SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Walmart Closes Four Stores In Chicago
Walmart reported it will close four of its eight stores in Chicago after stating the stores were losing “tens of millions of dollars a year, and the retailer’s annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years.”
Dick’s SG Signs Multi-Year Partnership With Boston Athletic Association
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported signing a multi-year agreement to be the official retail sponsor of the Boston Marathon and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Distance Medley events ahead of opening a Dick’s House of Sport in spring 2024.
Dillard’s Debt Ratings Upgraded
S&P Global Ratings raised the debt ratings on Dillard’s Inc. as the department store chain has maintained a “stable performance and a conservative financial policy even in the volatile retail operating environment of the past year.”
Topo Athletic Appoints U.S. Wholesale Sales Director
Topo Athletic hired Ashleigh Cook as sales director of U.S. Wholesale, leading its domestic sales team to grow its network of retailer accounts and independent sales agents.
Self Esteem Brands Expands In Europe, Adds Anytime Fitness Master Franchisee
Self Esteem Brands, the parent company of a global portfolio of fitness, health and wellness franchise brands, reported that Manfred Mitterlehner, the fitness and personal training operator of Austria-based Mitterlehner Fitness, joined Anytime Fitness as a master franchisee.
Yue Yuen Manufacturing Business Falls 21.3 Percent In March
Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, the subsidiary of Pou Chen Corporation that manufactures a large percentage of global athletic and outdoor footwear, reported that its net consolidated operating revenue for March was $696.5 million, a 10.0 percent decline versus the year-ago month.
Anta Sports Saw Solid Q1 China Retail Sales Growth With Fila Up In High Singles
Anta Sports Products Limited reported that retail sales of Anta-branded products posted mid-single-digit growth in the first quarter compared to the year-ago comparable period.
Pou Sheng Retail Sales Surge 29.8 Percent In March
Pou Sheng International (Holdings) Limited, the China-based retail subsidiary of Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, reported that net consolidated operating revenue for March was RMB 1.73 billion, up 29.8 percent from RMB 1.34 billion in the year-ago comparable month.
Fanatics Expands Retail Partnership With The Cleveland Browns
Fanatics expanded its e-commerce partnership with The Cleveland Browns, establishing the company as the team’s end-to-end omnichannel retail partner.
Puttshack Opens Location In Houston
Puttshack opened its sixth location at The Highlight at Houston Center at 1200 McKinney Street. The new 26,000-square-foot space includes four nine-hole mini golf courses, dining and private event space.
Teamworks Closes $65 Million Series E Funding, Acquires Arms Software
Teamworks announced a Series E funding led by Dragoneer Investment Group, a San Francisco-based investment firm. The athlete engagement platform also announced the acquisition of Arms Software.
Xtep International Sees 20 Percent Retail Sales Growth In First Quarter
The Board of Directors of Xtep International Holdings Limited, which operates retail stores in China for K-Swiss, Palladium, Merrell, and Saucony, in addition to Xtep brand stores, reported that retail sell-through growth in the first quarter, including brick & mortar and online channels, increased approximately 20 percent versus the year-ago comparable period.
Kinona Appoints Co-Founder As New CEO, Names Senior Director Of Marketing
Tami Fujii, co-founder of women’s golf apparel brand Kinona, assumed the role of CEO effective March 1. Co-Founder Dianne Celuch remains chief operating and merchandising officer. Kinona’s director of e-commerce, Kirsten Wlaschin, was promoted to senior director of marketing.
Life Time Fitness To Open Locations In Tampa And Atlanta
Life Time, the upscale fitness club operator, entered into new and extended long-term leases with RMR Group for the Harbour Island Athletic Club in Tampa, FL and Atlanta’s Athletic Club Northeast in North Druid Hills.
PickleTV Streaming On Amazon Prime Video And Freevee
PickleTV, an ad-supported streaming (FAST) television channel dedicated to pro pickleball matches, tutorials, interviews, and original content, is streaming live on Amazon’s Prime Video and Amazon Freevee in the U.S.
