SGB Update Sportsmans

NRF: Economy Delivers “Vigorous Growth” Despite Slowdown
According to the National Retail Federation’s Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, after a challenging year, the economy remains healthy despite slowing.

Johnson Outdoors Sees Q4 Revenues Halved as Fishing Sinks
Consolidated net sales in fiscal Q4 were $96.3 million, a $100.1 million decrease from the prior-year Q4 sales of $196.4 million. The net loss for the quarter was $16.0 million, or a loss of $1.56 a share, compared to net income of $9.7 million, or EPS of 95 cents a share in the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter.

Delta Apparel Posts Wider Fiscal Q4 Loss as Sales Fall 21 Percent
Salt Life Group segment net sales were $12.5 million in Q4, compared to prior-year fourth quarter net sales of $14 million. Net sales in the Delta Group segment were $78.9 million in Q4, compared to $101.5 million in the prior-year fourth quarter.

Smith & Wesson Brands Sees Q2 Profits Shrink on Weak Margins
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. posted net sales of $125.0 million in the fiscal second quarter, an increase of 3.2 percent year-over-year. Gross margin continues to be temporarily pressured by fixed-cost absorption, inflationary factors, and inventory reserve adjustments.

Backpacker’s Pantry Names Vice President of Operations
Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods promoted Kris Luikart to vice president of operations. Luikart brings ten years of experience in planning and operations in the food industry to the position.

Tanger Acquires First Open-Air Lifestyle Center
Tanger acquired Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville, AL for $193.5 million using cash on hand and available liquidity. Management expects the center to deliver a first-year return in the mid-eight percent range, with potential for additional growth over time.

ICSC Board of Trustees Elects New 2024 Chair and Vice Chair
The ICSC Board of Trustees elected Jim Taylor, president & CEO, Brixmor Property Group, to serve as ICSC’s chairman and Angele Robinson-Gaylord, SVP, store development americas, Starbucks, to serve as vice chairman for the 2024 term.

FWV Sells CGPR to Integrated Travel and Recreation Marketing Firm
Off Madison Ave acquired PR Agency CGPR from French/West/Vaughan (FWV), the Raleigh, NC-based marketing agency that acquired the company in February 2020. CGPR is the fifth merger and acquisition by Off Madison Ave since 2005.

NSSF: November Adjusted NICS Background Checks Climb 5 Percent
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported that the November 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System number increased by 5.0 percent, its second consecutive positive month.

Sporting Goods Industry Mourns the Passing of Jim Easton
Jim Easton, the second-generation owner of the Easton sports equipment companies and a pioneer in aluminum-based manufacturing processes used in sports equipment, died at his home in Los Angeles on December 4 at the age of 88.

Watchtower Firearms Hires Indie Sales Rep Agency
Veteran-owned firearm manufacturing company Watchtower, based in Spring, TX, has appointed independent sales rep agency Lou Leamont Sales & Marketing to handle sales on the East and West coasts, effective immediately.

VF, Vista Outdoor, Wolverine Worldwide Top Most-Read SGB Articles for November
November 2023 featured to usual articles for the start of the holiday shopping season and the end of the retail fiscal quarter, but it was a dramatic job cutting announcement from VF Corporation, parent of The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Dickies and Jansport that got the most attention over the 30-day period.

Consumer Confidence Rebounds in November
U.S. consumer confidence rose in November after three straight monthly declines, with U.S. consumers planning big-ticket purchases, including motor vehicles and houses, over the next six months despite higher prices and interest rates.

Vista Outdoor Appoints Co-CEOs Ahead of Split
As part of the previously announced plan to sell its ammo business to Czechoslovak Group and change the company’s name to Revelyst, Vista Outdoor, Inc. named Eric Nyman and Jason Vanderbrink as co-chief executive officers in a regulatory filing.

Bigshot Archery Acquires Delta McKenzie Targets
Targets will continue to be sold and marketed under the Bigshot and Delta McKenzie brand names and Bigshot will continue to be represented by MWS Associates while Delta McKenzie will continue to be represented by Summit Outdoor Sales.