The latest news, analysis and data on key outdoor segments including trail running, climbing, b/c snowsports, cycling, kanu & kayak, camping, adventure travel, urban outdoor, hunting & fishing and more.
North Face helps drive Q4 revenue rise, but Vans hit by China lockdowns
VF Corp reported a revenue increase of 9 percent to $2.8 billion (€2.65bn) in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by The North Face (TNF), although sales at Vans were flat during the period. Sales were boosted by a 15 percent increase in the EMEA region and 12 percent in ...
Schöffel labels all products with new echo label to indicate sustainable aspects
German brand Schöffel has introduced a new signet called “Echo’” to mark its products with sustainable aspects. The new sustainability label is an acronym for the words “environment,” “community,” “humanity,” and “opportunity” and will be added to every qualifying product as a hangtag and in communication. For summer 2023, the ...
Osprey strengthens distribution in Austria and Italy
California-based backpack specialist Osprey, a Helen of Troy brand since late 2021, has hired two distribution agencies to support direct sales and increase market share in two important European markets.
Lowa reports top sales figures for 2021
The German mountain, outdoor and everyday footwear manufacturer Lowa has ended 2021 with peak figures for both the number of pairs of shoes sold and revenue, thanks to the ongoing outdoor boom. Sales climbed from 2.49 million pairs in 2020 to 3.17 million pairs in 2021. At the same time, ...
North Face helps drive Q4 revenue rise, but Vans hit by China lockdowns
VF Corp reported a revenue increase of 9 percent to $2.8 billion (€2.65bn) in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by The North Face (TNF), although sales at Vans were flat during the period. Sales were boosted by a 15 percent increase in the EMEA region and 12 percent in ...
Mammut appoints new CEO
The Swiss outdoor company Mammut Sports Group AG has appointed Heiko Schäfer as its new CEO, effective Sept. 1, 2022. For Schäfer, who previously served as chief operating officer of Hugo Boss AG, Mammut represents a return to the world of sporting goods. He worked in various leadership positions at ...
Full Circle Everest Expedition summits and sets a sign of diversity in climbing
Seven members of the all-black climber’s team of the Full Circle Everest Expedition reached the summit peak on May 12, 2022, roughly 60 years after the first U.S. citizen climbed Everest for the first time. The Full Circle Everest Expedition (counting eleven experienced climbers) set out to make history with ...
Mountain Equipment strengthens its team
After several years of double-digit growth, Mountain Equipment has added three new members to its brand team to consolidate and strengthen its market position.
North Face helps drive Q4 revenue rise, but Vans hit by China lockdowns
VF Corp reported a revenue increase of 9 percent to $2.8 billion (€2.65bn) in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by The North Face (TNF), although sales at Vans were flat during the period. Sales were boosted by a 15 percent increase in the EMEA region and 12 percent in ...
Osprey strengthens distribution in Austria and Italy
California-based backpack specialist Osprey, a Helen of Troy brand since late 2021, has hired two distribution agencies to support direct sales and increase market share in two important European markets.
Mammut appoints new CEO
The Swiss outdoor company Mammut Sports Group AG has appointed Heiko Schäfer as its new CEO, effective Sept. 1, 2022. For Schäfer, who previously served as chief operating officer of Hugo Boss AG, Mammut represents a return to the world of sporting goods. He worked in various leadership positions at ...
Mountain Equipment strengthens its team
After several years of double-digit growth, Mountain Equipment has added three new members to its brand team to consolidate and strengthen its market position.
Deckers announces change in leadership of performance lifestyle division
Deckers Brands has announced that Wendy Yang will step down from her role as president of Performance Lifestyle at the end of the month after seven years of leading the Hoka and Teva brands to new heights. Stefano Caroti, president of omnichannel and a 30-year industry veteran, will assume Yang’s ...
Patrik Frisk to exit Under Armour
Nearing the completion of a multi-year, $525 to $550 million restructuring, and 10 days after disclosing that short-term challenges will impact its sales, profitability, and margins for much of 2022, Under Armour on May 18 appointed Colin Browne as its interim president and CEO, effective June 1. On that date, ...
