Only days from the official start of the Trump Administration in Washington, there is an air of uncertainty about key national issues from free trade and healthcare to monetary policy. Formula4Media editors examine topics likely to impact the sporting goods industry in 2017. Read more...
Health & fitness and traditional sports companies are determined to forge stronger connections with today’s tech-savvy consumers and young athletes. Not only with new hardware and products, but also with updated apps that go beyond delivering pure data to offering almost instant analysis and insight on how that information can be used to improve performance. Read More...
ELY senior management says the public company will realize a “significant” tax benefit of approximately $8 million from the transaction that closed Jan. 11. Within six months, all Ogio operations will be relocated to Carlsbad, CA. Callaway is still working to identify which members of the management team will make the move.
Ogio realized double-digit topline improvement in 2013 and 2014 and a single-digit gain in 2015 before suffering a sales decline to about $50 million last year due to The Sports Authority and Golfsmith bankruptcies. The company, which generates 38 percent of its revenues from golf but has only a two percent share in green grass shops, is forecast to hit $45 million in revenues this year. The remainder of the brand’s business is divided among lifestyle (40%), powersports (15%) and endurance (7%). Internationally, at some 12 percent of its topline, Ogio relies on distributors. But that will likely change under Callaway ownership since it has subsidiaries in key markets.
Callaway is forecasting unspecified savings over the next two years from the acquisition, including distribution center consolidation, but confirms it will retain dedicated design teams for both the Callaway and Ogio brands.
In a separate development, Callaway has signed 23-year old Floridian Daniel Berger, a former collegiate player at Florida State, to a Staff Pro agreement. The company now counts seven pros in their 20s as endorsers.
With the potential of a trade war with the U.S. looming against the incoming Trump Administration, China late last week reported that its exports fell 7.7 percent in 2016 and imports were down 5.5 percent. In a statement by its customs agency, China said it would be difficult for its trade position to improve in 2017 given the likely greater protectionist measures that will be taken by the incoming administration. Meanwhile, economists in a note, expressed worry that the President-elect’s “stance toward China’s trade could bring about long-term structural weakness in China’s exports.”
World Cup: FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup field from 32 to 48 teams, starting in 2026, has been panned as “watering down” the tournament by some, but it should benefit athletic brands who have an additional 16 official country kits to market.
Under Armour is kicking off a four-city Asian tour, beginning in Tokyo on Jan. 17, to launch the first Jordan Spieth signature golf shoe. The journey moves onto South Korea before hitting Los Angeles and Mexico City on Feb. 13 and Feb. 18, respectively.
L.A. Gear immerses itself in the planned move of the NFL’s Chargers to Los Angeles from San Diego, filing a ‘Notice of Opposition’ with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over the ‘LA Chargers’ trademark application. The NFL team, which will eventually share an under-construction stadium in Inglewood, CA with the Rams, will play in the 30,000-seat StubHub Center in Carson, CA for the next two seasons.
L.L. Bean finds itself in political crosshairs after it’s disclosed that its founder’s granddaughter, Linda Bean, donated thousands of dollars to a political action committee that supported President-elect Trump. Freeport, MA company, facing threats of boycotts by some customers, issues a statement declaring, “We stay out of politics.”
Nike appears to be leaning on regional NBA endorsers to bolster basketball shoe business. In Boston, the Swoosh recently blanketed the city’s South Station terminal with signage promoting point guard Isaiah Thomas, who last spring donned the Nike HyperLive on court. And last week in London, Indiana’s Paul George was scheduled to debut his first signature shoe, the PG1, as the Pacers squared off with Denver. Meanwhile, Lebron James, leading in NBA All-Star voting by one million ballots, tells his social media fans that his first shoe—the Nike Air Zoom Generation—will be re-released ‘very soon.’
Adidas basketball pays tribute to the late Arthur Ashe with its new Black History Collection that hits retail Jan. 23.
The Rockport Co., acquired by Berkshire Partners, LLC and New Balance’s investment unit from the adidas Group in Aug. 2015, has a new corporate home in West Newton, MA. Celebrating at the ribbon-cutting event were: (L to R) Newton, MA Mayor Setti Warren, Rockport President and CEO Bob Infantino, New Balance Chairman Jim Davis and Ross Jones, managing partner for Berkshire Partners.
A newly released study conducted by IBM and the National Retail Federation finds that almost all members of Generation Z, those born after the mid-1990s through early 2000s, prefer to shop in brick-and-mortar stores. With the global Gen Z population slated to reach 2.6 billion by 2020, retailers need to create more interactive engagement around their brands to serve the “always on,” mobile-focused, high-spending demographic. Generation Z is the first “digitally native” group to grow up not knowing a world before cellular phones, smartphones and other digital devices. An estimated 67 percent of Gen Z ers shop in bricks-and-mortar stores most of the time, and another 31 percent shop in stores sometimes. The 15- to 21-year old demographic is important to retailers since it has access to $44 billion in buying power. An estimated 75 percent of the group, according to the study, spend more than half the money available to them each month and an estimated 52 percent transfer brand loyalty to another if quality is not up to par, the study found.
PGA TOUR Superstore will open its fifth door in Arizona and 28th location overall with a 40,000-sq. foot store in Glendale, AZ on Jan. 14.
NPD reported that point-of-sale results for key merchandise categories across in-store and online channels, were down 5 percent in dollars for ninth and final week of the holiday season. Overall dollar sales for the nine-week period ended Dec. 31 were down 1 percent year-over-year, the research house said. Sports leisure footwear, however, was one of five top-performing categories.
Dick’s intends to close its 50,000 store in Rochester, MN, open since 2007, at month’s end. But the retailer is also hiring upwards of 200 for its third combo location—Dick’s, Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy—slated to open in Davenport, IA in the spring.
