SGB Update Sports & Fitness

NRF Sees Economic Growth Holding Steady but Market Uncertainty is Still Pervasive
With President Trump moving the goalposts once again by continuing the pause in increased tariffs until early August, and perhaps later, importers, manufacturers, exporters, retailers, brands, and consumers all seem to be walking around with a big question mark above their heads.

TenCate Americas Hires VP of Manufacturing
The manufacturer and installer of synthetic turf for sports and outdoor living applications, based in Chattanooga, TN hired Colin Drafts as vice president of manufacturing.

Wolverine World Wide Adds Two Board Members
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. appointed Cheryl Abel-Hodges, current CEO of Tommy John, and Jack Boyle, the former head buyer for Fanatics, to its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2025.

Imbox Protection Acquired by PE Firm
Altor Fund VI, a Swedish private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in Imbox Protection A/S, a Danish company specializing in footwear protection technology, while entering into a partnership with the company’s former founder and owners, Réné Marker and the Grundtvig family.

Rack Room Appoints Chief Merchant and Chief Digital Officer
The company promoted Brian Burnett to senior vice president, chief merchandise officer and Molly Hartney to chief digital officer, a newly created role. Burnett has been with Rack Room Shoes for nearly nine years, having previously served as general merchandise manager. Hartney joined the company as chief marketing officer in 2021.

Report: June Mall Traffic Declined Across All Formats
Placer.ai noted that June 2025 shopping center traffic fell slightly following two straight months of year-over-year visit growth – although indoor malls continued to show the strongest performance, with just a 0.7 percent drop in year-over-year June visits.

Snyder Golf USA Taps Denny Mazur as Chief Revenue Officer
Mazur is said to bring over a decade of sales, marketing and operational leadership from top-tier golf brands, including Srixon, Cleveland Golf and OnCore Golf.

Adobe Forecasts Almost $24 Billion In Amazon Four-Day Prime Day Sales
Amazon’s four-day Prime Day event, running from July 8 to 11, is expected to drive online spending across U.S. retailers to $23.8 billion, representing 28.4 percent year-over-year (YoY) growth and the equivalent of two Black Fridays, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

Xponential Fitness’ SEC Investigation Concludes Without Action
Xponential Fitness reported in a regulatory filing that the Securities and Exchange Commission had concluded an 18-month investigation of the company on July 1 without taking action.

Revelyst Precision Sports Names Briand VP, Business Development
With over 25 years of experience in golf operations and business development, Briand’s career includes stops at True Spec Golf, TaylorMade and several golf clubs.

SRAM Acquires Italian Company Ochain
Chicago-based bike parts manufacturer SRAM acquired Ochain, the Italian manufacturer of chainring spiders that enable a bike’s chainring to move independently of the cranks, improving mountain bike suspension feel and performance.

Eastside Golf Opens First Retail Store
Located at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), the store opening comes as the golf lifestyle brand recently launched at Nordstrom, Golf Galaxy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and House of Sport earlier this year and PGA Tour in 2024.

Lacoste Appoints New CEO
Éric Vallat, a former LVMH executive, was appointed as the company’s new CEO, starting September 1. He succeeds Thierry Guibert, who has held the position since 2015.

Bodybar Pilates Surpasses 150 Franchise Agreements
Former Navy SEAL Jeremy Beal and his wife, Erica, signed the brand’s 150th franchise agreement, which will bring two new locations to the Houston, TX market in Tomball and Magnolia.

Fitness Ventures Opens 60th Crunch Fitness Location
Crunch Fitness’ second largest franchisee opened its 60th Crunch Fitness location with a 60,000-square-foot facility in Des Moines, IA. Fitness Ventures reports it is on pace to reach 75 open clubs by the end of 2025.