SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Eastside Golf Closes Seed Funding Round Led by EP Golf Ventures
EP Golf Ventures is an investment partnership between the PGA of America and Elysian Park Ventures, the private investment arm affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group.
Hyperice Casts Wider Net Defending Massage Gun Patent, Files 16 More Suits
The company filed 16 additional lawsuits in Federal Court against Sharper Image, HoMedics, Ekrin Athletics, and more than a dozen others, including retailers CVS, Costco, Walgreens, and Kohl’s, related to the sale of percussive massage guns.
JD Sports Fashion Completes Acquisition of Polish Partner
In the financial year to January 2023, Poland-based Marketing Investment Group generated approximately £270 million in revenue. As of December 30, 2023, MIG operated 403 stores across 13 countries, including 23 JD stores.
Target Shuffles the Executive Deck in Legal, Operations and Merchandising
Michael Fiddelke has been named chief operating officer, effective February 4 and Rick Gomez and Jill Sando will split categories on the merchant side. Additionally, Target announced the upcoming retirement of chief legal and compliance officer Don Liu.
PE Firm Makes First Move to Consolidate Pickleball Brands
Thirty-5 Capital, LLC created and launched United Pickleball Paddles, a subsidiary of its global pickleball investment sleeve, United Pickleball Properties, LLC, and rolled up three brands into the new company.
Census Bureau Sees Core 2023 Holiday Retail Sales Growth in Line with Inflation
Core retail sales during the 2023 holiday season, November and December combined, reportedly grew 3.8 percent versus the corresponding period in 2022, supported by continued inflation and despite high-interest rates.
Winmark Corp. Board Member to Exit
Mark Wilson informed Winmark that he will not stand for re-election to its Board of Directors at its next Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2024.
Big 5 Lowers Q4, Full-Year EPS Guidance as Q4 Comps Fall 17.7 Percent
Big 5 now expects to report a loss per basic share in the range of 38 cents to 40 cents, which compares to the company’s previous guidance for a fourth quarter loss per basic share in the range of 20 cents to 35 cents per share.
Golfzon Co. Ltd. Appoints CEO for Golfzon America
Sean Pyun joins Golfzon America after spending the last 16 years in various roles at the LPGA, including managing director of international business affairs and VP and managing director, LPGA Asia, before LPGA on all Asia-related business affairs as the chief business officer, Asia.
Manufacturer of Patrick Mahomes’ Cracked Football Helmet Issues Statement
Certor Sports stated the performance and testing of the Vicis Zero2 Helmet and the conditions surrounding the damage sustained to the helmet after a helmet-to-helmet collision in Saturday night’s game between the Chiefs and Dolphins were due to extreme conditions.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Appoints Chief Customer Officer
In his role as EVP and chief customer officer Chad Fox will oversee omni-channel, marketing, customer insights, and customer care. Fox joined Academy this month and reports directly to Steve Lawrence, CEO of the company.
Lululemon appoints Global Creative Director + VP Design/Outwear
Lululemon announced that Jonathan Cheung was named Global Creative Director, and that JJ Collier joined Lululemon’s Global Design team in the newly created role of VP Design, Outerwear, reporting to Cheung.
NRF Foundation Adds Four Board Members
The new members from Gap, Inc., Dick’s Sporting Goods, Goodwill Industries, and Burlington Stores were elected during the organization’s winter board meeting in New York City, ahead of NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show and the NRF Foundation Honors.
Fleet Feet Franchisee Adds Fifth Store in Ohio
The new store is the fifth location in the Cleveland area for franchisees and husband and wife team Heather and Jody Herzog.
Crunch Fitness Franchisee Secures Investment Capital for Growth
Primetime Fitness, Michigan’s Crunch Fitness franchise development group, partnered with CapitalSpring, a specialist investor in multi-location businesses.
