint another independent director to the Board in the near term, mutually agreed with Engaged Capital and will prioritize considering the candidates identified by Engaged Capital.

Outtech Hires Regional Manager for Independent Channel
Outtech Sales Services hired Dyson Renn as a regional manager for its independent channel, working with retailers in Pennsylvania and Western New York.

EXEC: Topgolf Callaway Sees All Segments Grow in Q4 But Loss Widens
Revenue grew 7 percent at Topgolf, 5 percent in the Golf Equipment segment and 3 percent in the Active Lifestyle segment. The company’s net loss increased 6.1 percent on a GAAP basis and 10.6 percent a non-GAAP basis.

Honey Stinger Appoints Another New CEO
Most recently, John D’Alessandro was chief marketing officer for Nutraceutical Corporation where he was credited with orchestrating the development of over 35 brands.

Jetset Pilates Expands in Texas with West McKinney Location
The growing franchise has studios in Florida, with over 28 in development throughout New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Australia.

Jazzercise Appoints New President
Before joining the company, Bobbi Quick held leadership roles at 24-Hour Fitness, The Bay Club Company and EōS Fitness.

Nordstrom, Inc. to Add Another Rack Store in New Jersey
The 26,000-square-foot store will be located in Manalapan Commons, a shopping center that includes Best Buy, Panera Bread, Five Below, PetSmart, and Raymour & Flanigan.

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Putting People in the Seats for Women’s Basketball
The 6’0″ senior is averaging 32.1 points per game this season and is eight points shy of breaking Kelsey Plum’s scoring record of 3,527 points for most career points in Division I history.

Nike Mourns the Loss of Ambassador Athlete Kelvin Kiptum
Kelvin Kiptum, who shattered the Chicago Marathon course record in only his third marathon in October 2023, tragically died Sunday in a car accident. Nike wrote on their website that Kiptum was “an inspiration to countless athletes and fans around the world.”