���ϳԹ��� Inc., ���ϳԹ��� Business Journal’s Boulder, Colorado-based parent company, has announced its acquisition of Fastest Known Time (FKT), an online database of speed records in running, hiking, and endurance sports.

FKT, which from 2020 to 2022 saw substantial growth on its platform (fueled in part by pandemic-related race cancellations), builds upon several mapping and database assets already in the ���ϳԹ��� portfolio, including Gaia GPS and Trailforks. The company plans to use these assets cross-functionally, leveraging the capabilities of Gaia to enhance the accuracy of the current FKT platform.

“At ���ϳԹ���, we’re committed to inspiring people to get outdoors and fuel their active lifestyles,” said Robin Thurtson, ���ϳԹ���’s CEO. “By adding Fastest Known Time to the ���ϳԹ��� ecosystem and integrating our advanced mapping technologies into the platform, our goal is to continue inspiring outdoor enthusiasts to push themselves to new heights.”

In a newsletter to its members sent this week, the FKT team wrote, “[Our community] will be very happy to know that ���ϳԹ��� is bringing a massive amount of knowledge, passion, and resources to greatly improve the services and features of this website, in a way we could not do.”��

In a release of its own, ���ϳԹ��� confirmed that it will make several changes and improvements to the FKT product in the months ahead, including:

• Integrating Gaia GPS technology and map layers into FKT
• Modernizing the website to improve UX across all FKT features
• Adding new capabilities and benefits to further the site’s offerings
• Expanding the available categories of FKT achievements with an eye toward making the site more inclusive to a wider variety of athletes
• Adding future FKT benefits for ���ϳԹ���+ members

���ϳԹ��� says that, following the acquisition, it will “continue partnering with the regional editors who have been instrumental to FKT’s growth.” FKT founder Buzz Burrell will continue to serve in an advisory role, and co-founders Peter Bakwin and Jeff Schuler will step away to focus on other projects.

“Without the dedication of our community who care for and support our work, we couldn’t have created FKT into what it is today—an integral part of the running and hiking cultures worldwide,” said Burrell. “���ϳԹ��� is…significantly improving the services and features of the website to continue serving our large following of athletes and active participants. We have no doubt that ���ϳԹ���’s acquisition will take FKT to new heights.”

The post ���ϳԹ��� Inc. Acquires Sports Database Fastest Known Time appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

It was another tough month for the outdoor industry. In February, the OBJ Outdoor Index saw stock values dip an average of 5.9 percent. This was the third month in a row of losses—in January, the index slid 8.9 percent; December saw a 3.7 percent loss.��

Of course, these losses weren’t unique to the outdoor space. The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were all battered in February as well. Still, investors betting on the outdoor industry are feeling the sting right now, despite months of stock trends in the right direction before this most recent cratering.

Not all companies OBJ Outdoor Index were losers in February. A couple on our list saw their share values increase, biggest being Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX) with a bump of 9.82 percent and Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY) with an increase of 4.72 percent.��

On the flip side, though, February was another month in which the three companies with the largest declines saw double-digit slides. Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY) recorded the biggest loss of all the companies on our index, closing out with a 16.8 percent dip.��

OBJ Outdoor Index Compared to Other Indices: February 2022

Of the 28 public companies that OBJ tracks, only six saw their share prices grow in February, while 22 saw declines. Here are the month’s top stock performers:

1. Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX): 9.82%
2. Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY): 4.72%��
3. Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY): 3.69%

And here are the companies that saw the biggest declines in the month:

1. Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY): -16.8%
2. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS): -15.0%
3. Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY): -13.7%��

Tracking the Monthly OBJ Outdoor Index

Below is the OBJ Outdoor Index for February. The Index shows how 28 public corporations—mostly parent companies of outdoor brands, with a couple of retailers, a ski resort giant, and a trade show operator included as well—performed in the calendar month.

The chart includes the companies’ share prices on the last business day of the previous month (January 31), their share price on the last business day of this month (February 28), the percent change in that period, and current market cap (equal to share price times the total number of shares outstanding).

The OBJ Outdoor Index, unlike other indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial, doesn’t use a market cap weighting system.

Foreign companies’ shares are presented here in U.S. dollars and designated as OTC (over-the-counter) securities since they aren’t listed on U.S. stock exchanges. Two exceptions are Dometic Group AB and Fenix Outdoor International Group, whose share prices can be found only on Nasdaq Stockholm and are represented as U.S. currency converted from the Swedish krona.

Underneath the stock chart are capsules on each of the 28 companies of the OBJ Outdoor Index, including headquarters location, connections to the outdoor industry (if not immediately obvious), key executives, and recent editorial coverage in OBJ, where applicable.

