SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Report: Gen-Z Strava Athletes Most Likely to Build Community for Workouts
The report concluded that while it’s no surprise that Gen Z’s behaviors and habits vary from other generations, they also have different motivators, barriers and interests when it comes to staying active.
National Golf Foundation Makes Board Appointments
The National Golf Foundation (NGF) added Craig Kessler, PGA of America COO, Geoff Cottrill, Topgolf’s chief brand officer, and Edric Funk, Toro’s VP of golf, grounds, and irrigation, to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2024.
Sacks Parente Golf Adds Industry Veteran to Board
Jane Casanta reportedly brings “a rich background in the golf industry” to Sacks Parente Golf, having served in various marketing and product development roles at the Acushnet Company for 26 years, including as director of marketing for Titleist Gloves and Accessories worldwide.
Therabody Pushes Back Against Hyperice Claims
Hyperice filed a lawsuit in federal court on January 2, 2024 against Therabody, the maker of the Theragun line of percussive massage guns, alleging infringement of the company’s patented percussion massage technology.
Costco’s Global Sales Climb 10 Percent In December
Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $26.15 billion for the retail month of December, an increase of 9.9 percent from $23.80 billion last year. U.S. sales were up 7.3 percent.
Report: U.S. Holiday Online Sales Grow 4.9 Percent
Online spending in the U.S. during the 2023 holiday season climbed 4.9 percent to $222.1 billion in November and December, according to Adobe Analytics. Growth was reportedly driven by sizeable discounts across electronics, toys and apparel, as well as increased usage of the flexible ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ payment option.
Brooks Hires VP of Apparel and Accessories
Brooks Running hired Gabriel Rodriguez as VP of apparel and accessories. Most recently, Rodriguez was the director of run apparel and competitive train/Curry and basketball at Under Armour.
SFIA Re-Elects Ram as Chair; Adds Three New Board Members
SFIA re-elected Jonathan Ram, CEO of Clarks, Inc., as chairman of the Board of Directors for the 2024 term. Isabel Coscia, SVP of marketing at Technogym, Ryan Cruthirds, chief digital commerce and brand development officer at Implus LLC and Koichiro Kodama, president and CEO for Asics North America, were newly elected to the SFIA Board,
Academy Sports’ Former President Lands at Groundworks
Groundworks, the foundation and water management solutions company, hired Michael Mullican as CFO. Last October, Mullican stepped down from Academy Sports as president and CFO to pursue personal and professional opportunities.
UK’s SportsShoes.com Inks Global Marketing Partnership with Parkrun
The UK-based online running shoe, clothing and outdoor gear retailer said in a release it is now exclusively Parkrun’s official retail partner in the UK, while also supporting the global Parkrun community with procurement and distribution of its range of merchandise.
Haro Bikes Hires Chief Marketing Officer
Haro Bikes, based in Vista, CA, hired Megan Tompkins as chief marketing officer. Haro reported that she has “lengthy experience in international marketing and sales for cycling brands, including Crankbrothers, Specialized and Shimano.
K-Swiss Appoints VP of Lifestyle
K-Swiss hired athletics footwear veteran Andrew Richard as VP of lifestyle, responsible for leading lifestyle sales for the Americas region, including the wholesale sales team and K-Swiss distributors.
Hyperice Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Therabody
Hyperice filed a lawsuit in federal court against Therabody, the maker of the Theragun line of percussive massage guns, alleging infringement of the company’s patented percussion massage technology.
Costco Store in Virginia to Unionize
At the Costco store in Norfolk, VA, employees voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters, the largest union in America, marking the first “victory” for workers at a Costco location in two decades.
A Range of Business Issues, Brands and Retailers Top SGB Media’s Most Read for December
December 2023 featured many of the annual recaps and look aheads inherent in end-of-year business reporting; however, traffic and readership also rewarded a piece on Macy’s $5.8 billion buyout offer with the Most Read Article nod for the month.
