SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Club Champion Opens Four New Studios
Custom club fitter Club Champion announces the opening of four new fitting studios this month, located in Sanford, FL; Mt. Pleasant, SC; Ann Arbor, MI; and Charlottesville, VA.
Brooks Appoints Chief Running Advisor
Brooks has named the two-time US Olympian Des Linden as its new chief running advisor to further support its innovation efforts. Linden will help the running brand conceive and create new products and technology.
Report: Birkenstock Pressuring Retailers To Stop Selling Alleged Copycats
Birkenstock is pressuring retailers to stop selling similar styles from other brands, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nordstrom and Zappos are among those that have reportedly stopped carrying some such styles from Mephisto, Naot, Freedom Moses and Viking Sandals.
Gymshark To Restructure As It Preps For U.S. Expansion
Gymshark could lay off as many as 10 percent of its workforce in an overhaul of the online-only retailer according to reports. The Financial Times reported that the sportswear group also plans to create 100 new jobs as it focuses on the lucrative U.S. market.
U.S. Ports Seeing Brief Slowdown From Last Year But Imports Remain High
The nation’s major retail container ports have begun to catch up with the backlog of cargo seen over the past several months but could experience another surge this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation.
Fabletics Names Chief Design And Merchandising Officer
El Segundo, CA-based Fabletics, announced that it hired Kelli Dugan as chief design and merchandising officer, responsible for product creation, including merchandising, design and planning. Dugan will also lead the ongoing global expansion of its business into men’s, loungewear and swim.
KKR Formalizes Offer For Accell Group
In a joint press release, Accell Group, the parent of Raleigh, Ghost, Haibike, and other bike brands, and a private consortium headed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) recommended shareholders accept the all-cash offering for its shares for 1.56 billion euros ($1.76 billion).
NFL, MLB And Players Unions Increase Investments In Fanatics
The NFL, NFLPA, NHL, MLB, and MLBPA all increased their stakes in Fanatics as part of a recent $1.5 billion funding round, Fanatics has confirmed.
Unleashed Brands Names COO And EVP Of Strategy
Unleashed Brands, the franchiser of Urban Air, Snapology, The Little Gym and Premier Martial Arts, has hired Joe Luongo as chief operating officer and executive vice president of strategy.
NPD And IRI To Merge
The NPD Group (NPD) and Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022.
Nike To Open Technology Center In Atlanta
Nike plans to open a technology center in Atlanta in a major expansion in the area, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Levi Strauss’ Q1 Revenues Climb 22 Percent
Levi Strauss & Co. reported profits on an adjusted basis grew 34.9 percent in the first quarter ended February 27 as sales ran up 22 percent. Both earnings and sales topped Wall Street targets.
VillaSport Announces Axiom Fitness Acquisition
VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa, based in San Rafael, CA, announced its acquisition of Axiom Fitness, a four-club fitness chain in Boise, ID.
Golftec Opens In Las Vegas
Golftec opened an instruction and club fitting center in Las Vegas, NV.
IFit Withdraws IPO Following Postponement In October
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, NordicTrack, owner of IFit Health & Fitness, Inc., scrapped its plans for an already-postponed initial public offering