OBJ Outdoor Index: February 2022

*Currency converted from Swedish krona

OBJ Outdoor Index: Company Guide

Adidas��AG��(OTC: ADDYY)

• Headquarters:��Herzogenaurach, Germany (U.S. operation is based in Portland, Oregon)
• Outdoor connection:��While��Adidas��might be known for its athletic apparel, the company also possesses some core outdoor DNA through its Portland, Oregon-based��Adidas Terrex��and��Five Ten��brands.
• Key executives: Kasper Rorsted, CEO; Carla Murphy, GM, Adidas Outdoor

Anta Sports Products Ltd.��(OTC: ANPDY)

• Headquarters:��Xiamen, China (subsidiary Amer Sports is based in Helsinki, Finland, and its U.S. operation is based in Ogden, Utah)
• Outdoor connection: Anta is the owner of Amer Sports and its portfolio of outdoor and snow sports brands — Salomon,��������’t������,��Armada Skis, and��Atomic.
• Key executives: Jie Zheng, CEO, Amer Sports

Callaway��Golf Co.��(NYSE: ELY)

• Headquarters:��Carlsbad, California
• Outdoor connection:��Though primarily a golf manufacturer and now the owner of Topgolf, the company made a big play in the outdoor space in late 2018 with the acquisition of European outdoor brand��Jack Wolfskin.
• Key executives: Oliver Brewer, president and CEO, Callaway; Richard Collier, CEO, Jack Wolfskin; Diana Seung, GM, Jack Wolfskin North America

Camping World Holdings Inc.��(NYSE: CWH)

• Headquarters:��Lincolnshire, Illinois
• Outdoor connection:��Camping World��tried its hand at outdoor retail but abandoned that play in 2019.
• Key executives: Marcus Lemonis, CEO

Canada Goose��Holdings Inc.��(NYSE: GOOS)

• Headquarters:��Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: In addition to its eponymous apparel brand,��Canada Goose��owns and operates footwear brand Baffin.
• Key executives: Dani Reiss, CEO

Canadian Tire Corp.��(OTC: CDNAF)

• Headquarters:��Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection:��CTC boasts an iconic outdoor brand,��Helly Hansen, in its portfolio. (It also operates a chain of sporting goods retail stores throughout Canada.)
• Key executives: Carrie Ask, CEO, Helly Hansen

Clarus Corp.��(Nasdaq: CLAR)

• Headquarters:��Salt Lake City, Utah
• Outdoor connection:��Clarus is a holding company whose flagship outdoor brand is��Black Diamond Equipment. Clarus also owns��Rhino-Rack,��Pieps,��SKINourishment��plus two bullet manufacturers.
• Key executives: John Walbrecht, president

Columbia Sportswear Co.��(Nasdaq: COLM)

• Headquarters:��Portland, Oregon
• Outdoor connection:��In addition to the��Columbia��brand,��the Portland-based apparel and footwear giant includes��Mountain Hardwear,��prAna, and��Sorel in its portfolio.
• Key executives: Timothy Boyle, CEO

Compass Diversified��(NYSE: CODI)

• Headquarters:��Westport, Connecticut
• Outdoor connection:��Long known for its hook-and-bullet assets, CODI added a big outdoor name in the fall of 2020 with the acquisition of��Boa Technology Inc.
• Key executives: Shawn Neville, CEO, Boa Technology

Deckers��Outdoor Corp.��(NYSE: DECK)

• Headquarters:��Goleta, California
• Outdoor connection:��Deckers is a major player in outdoor and active footwear with such brands as��Hoka One One,��Teva,��Sanuk, and��Ugg.
• Key executives: Wendy Yang, president, performance lifestyle brands

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc.��(NYSE: DKS)

• Headquarters:��Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Outdoor connection:��The sporting goods retail giant recently launched an outdoor store concept called��Public Lands, led by industry veteran Todd Spaletto.
• Key executives: Lauren Hobart, president and CEO; Todd Spaletto, president, Public Lands

Dometic Group AB��(STO: DOM.ST)

• Headquarters:��Stockholm, Sweden
• Outdoor connection:��The Swedish-based company manufactures��accessories for mobile-living end markets such as campers and RVs, and it recently acquired��Igloo Products Corp.
• Key executives: Juan Vargues, president and CEO

Emerald Holding Inc.��(NYSE: EEX)

• Headquarters:��San Juan Capistrano, California
• Outdoor connection:��Emerald is the owner and operator of the twice-annual��Outdoor Retailer��and��Surf Expo��trade shows
• Key executives: Hervé Sedky, CEO

Fenix Outdoor International��AG��(OTC: FNXTF)��

• Headquarters:��Zug, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado)
• Outdoor connection:��The Swiss company’s outdoor brands include��Fjallraven,��Royal Robbins, and��Primus.
• Key executives: Martin Nordin, CEO; Nathan Dopp, CEO Americas

Garmin��Ltd.��(Nasdaq: GRMN)

• Headquarters:��Schaffhausen, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Olathe, Kansas)
• Key executives: Clifton Pemble, president and CEO

GoPro��(Nasdaq: GPRO)

• Headquarters:��San Mateo, California
• Key executives: Nick Woodman, CEO

Helen of Troy Ltd.��(Nasdaq: HELE)

• Headquarters:��El Paso, Texas
• Outdoor connection:��Among its many consumer brands is��Hydro Flask, the maker of insulated and stainless steel drinkware, and��Osprey.
• Key executives: Julien Mininberg, CEO

Johnson Outdoors Inc.��(Nasdaq: JOUT)