New Salewa speed hiking campaign
Accompanied by a new communication concept titled “6 to 9: Kick-start your day,” the Italian mountain sports brand Salewa, part of the Oberalp Group, will focus on speed hiking for SS 2023. “Speed Hiking brings people together; it is deeply inclusive and knows no boundaries or barriers - physical, ethnic ...
UTMB World Series makes charity bibs available in support of Ukraine
UTMB World Series is releasing charity bibs for more than 15 UTMB World Series Events to aid causes that directly support the Ukrainian people affected by the war. The project is carried out in collaboration with the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the GivenGain ...
Angling Direct reports 7.2% sales increase
Angling Direct, the British omnichannel fishing tackle and equipment retailer, has posted a revenue increase of 7.2 percent in the full year ended Jan. 31, 2022, with annual revenues reaching £72.5 million (€85.4 million).
Yeti sees big growth potential outside U.S.
Yeti’s first-quarter international sales rose 45 percent to $37.4 million from $25.8 million to account for 13 percent of period revenues and Yeti management thinks the segment can grow to more than 20 percent of its overall business over the long term. Despite current geopolitical headwinds in Europe, Yeti is ...
Rapala’s COO Lars Ollberg retires
Rapala VMC will bid farewell to company veteran Lars Ollberg this month after 44 years with the Finnish-based fishing tackle company. Ollberg began his Rapala career in 1978 as a sales representative and subsequently has also worked in marketing and sourcing positions at many of the company’s business units around ...
Johnson Outdoors gets lift from camping, but fishing sinks
Johnson Outdoors’ operating income slipped 57.2 percent to $15.4 million from $36.0 million as total revenues fell 8.0 percent to $189.6 million from $206.2 million for the second quarter ended April 1. Gross margin slid to 36.2 percent from 45.2 percent, a decline the company blamed on higher material and ...
Global bicycle stocks Q1 2021: The soaring continues
While most of the existing problems caused by the Corona crisis have yet to be resolved, the global stock market is relying on hopes — hopes for a bright post-Corona future. Instead of going into crisis mode, it is simply bypassing all the economic killers that are piling up. Supported by further stimulus packages and the open money floodgates of central banks, the stock market remains high. Our cycling stock chartists are ahead of the curve. They rely on another serious advantage: the bicycle and e-bike sales boom pushed by Corona led to excellent business figures last year. These were announced in the first quarter of this year. Some of the record results were a good impetus for the development of the share value in Q1 2021.
MTB cycletech manufacturer Velobaze calls it quits
On March 25, partners, dealers and suppliers of Swiss MTB Cycletech producer Velobaze received the news that the manufacturer’s business operations “will be discontinued with immediate effect due to the current economic situation.” According to the Velobaze board of directors, this step had to be taken despite significant financial investment ...
MTB Tourism Congress 2021 more international and digital-only
“Roots - exploring the trail ahead” - under this title, the organizer, Mountainbike Tourismusforum Deutschland, invites participants to the sixth German Mountain Bike Tourism Congress. This year, due to the Corona pandemic, it will open its doors digitally only from May 4-6. Apart from that, the organizer promises more international ...
Mips divides product offering into five classes for better diversification
To help brands and consumers select and diversify its products, Mips, the Swedish provider of the eponymous helmet safety technology, has introduced a new product range to better define its helmet safety products and classify them according to their intended use. All future Mips-equipped helmets will be branded with the ...
Founder of Fidlock nominated for European Inventor Award 2022
Joachim Fiedler, inventor and founder of the German Fidlock company, is nominated for the European Inventor Award 2022 organized by the European Patent Office in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) category for its magnet lockup technologies. The Hanover-based company holds 400 patents, works with companies like Nike and Arc’teryx ...
Vaude and partner Interseroh nominated for Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2022
At the time that Vaude’s new line of ReCycle bike bags made from 100 percent recycled materials (for the main material) is going to market, the German company – together with its partners for the project, Interseroh and the Czech manufacturing company Fitcraft – is nominated for the Plastics Recycling ...
