SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Authentic Names Brand Partners Supporting Champion Brand
Authentic Brand Group announced that GearCo, BBC and AMG Companies will serve as its primary vendor partners supporting its just-closed acquisition the Champion brand.
Sports Licensing Company, Homage Apparel, Taps Into Celebrity Investors
The round kicked off with an initial investment from Ryan Reynolds’ venture firm, Maximum Effort, that was recently complemented by investments from Winnie Capital, led by former NFL star Jason Kelce, and 35Ventures, led by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman.
Rawlings Sporting Goods Sets CEO Transition Plan
Mike Zlaket, Rawlings’ current CEO, will transition to vice chairman of the company’s Board at the close of the year. Current company president Ron Ostrowski’s will add CEO to his duties, effective January 1, 2025.
DMR Bikes Hires North America Sales and Marketing Manager
Mike Flaherty will support the bike maker’s two North American distributors, BTi and QBP, along with LTP in Canada and a growing network of dealers stocking DMR Bikes products.
Dockworkers Now on Strike at East and Gulf Coast Ports
The strike spans from Maine to Texas and blocks everything from food to auto shipments across dozens of ports. Analysts have warned that this could cost the economy billions of dollars a day, threaten jobs and potentially stoke inflation.
Life Time Group Nets $65M on Two Sale-Leaseback Transactions
The latest transactions bring the company’s total gross proceeds from sale-leasebacks to approximately $213 million year-to-date.
Beachbody to Cut 33 Percent of Staff in New Omni-Channel Business Model
Current participants in Bodi’s Partner Network in the U.S. and Canada will transition to the new Affiliate Program. Bodi’s MLM Network will begin winding down and complete the process by January 1, 2025.
New Balance Opens New EMEA Headquarters
New Balance officially opened its new offices at A-Factorij in Amsterdam’s Schinkel District, near the Olympic Stadium, supporting the brand’s new EMEA headquarters,
Genesco Names Sandra Harris as New CFO
Sandra Harris was appointed senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer, effective October 7, 2024. She succeeds Thomas A. George, whose planned retirement will take effect on December 12, 2024, to ensure an orderly transition. She joins the company with a strong working background as CFO and in finance leadership roles, including at VF Corp.
Big Peach Running Co. to Open Store in Atlanta
Big Peach Running Co. plans to open its first store in Atlanta and 13th overall. The store will be owned in a partnership with former music industry executive Ric Ross and his wife, Dawn.
JCPenney to Hire Over 10,000 Employees for the Holiday Season
The company is hosting a national hiring event, October 16-18, in stores and online for the 2024 holiday season, with plans to hire over 10,000 seasonal employees.
HanesBrands Completes Sale of Champion Business to Authentic
HanesBrands, Inc. completed the sale of the intellectual property and certain operating assets of its global Champion business to Authentic Brands Group.
Off-White Brand Acquired by Bluestar Alliance Acquires from LVMH
Founded in 2012 by Virgil Abloh, Off-White manufactures seasonal men’s and women’s clothing, objects, furniture, and publications in Milan, Italy, with a global perspective on design and trends for youth culture.
Crunch Franchise to Open New Fitness Facility in Manchester, MO
Crunch Manchester, MO, a $6 million, 45,000-square-foot fitness facility, will open in early 2025, operated by Crunch Fitness franchisee The Undefeated Tribe.
Fairfax to Acquire Controlling Ownership of Peak Achievement Athletics
In 2017, Fairfax and Sagard purchased Peak, a portfolio of global brands, including Bauer, Cascade and Maverik. With its roots starting in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1927, Bauer Hockey manufactures hockey equipment and apparel. Cascade Lacrosse and Maverik Lacrosse manufacture lacrosse head protection and equipment.