Cabela’s is slated to open its first Washington, D.C. area store, in Gainesville, VA, on March 9.
Stadium Goods, a sneaker and apparel retailer with a brick-and-mortar presence in New York’s Soho neighborhood, an online presence at www.stadiumgoods.com and a stake in China via a partnership with an Alibaba Group affiliate, raises more than $4.6 billion in new equity funding. Mark Cuban is a partner and advisor to the group, which saw the financing round led by Forerunner Ventures and The Chernin Group.
Superfeet Celebrates 40th Anniversary. The employee-owned company introduces footwear and rolls out a 3D printed insole program.
BOA introduces New Tech and Names New CEO. Nothing will constrict Boa Technology CEO Shawn Neville from helping the Denver company improve its customized fit solution.
No strings attached. The married Argentinean couple has raised nearly $20 million for Hickies, a Brooklyn company addressing how athletic shoes are closed around the foot two eyelets at a time.
The Co-founder and Managing Partner of Partners Growth, which brings premium brands into the U.S. market, talks Finnish children’s wear brand Reima.
Six-year old Altra is teaming with Utah State University to develop outdoor design talent.
Let's Go Hyperwear: Former Equinox personal trainer merges the innovative, functional fitness gear from Austin, TX company with programming for schools, camps and institutions.
Sly and Simple. BlueFox.io and its technology enable a retailer to interact with customers in store and track traffic. No beacon required. The CMO explains the benefits of the platform.
The CEO of Xenio Systems talks about the company’s new platform that tracks where shoppers spend time in physical stores and its patented hyper-positioning technology.
The director of export promotion for Mexico’s Guanajuato State government agency addresses the proposed impact of the Border Adjustment Tax by the U.S. and the possibility of a renegotiated NAFTA free trade agreement.
The founder and CEO of EyeFitU, a former investment banker, talks ‘glocal’ assortments, shoppers’ personal sizing and global web payment options.
The president and CEO of the SFIA addresses the most serious threat the industry has faced in the past half-century and the expected re-introduction of the PHIT Act by Congress.
The Italian global trade expert in footwear talks about the present and future of TheMicam trade show and the potential impact of a Border Adjustment Tax in the U.S. on imported shoes.
Dr. James Eakin, chief marketing officer and director of U.S. operations for Xenoma, discusses the Japan company’s e-skin shirt and entire wearable category.
Industry senior statesman Rusty Saunders dishes on industry leadership, pressing issues and the inactivity pandemic.
Expert Barbara Barclay, president of RightEye, talks eye-tracking technology and her company’s recent alliance with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball.
Julie Sylvester, Executive Producer at Living in Digital Times, talks trends likely to emerge at Sports and FitnessTech Summit at CES in Las Vegas.
Chris Palmer, Founder and CEO of BoxFox, talks excess inventory and solutions for vendors, retailers and distributors.
Susie McCabe, SVP of global retail for Under Armour who previously spent 16 years at The Ralph Lauren Corp., dishes on UA’s retail strategy and new Brand House in Boston.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
The president of Reebok Future discusses the intent of the unit and the brand’s plans to develop footwear in a new way.
TREW CEO Paul Schille dishes on the eight-year old company in the process of completing its Series A round of funding and his dual career.
Milestone Sports CEO Jason Kaplan dishes on the company’s low-cost, wearable pod and how it will help specialty retailers connect.
OOFOS marketing executive talks about the recovery footwear brand and candidly about her courageous personal health journey.
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America President Matt Priest the likelihood of the Trans-Pacific Partnership being passed soon.
ING Source executives dish about compression technology and the Hickory, NC company’s breakthrough OS1st Brace Layer System.
Jones & Vining’s Charles Liberge addresses strategies and directions for the iconic brand.
Rockport Group senior executives talk about the brand’s fresh start under new ownership that has a major emphasis on versatility.
Mission Athletecare CEO Josh Shaw says thermoregulation is the New York company’s singular focus.
Tim Porth of Octane Fitness talks trends, Zero Runner and the company’s January acquisition by Nautilus Inc.
The principal and founder of Rising Tide Associates talks about industry advocate lobbying for the domestic textile and footwear industries.
The ‘47 brand executive dishes on the Boston company and long-time MLB licensee founded by his father Arthur and his late Uncle Henry.
Pam Gelsomini, president, and CB Tuite, VP–sales, discuss the company’s products, partnerships and what’s new for the season ahead.
The tradeshowdirector for the American Sportfishing Association casts comments on the activity’s popularity, and trends in fishing.
The principal and founder of Rising Tide Associates talks about industry advocate lobbying for the domestic textile.
The VP of sales and sponsorships for Spalding, Dave Coradini talks Shot Tracker and basketball.
The executive brand and product innovation leader dishes to F4M’s Emily Walzer on an array of topics.
Snow Sports Industries of America’s Kelly Davis talks weather, participation trends and how to handle the psyche.
Gene McCarthy, president of Asics America, speaks to Jen Ernst Beaudry on specialty run and more in the second part of the podcast.
Gene McCarthy, new president of Asics Americas, dishes to F4M’s Jen Ernst Beaudry in the first of a two-part podcast.
Saucony’s Richie Woodworth offers his views on brand’s running business and what it takes to manage through change.
Bruce Cazenave, CEO of Nautilus Inc., recently ranked 23rd on Fortune’s “Fastest Growing Companies” list.
Gary Smith has been at the helm of the Lawrence, MA firm for three years, and his 2016 strategies will broaden Polartec’s scope.
Wilson Sporting Goods, one year removed from its 100th anniversary and a major restructuring, has a renewed focus and strategy.
