Aku posts 28.6% sales growth
Aku posted revenues of €29.2 million in 2022, representing a 28.6 percent increase from the previous year, primarily driven by international sales. Export accounted for 82 percent of the company’s sales. Europe recorded a 14 percent sales increase, while Asian sales jumped by 99 percent. In 2022, the Italy-based outdoor ...
Oeko-Tex certifies first German tannery according to STeP
Leder Heinen, one of the last tanneries in Germany, and its Terracare product label have received the Oeko-Tex® STeP certificate. Terracare leather is used in the products of well-known outdoor footwear manufacturers such as Lowa, Meindl, Hanwag and Mammut.
Jack Wolfskin introduces 3D-printed backpack carrying system
Jack Wolfskin has unveiled its latest development in backpack technology. The new Aeorise series, consisting of 20-, 30- and 40-liter versions, has a 3D-printed carrying system that enhances the backpack design with zonal body mapping technology. The technology allows for a combination of grid structure patterns that provide varying degrees ...
Vista creates action sports division under outdoor umbrella, led by Fox Racing president
According to Shop Eat Surf, Jeff McGuane, president of Fox Racing, has been promoted at Vista Outdoor to lead a restructured Action Sports division, which includes Fox Racing, Bell, Giro, Blackburn, Krash, Copilot and Raskullz. Vista Outdoor acquired Fox Racing in August 2022.
Jack Wolfskin partners with U.K.’s 1000 Miles campaign
Jack Wolfskin is the official clothing sponsor of the Walk 1000 Miles campaign for 2023. Run by Country Walking Magazine, Walk 1000 Miles is Britain’s largest self-improvement movement, where participants commit to walking 1000 miles whenever and wherever they want within a calendar year, improving both their physical and mental ...
Alpkit raises £1.5 million in funding
Alpkit, the British outdoor and cycling brand and retailer, has secured £1.5m (€1.7m) from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). The new funding will help it strengthen seasonal inventory acquisition and product development in the footwear and e-bike lines. It will also enable the company to take over its bike ...
Design & Innovation awards 2023 for bike and outdoor products presented
The Design & Innovation Awards have been presented since 2017 and describe themselves as the “Oscars of the bike and outdoor industry.” For the awards, an international jury tested and identified the most outstanding products and trends of the new season in San Vigilio, Italy. The companies honored include Deuter, ...
Parent company of Deuter, Ortovox & Co. has a new CFO
The Schwan-Stabilo Group, which owns the Ortovox, Gonso, Maier Sports and Deuter brands, announced that Anke Buttler has become the group’s new chief financial officer (CFO), joining CEO Sebastian Schwanhäußer as part of the group’s executive management team on Jan. 1. With a degree in business administration, Buttler brings more ...
Norrøna acquires travel specialist and expands into international tourism
After acquiring the local tourism operator Hvitserk of Norway in 2020, Norrøna has now also acquired the global adventure tourism company Hvitserk & Eventyrreiser AS, which was founded in the 1970s. Hvitserk & Eventyrreiser offers trips to 50 countries all over the globe. Following the transaction, the company, now operating ...
New Millet store in Turin
After opening in Bolzano in November, Millet has now added another new flagship store in Turin at Via Gramsci 15. These two stores are the brand’s eighth and ninth in Europe and part of a broader retail plan for Italy that will see more openings, also in franchising, especially in ...
Deuter again achieves Fair Wear Leader status
German brand Deuter has confirmed its leader status with the multi-stakeholder initiative Fair Wear Foundation for the tenth time in a row, reaching 94 of the maximum of 100 points possible. The yearly check-up validates the implementation of fair working conditions in a company’s supply chain. Besides the measures taken ...
Human Material Loop: Startup uses human hair for textile applications
Utilizing human hair waste from hair salons as a raw material, the Dutch start-up company Human Material Loop is working on three different technologies to make use of the main component human hair is made of – keratin – and process it into a fiber alternative to wool, fibers from ...
Deuter donates €4,000 to EOCA biodiversity project
German company Deuter did not offer extra discounts during its “Green Week” (an initiative started as an alternative to Cyber Week). Instead, it started an initiative to donate 10 percent of sales from its online store to a project of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA). Now the brand has ...
Three European brands among winners of U.S. Outdoor Sports Retail Performance Awards
The NPD Group today announced the winners of its third annual Outdoor Sports Retail Performance Awards. The awards recognize the fastest-growing brands in U.S. outdoor and snow sports retail, based on in-store and e-commerce sales, according to data from NPD’s Retail Tracking Service.
She is Outdoors Awards Winter registration extended until Jan. 20
The #sheisoutdoors European award for women’s outdoor products announces its deadline for product entries related to the winter season 22/23 or 23/24. All submissions must be completed by Jan. 20, 2023. Samples will be needed until Jan. 25. Relevant categories for the next winter awards are outdoor professionals and expedition; ...
Cotopaxi CEO steps down to serve Brazil mission
Davis Smith, founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, announced on Jan. 6 that he is stepping down as chief executive of the Utah-based outdoor gear company to return to Brazil, the place where he grew up and where the first seeds of the idea that would become Cotopaxi were planted. Smith ...
Eddie Bauer enters smart eyewear collaboration
Innovative Eyewear, Inc, a developer and distributor of smart eyewear under the Lucyd and Nautica brands, announced that it has licensed smart eyewear to outdoor brand Eddie Bauer under an agreement with the brand’s parent company Authentic Brands Group (ABG).
Houdini Sportswear presents fall 2023 collection, made of 100% eco-friendly materials
Houdini, the Swedish circular sportswear company, has unveiled its Fall 2023 collection, which represents a minimalist outdoor approach. The entire line is 100 percent recyclable, renewable, biodegradable and bluesign®-certified. As part of the collection, Houdini introduces the Mono Air Vest and Pants with Polartec® Power Air Light, a lightweight all-season ...
Helen of Troy making three organizational changes
Helen of Troy, the parent of Osprey and Hydro Flask, is undergoing three organizational changes and shrinking its global workforce by about 10 percent, with most staff reductions completed before March 1. Most notably, the group has decided to merge its Health & Wellness and Beauty segments, centralize its global ...
Silva hires new marketing coordinator for Germany and Austria
Swedish brand Silva has hired Maximilian Mangold as its new marketing coordinator for Germany and Austria. In his newly created role, Mangold will be responsible for trade marketing, events, sponsoring and cooperation, and the organization and maintenance of an athlete’s team in the two countries.