Giant Group reports another sales record in Q1
For the first quarter of fiscal 2022, Taiwan’s leading bicycle manufacturer Giant Manufacturing Company Limited (Giant Group) reported a new historical quarterly record. E-bikes accounted for 26 percent of group sales.
New sustainable bike brand Norman introduces Australian-made MTB apparel and sportswear
The Australian clothing brand Norman has launched its first line of mountain biking apparel, all made in Australia and with a choice of materials focusing on sustainability, including a poly/nylon blend made from recycled ocean plastic from Repreve. Norman ships its apparel for men and women worldwide from its webshop. ...
Pelican International acquires GSI Outdoors
Canadian paddlesports supplier Pelican International, Inc. (not to be confused with U.S. specialty case manufacturer Pelican Products Inc.) has acquired a majority stake in Spokane-based GSI Outdoors. The transaction is an important step in Pelican’s growth as it strives to diversify its offerings in the North American and international outdoor ...
Solo Brands with new CFO and new board members
Solo Brands has appointed Somer Webb as CFO, effective May 16. Sam Simmons, the company’s current CFO, will remain with Solo Brands to ensure a smooth transition. Somer brings more than 15 years of financial experience to Solo Brands. She has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, mergers and ...
Solo Brands records 19% sales increase in Q1
Solo Brands, the U.S. DTC company owning the Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Isle paddleboards and Chubbies apparel brands, said its sales increased 19.0 percent to $82.2 million in Q1 2022, ended March 31, compared to $69.1 million in the first quarter of 2021. The increase was driven by the acquisitions ...
Solo Brands with very profitable 2021
Solo Brands Inc., the U.S. company that began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2021 and owns several DTC-focused brands, announced its financial results for the three and twelve-month periods ended Dec. 31, 2021. The operating results in 2021 include the activity of Oru Kayak, Isle Paddleboard ...
Thule Group with new product categories, updates financial targets
At its capital markets day, the Swedish Thule Group has presented plans to enter the two new product categories in 2023: car seats – to be launched in Europe first, expanding worldwide in a second step – and dog transport products, starting with a dog cage.
Gregory sales decline slightly in Q1, impacted by Asia and Europe
Samsonite International reported that Gregory Mountain Products sales declined 4 percent to $15.1 million in Q1 2022 from $15.8 million a year earlier, making it the only Samsonite brand to report a decline in the period. Sales in North America increased 5 percent due to the easing of social distancing ...
Clarus' outdoor results impacted by supply chain, logistics
Clarus Corp. posted a 7 percent decline in first-quarter net income to $5.3 million from $5.67 million despite a 50 percent increase in revenues to $113.3 million from $75.3 million. Sales benefitted from contributions from acquisitions Rhino-Rack ($24.5m) and Maxtrax ($24.5m).
Hans Eckerström succeeds Bengt Baron as chairman of Thule Group
At Thule Group’s Annual General Meeting, long-time board member Hans Eckerström was elected to succeed Bengt Baron as chairman of the board. Baron had decided in the fall of 2021 to retire from his role at this year’s AGM after eleven years on the board, the last four of which ...
Pelican International acquires GSI Outdoors
Canadian paddlesports supplier Pelican International, Inc. (not to be confused with U.S. specialty case manufacturer Pelican Products Inc.) has acquired a majority stake in Spokane-based GSI Outdoors. The transaction is an important step in Pelican’s growth as it strives to diversify its offerings in the North American and international outdoor ...
Solo Brands with new CFO and new board members
Solo Brands has appointed Somer Webb as CFO, effective May 16. Sam Simmons, the company’s current CFO, will remain with Solo Brands to ensure a smooth transition. Somer brings more than 15 years of financial experience to Solo Brands. She has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, mergers and ...
Solo Brands records 19% sales increase in Q1
Solo Brands, the U.S. DTC company owning the Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Isle paddleboards and Chubbies apparel brands, said its sales increased 19.0 percent to $82.2 million in Q1 2022, ended March 31, compared to $69.1 million in the first quarter of 2021. The increase was driven by the acquisitions ...
