SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Skechers Returns As Houston Marathon Sponsor

Skechers Performance, a division of Skechers USA, Inc., returns to Houston, Texas on January 14, 2018 for its fifth year as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Real Sociedad To Replace Adidas With Macron

Macron, the Italian sportswear brand, will replace Adidas as kit sponsor of the Spanish soccer club, Real Sociedad, according to a report in the Basque daily newspaper El Diario Vasco.

Nordstrom Lifts EPS Guidance On Improving Holiday Sales

Nordstrom, Inc. announced an increase in its net sales of 2.5 percent and an increase in comparable sales of 1.2 percent for the nine weeks ended December 30. The department store operator lifted its EPS guidance for the year.

Brooks Racks Up Double-Digit Gains In Q4

Brooks Running scored its second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in the fourth quarter, Jim Weber, CEO, wrote on the company’s blog.

Honey Stinger Signs James Russell Gill III

James Russell Gill III, professional ultra-endurance runner, owner and CEO of Bad to the Bone Sports and race director for the Ultra Race of Champions, has signed on as an athlete with Honey Stinger, maker of honey-based energy products.

Equinox, Owner of SoulCycle, Invests In Rumble

Equinox, the operator of Equinox Fitness Clubs, Blink Fitness, Pure Yoga, and SoulCycle, announced a significant minority stake in Rumble, a boxing-inspired group fitness company based in NYC.

ICSC Sees Robust Holiday Gains

This holiday season saw an increase in consumer spending according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), which released its annual Post-Holiday Shopping Survey. This year’s survey showed that the average spend on gifts and other holiday-related items was $841.50 this season, compared to $711 last year, representing a gain of 18.3 percent.

Fanatics Opens Japan Office

The Tokyo-based office will lead the initial expansion of Fanatics’ operations throughout Asia, and strategically aligns with the company’s expansion strategy to grow the licensed sports merchandise industry across key global markets.

Headsweats Welcomes New Ambassador Team

Thirty-five outstanding athletes were selected from over 500 applications based upon their personal and athletic accomplishments within their sport.

Big 5 Cuts Q4 Guidance On Weather Woes

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. slashed its fourth-quarter earnings guidance as “extraordinarily dry and warm weather conditions” led to a double-digit comp decline in December.