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USA: PFAS regulations pose challenges for industry brands
The rapidly evolving regulatory landscape surrounding per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents significant challenges for industry brands. Experts from Buchalter law firm and Exponent, a science and engineering consulting firm, highlighted these issues during the US Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) “Navigating PFAS Regulations” webinar on July 18. According ...
Swedish sports retail Sees 2.5% decline in Q2 sales, bicycle sales on the rise
While Swedish sports retail in general has declined for the tenth consecutive quarter in Q2 of 2024, bicycle sales appear to be recovering, growing by an impressive 10% compared to the previous quarter.
Hoka and Ugg with strong performance in Q1, Deckers CEO retires
A 30 percent increase in revenue at Hoka and strong DTC sales are largely responsible for a strong first quarter at Deckers Brands.
Columbia’s brand awareness rises in Europe despite Q2 loss
While performing better in important overseas markets than in North America, Columbia Sportswear maintains its full-year guidance despite a weak second quarter.
Founding family takes over on occasion of Norco Bicycles’ 60th anniversary
Independent bicycle wholesaler Norco Bicycles – renamed Live to Play Sports Group Inc. in 2011 – is no longer managed by the Lewis and Zalkow families.
Rapala VMC feels market improvement but sees potential troubles ahead
Rapala VMC, despite experiencing favorable market conditions during H1, including improved retail activity, is expressing some worry about the upcoming winter season.
Polygiene making progress on turnaround
Polygiene turned an operating profit of 2.6 million Swedish kronor (€222,800) against a loss of SEK 4.0 million (€342,700) in Q2 ended June 30, as cost-cutting measures and strategic changes made last year began to take effect. The Swedish group’s quarterly revenues rose by 43 percent to SEK 36.4 million ...
Nite Ize secures rare USPTO shape trademarks
The Colorado-based manufacturer of solution-based products has secured two rare 3D design marks from the USPTO for its stainless steel and plastic S-Biner Dual Carabiner.
YKK achieves 56.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
The Japanese company has reported a significant reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for FY2023.
Bicycle industry veteran launches virtual marketplace for OEM components
When “Mr. Koga” Pieter-Jan Rijpstra left the Dutch bicycle company Accell Group after 22 years at the turn of 2023/2024, he had a new project in mind. At the heart of his own, newly founded industry consultancy Bike Expert Interim Consultancy B.V. (BEIC) is an online platform of the same ...
Better Cotton appoints new co-chairs and members to council
The sustainability initiative Better Cotton, based in Switzerland and the UK, has announced the appointment of two new co-Chairs and five new members to its Council.
Wintersteiger tests fully automated bike wash system in Vienna
At the end of last year, Austrian company Wintersteiger Sports placed one of its fully automatic bike washing systems at the University of Applied Sciences Vienna for public testing – primarily to gain experience of usage behavior in collaboration with students. The insights have been incorporated into the further development ...
Fenix Outdoor’s capital, inventory advances unable to offset market malaise
Outdoor market problems, including high retail inventory levels and impactful weather conditions, continue to impact progress at Fenix Outdoor despite the company’s liquidity and inventory level improvements. Group Executive Chairman Martin Nordin attributed the current outdoor market conditions to a consumer shift to less expensive products and possibly a post-Covid ...
The first trail running shoe with a recyclable sole
Salomon has unveiled the Vision, the first partially recyclable trail running shoe. It combines Salomon’s experience in trail running with the knowledge gained from the Index running shoe series. The result is a fully functional trail running shoe with a sole unit that can be recycled into a ski boot ...
Helen of Troy facing distribution facility problems
Helen of Troy is under increased scrutiny regarding the progress of its restructuring plan, particularly the functionality of its recently opened distribution center in Galloway, Tennessee.
CSG increases purchase price for The Kinetic Group to $2.15bn
CSG increased the base purchase price for acquiring The Kinetic Group business by $50 million to $2.15 billion, while Vista Outdoor reaffirms its FY25 outlook and reports preliminary Q1 results.
Brand-neutral Sidas Academy grows, congress this fall
The Sidas Academy training and education program is growing, and the Bootfitting Congress will take place this September.
Sidi Sport signs ‘Business for People and Society’ manifesto
Sidi Sport supports the manifesto “Business for People and Society,” drawn up by the UN Global Compact Network Italy, the local network of the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest sustainability initiative for companies.
LionRock forms joint venture to grow Haglöfs in Greater China
To establish and expand the Haglöfs brand in the Greater China region, LionRock Capital founded a joint venture with the wholly owned subsidiary Affluent Team Global Limited of Viva Goods Company Limited in June 2024. LionRock, based in Hong Kong, acquired Haglöfs from Asics in December 2023. The new joint ...
EOG, BSI to launch updated outdoor industry sustainability data tool
The European Outdoor Group (EOG) and the Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie (BSI) have announced details of an update to an initiative that aims to standardize and harmonize product sustainability data across the outdoor sector. The Sustainability Data Exchange Questionnaire version 2.0 (SDEX 2.0) will be launched during a free webinar ...
Devold Transparency Map: Voluntary report in line with CSRD
Norwegian brand Devold has voluntarily committed to reporting on the 2024 financial year as part of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The focus is on the impact of the company’s supply chain.
Mips sales bounce back to double-digit growth
In the second quarter of 2024, Mips AB generated net sales of 133 million Swedish kroner (€11.54m). According to the company, the sales growth of 30.4 percent compared to Q2 2023 can primarily be attributed to a normalizing inventory situation in the sports category.
Vista Outdoor ammo sale facing headwind, and support
Before Vista Outdoor’s shareholders vote on the sale of The Kinetic Group ammunition business to CSG on July 23, two investors have come out strongly against the deal, while another proxy advisory firm is now recommending the purchase after initial opposition.
Thule Group operating income rises 3% in Q2
Thule Group AB, despite a promotional North American market and lower RV products across Europe and Rest of World, reported a 3 percent gain in operating income to 732 million Swedish kroner (€63.3m) for the quarter ended June 30. Net income increased by 3.7 percent to SEK 559 million (€48.4m) ...
Study shows several PFAS are absorbed into human skin
A new study from researchers at the University of Birmingham has shown that 17 commonly used PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), also referred to as “forever chemicals,” can readily be absorbed through human skin.
Ortlieb intensifies collaboration with Wilderness International
Ortlieb Sportartikel GmbH has been supporting the Wilderness International (WI) foundation for several years to permanently preserve ecologically valuable and acutely threatened wilderness areas. Since its foundation in 2008, WI has been able to legally acquire 11.5 million square meters of wilderness areas in Peru and Canada and secure them ...
Bicycle Industry Stock Chart Q2 2024: Glass half full or half empty?
While the wars against Ukraine and in the Middle East appear to have already been priced in by the global stock markets, the clear shift to the right in the European elections in early June and the poor performance of US President Biden in the first TV debate against Donald Trump put the markets under pressure. As a result, there was no clear picture of the bicycle market – or the global stock market across all sectors.
Intersport celebrates 40 years of private label McKinley
Founded in 1984 and named after North America’s highest peak, McKinley has become the flagship private label brand of Intersport. This year, Intersport proudly celebrates four decades of McKinley.
Arc’teryx releases design platform for Indigenous people
Arc’teryx has launched Walk Gently, a new design platform for Indigenous voices, collaborating with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist and designer Cole Sparrow-Crawford.
Vista’s Board of Directors reaffirms committment to sale of The Kinetic Group to CSG
Vista Outdoor’s Board of Directors has issued an open letter to its shareholders recommending once again the sale of The Kinetic Group, Vista’s ammo segment, to the Czech company CSG.