SGB Update Sports & Fitness
REI Honors Vendor Partner of the Year, Gives Divisional Awards to Four Brands
REI Co-op honored On with its 2023 Vendor Partner of the Year award. The retailer said, “that by marrying style, comfort and functional performance, On continues to bring compelling, functional innovation to REI and attracts customers of all ages and backgrounds to running and hiking season after season.”
Life Time Opens Athletic Country Club Location in Arlington, VA
Life Time opened an athletic country club in Arlington, VA, on July 14. The development also is home to Life Time Work, the company’s co-working destination, which will open on July 17.
FESI Responds to European Parliament Proposal on Sustainable Product Regulation
The Federation of European Sporting Goods Industry said this week that it commends the Parliament’s efforts in recognizing the trade-offs involved in establishing eco-design requirements, a crucial step toward advancing sustainability and environmental responsibility within the sporting goods industry.
Howie’s Hockey Tape Expanding in West Michigan
Howie’s Hockey Tape, the maker of hockey accessories based in Grand Rapids, MI, is expanding to Gaines Charter Township.The company is moving out of its warehousing and distribution facility in Kentwood and building a new facility at 6658 East Paris Drive in Caledonia to include office and warehouse space.
Former Hibbett CFO Lands at Leslie’s Inc. with TNF Veteran CEO
Leslie’s, Inc. appointed former Hibbett Sports CFO Scott Bowman as CFO, effective August 7. Bowman joins the company on July 17 and will serve as CFO designate through August 6.
Rally House To Open K-State Official Team Stores
Rally House agreed to become the official team store for Kansas State. The retailer has several stores in the state of Kansas.
Report: Online Prices Fall 2.6 Percent in June, a 36-Month Low
Adobe reported in its Digital Price Index (DPI)* that online prices in June 2023 fell 2.6 percent year-over-year (YoY), the most significant decrease since May 2020, when prices fell 1.5 percent YoY.
NRF: Back-To-School Shopping Expected to Reach Record Levels
Back-to-school spending is expected to climb 12.4 percent while back-to-college shopping will increase about 27 percent this year as both tiers reach recording spending levels, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Quality Bicycle Products Cuts U.S. Work Force
In response to an over-inventoried supply chain that continues to pressure the bike industry, Quality Bicycle Products reported that it reduced its U.S. workforce by 5 percent on July 12. The workforce reduction reportedly affected multiple departments.
Diddy Launches Online Marketplace for Black Entrepreneurs
Sean “Diddy” Combs launched Empower Global (EG), an e-commerce platform for selling products created and sold by Black entrepreneurs.
Authentic Brands Group Names Chief Financial Officer
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) named Kevin Wills as chief financial officer. Wills is based in the company’s New York headquarters and reports to Founder, Chairman and CEO Jamie Salter.
PickUp USA Basketball Gym Expands in Colorado
PickUp USA Fitness opened its latest club in the Denver market featuring multiple basketball courts and a full fitness room. Founded in California in 2012, PickUp USA is the largest basketball gym chain in the U.S.
Fanatics to Enter Sports Collectibles Events Business
Fanatics has partnered with IMG, the sports, events and talent management company, to launch Fanatics Events, a platform that will recreate the Comic-Con experience for sports collectibles.
Amazon Sees ‘Biggest Ever’ Prime Day
U.S. online sales rose 6.1 percent to $12.7 billion during Amazon’s Prime Day two-day sales from July 11- 12, according to Adobe Analytics, which measures transactions at U.S. retail sites. Amazon called the first 24 hours of Prime Day the “single largest sales day in company history,” but did not disclose total sales.
Srixon Sports Europe Opens U.K. Headquarters; Makes Key Promotions
The European subsidiary of the Srixon group opened a U.K. headquarters about forty miles southwest of London and ten miles from its former office location.
