SGB Update Sports & Fitness
January U.S. Census Bureau Retail Data Shows Consumers ‘Still Engaged’
January prices for goods reportedly came down, which affects sales figures even if the same number of items are sold, and increased prices for services pulled dollars away from retail purchases.
Authentic Inks Reebok UK/Ireland Apparel License with Source Sport
This partnership will deliver an expanded range of Reebok apparel that aligns with consumers’ active lifestyles in the UK and Ireland.
Crunch Franchise Opens Newest Location in Eugene, OR
Crunch Eugene, a 45,000-square-foot fitness facility in Springfield, OR will open in the Shoppes of Gateway Mall.
Xponential Fitness Completes Divestiture of Stride Fitness
The divestiture of its brand Stride Fitness to Stride Fitness Franchising, Inc., owned by Shaun Grove, the president of Xponential’s Rumble Boxing brand, is not expected to materially impact XPOF revenue in 2024.
Crocs Inc. Sees Q4 Growth Slow as N.A. Wholesale Declines
Fourth quarter revenues were $960 million, an increase of just 1.6 percent, or 1.5 percent on a constant-currency (CC) basis, from the corresponding period in 2022. North America Wholesale declined 5.1 percent in Q4.
Skechers U.S.A. Completes a Retail 5K on Way to Store Number 10,000
Expanding its international store count, key store openings for Skechers leading up to the milestone are in Chile, Greece, India, Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the 5,000th store in Bogotá, Colombia.
Yeti Drinkware Surpasses $1 Billion in 2023; Cooler Recall Nets Margin Gain for Year
The net impact of recall reserves associated with the stop sale of certain soft coolers included in the recalls initiated in Q1 2023 had a 480 basis point impact on the increase in gross margin compared to the prior-year quarter.
Tennis Industry Association Rebrands as Racquet Industry Research Group
TIA rebranded to the Racquet Industry Research Group, noting, “It’s more than just a name change; this evolution signifies a broader mission to provide research and data to the entire racquet sports community.”
Hanesbrands, Inc. Cutting 159 Jobs, Closing NC Distribution Center
HBI plans to permanently lay off another 159 workers in April when it repurposes a DC in Winston-Salem, NC, according to a WARN notice sent to the state of North Carolina on February 5, with an effective date of April 5, 2024.
Hartford Sales Group Appoints New Rep for NorCal Coast
Mark Blesius joined the award-winning agency, covering the Northern California Coast. Blesius was, most recently, the senior regional account manager covering the Southwest region for Asics America.
VF Corp. Aligns with Activist Investor, Appoints New Indie Board Member
VF will appoint another independent director to the Board in the near term, mutually agreed with Engaged Capital and will prioritize considering the candidates identified by Engaged Capital.
Outtech Hires Regional Manager for Independent Channel
Outtech Sales Services hired Dyson Renn as a regional manager for its independent channel, working with retailers in Pennsylvania and Western New York.
EXEC: Topgolf Callaway Sees All Segments Grow in Q4 But Loss Widens
Revenue grew 7 percent at Topgolf, 5 percent in the Golf Equipment segment and 3 percent in the Active Lifestyle segment. The company’s net loss increased 6.1 percent on a GAAP basis and 10.6 percent a non-GAAP basis.
Honey Stinger Appoints Another New CEO
Most recently, John D’Alessandro was chief marketing officer for Nutraceutical Corporation where he was credited with orchestrating the development of over 35 brands.
Jetset Pilates Expands in Texas with West McKinney Location
The growing franchise has studios in Florida, with over 28 in development throughout New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Australia.