Big Agnes opens new European headquarters
Colorado-based outdoor equipment brand Big Agnes has opened its new European headquarters in Amsterdam, from which it will directly serve its core European markets, including the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, the U.K. and France. By the end of next year, five employees will be working there in customer and dealer service, ...
North Face helps drive Q4 revenue rise, but Vans hit by China lockdowns
VF Corp reported a revenue increase of 9 percent to $2.8 billion (€2.65bn) in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by The North Face (TNF), although sales at Vans were flat during the period. Sales were boosted by a 15 percent increase in the EMEA region and 12 percent in ...
Gregory sales decline slightly in Q1, impacted by Asia and Europe
Samsonite International reported that Gregory Mountain Products sales declined 4 percent to $15.1 million in Q1 2022 from $15.8 million a year earlier, making it the only Samsonite brand to report a decline in the period. Sales in North America increased 5 percent due to the easing of social distancing ...
Jack Wolfskin positioned for growth as Callaway lifts group guidance
Callaway Golf raised annual guidance after a strong first quarter, driven by its Topgolf driving range venues, strong performances from its other segments and positive signs from its Jack Wolfskin brand. Revenue for the three months to March 31 rose 59.6 percent to $1.04 billion (€990m). Adjusted Ebitda was up ...
NRDC rolls out eliminate PFAS campaign targeting Columbia Sportswear
The U.S.-based activist group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), together with the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, have launched a new campaign urging Columbia Sportswear to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals from their products and supply chain by 2024. The campaign will engage everyday consumers through a petition drive ...
Cake appoints EV strategist to board of directors
Cake, the Swedish manufacturer of lightweight electric motorcycles, has announced the appointment of Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen to its board of directors. Bardenfleth-Hansen, who recently became CEO of Norwegian charging station manufacturer Zaptec, brings many years of experience in the electrification of transportation and its greater ecosystem. Among other things, he led ...
Cake appoints Jens Stark as chief commercial officer
Cake, the Swedish manufacturer of lightweight electric motorcycles, has appointed Jens Stark as chief commercial officer. Stark will lead the continued expansion of Cake’s sales team globally and take the sales organization from start-up to scale-up. He joins Cake from Apple, where he held several sales and business development leadership ...
New networking format for urban mobility during Eurobike
Urban mobility is the central focus of the new Mobility Networking Night in Frankfurt. The event will take place on July 14, 2022. The stated goal: “The event will provide a framework to explore cross-industry synergies with other relevant urban mobility players.”
Clarus open to buy more “Super Fan” brands after record year
Clarus Corp., whose expanding portfolio now includes seven brands and three operating segments, generated a 99 percent increase in fourth-quarter net income to $14,046,000 from $7,069,000 on 56 percent topline growth to $118,183,000 from $75,947,000 for the period ended Dec. 31. Sales increased by 34 percent in the U.S. to ...
Naturkompaniet donates record amount to nature conservation projects
Every year, the Swedish retailer Naturkompaniet donates a portion of its profits to selected environmental and nature conservation organizations. The theme of this year’s ”Naturbonus” is biodiversity in Sweden and around the world. The five selected organizations for 2022 have now been selected and can look forward to a record ...
North Face helps drive Q4 revenue rise, but Vans hit by China lockdowns
VF Corp reported a revenue increase of 9 percent to $2.8 billion (€2.65bn) in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by The North Face (TNF), although sales at Vans were flat during the period. Sales were boosted by a 15 percent increase in the EMEA region and 12 percent in ...
Schöffel labels all products with new echo label to indicate sustainable aspects
German brand Schöffel has introduced a new signet called “Echo’” to mark its products with sustainable aspects. The new sustainability label is an acronym for the words “environment,” “community,” “humanity,” and “opportunity” and will be added to every qualifying product as a hangtag and in communication. For summer 2023, the ...
Registration for EOS 2022 now open
Delegate registration is now open for the European Outdoor Summit (EOS), held Oct. 6-7 at the Impérial Palace in Annecy, France. The early bird discount is still available until June 30, and booking is available through this link.