• Headquarters:��Racine, Wisconsin
• Outdoor connection:��The company owns two outdoor brands (Eureka��and��Jetboil) and two watercraft brands (Old Town��and��Ocean Kayak).
• Key executives: Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO

On Holding AG��(NYSE: ONON)

• Headquarters:��Zurich, Switzerland
• Outdoor connection:��The running shoe brand recently went public, pricing its IPO of 31.1 million shares at $24 a share—up from its initial expectations—for an initial raise of $746 million.
• Key executives: Martin Hoffmann, co-CEO and CFO, Marc Maurer, co-CEO, and Olivier Bernhard, co-founder and executive director

Newell Brands��Inc.��(Nasdaq: NWL)

• Headquarters:��Atlanta, Georgia
• Outdoor connection:��The company’s core outdoor brands are��Marmot��and��Coleman��(and there is some crossover into outdoor with its other consumer brands��Contigo,��Ex Officio, and��Stearns)
• Key executives: Ravi Saligram, CEO

Samsonite��International SA��(OTC: SMSEY)

• Headquarters:��Hong Kong
• Outdoor connection:��The luggage giant owns outdoor pack and bag brands��Gregory Mountain Products��and��High Sierra
• Key executives: John Sears, VP, Gregory

Solo Brands, Inc.��(NYSE: DTC)

• Headquarters: Southlake, Texas
• Outdoor Connection:��The growing specialty company owns Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Chubbies and water sports company Isle.
• Key Executives:��John Merris, CEO; Samuel Simmons, CFO

Thule Group��AB��(OTC: THUPY)��

• Headquarters:��Malmö, Sweden
• Outdoor connection:��The Swedish maker of��Thule��car racks, luggage, and baby strollers recently got into car-top campers with its purchase of��Tepui.
• Key executives: Magnus Welander, CEO; Hilary Hartley, president Americas

Vail Resorts Inc.��(NYSE: MTN)

• Headquarters:��Broomfield, Colorado
• Outdoor connection:��In addition to being the largest ski resort operator in the world, Vail also operates massive lodging and retail operations.
• Key executives: Kirsten Lynch, CEO

VF Corp.��(NYSE: VFC)

• Headquarters:��Denver, Colorado
• Outdoor connection:��One of the biggest, most influential corporations in the outdoor industry,��VF Corporation��owns and operates an “outdoor” portfolio of��The North Face,��Altra,��Icebreaker,��Smartwool,��Timberland, and an “active” portfolio of��Eastpak,��JanSport, and��Vans.
• Key executives: Steve Rendle, CEO

Vista Outdoor Inc.��(NYSE: VSTO)

• Headquarters:��Anoka, Minnesota
• Outdoor connection:��Vista did some rightsizing of its portfolio in recent years by shedding its firearms assets and acquiring new brands in the outdoor and shooting sports spaces. Its outdoor portfolio now consists of��CamelBak,��Camp Chef,��Bell,��Giro,��QuietKat,��Stone Glacier, and��Venor.
• Key executives: Christopher Metz, CEO

Wolverine World��Wide Inc.��(NYSE: WWW)

• Headquarters:��Rockford, Michigan
• Outdoor connection:��Another of the big footwear players, Wolverine owns and operates such outdoor brands as��Merrell��and��Chaco, while other brands include��Wolverine,��Saucony, and��Cat Footwear.
• Key executives: Blake Krueger, CEO

Yeti Holdings Inc.��(NYSE: YETI)��

• Headquarters:��Austin, Texas
• Key executives: Matthew Reintjes, president and CEO

The post The Outdoor Industry Suffers Another Month of Stock Market Losses appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

REI announced today a retooled version of its lifetime co-op program—the first such change in 84 years—that will expand benefits available to members. The one-time fee for membership has increased from $20 to $30 dollars to support the update.

All the perks REI members have enjoyed over the years—including annual reward dollars, mailed coupons, and reduced gear-rental and experience prices—will remain. In addition, members will now get a host of new benefits: free shipping for online orders, a higher discount on shop services, access to member-exclusive gear, and more.

With the new program in place, REI hopes to expand the co-op to 50 million members—from its current 20 million—by 2030.

“REI’s membership relaunch comes after more than a year of planning and research,” said REI chief marketing officer Vivienne Long. “We heard from a diverse group of potential members who shared that the new program has broad appeal to be part of a broader community and creates the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Our relaunch is the beginning of a new chapter for the co-op and represents the first step of many toward a member-experience overhaul that has community engagement at its core.”��

The changes to the program go into effect today. Existing members can start using the benefits immediately with no action needed.

Benefits of the New Program

REI released a series of details today about the new program’s benefits. All members who sign up now, as well as existing members, will enjoy the following.

REI Cooperative Action Fund donation: “With each new membership purchased, REI will donate $5 to the REI Cooperative Action Fund. The Fund supports organizations committed to building a new outdoor culture and improving the health and well-being for all people.”

Member Collection: “A broader, curated set of products just for members will launch each month, such as brand collaborations, limited editions, and special offers.”

Used gear just for members: “Used gear offerings, now called Re/Supply, are now just for members. Only members can shop for used gear online, in-store, or at REI’s Re/Supply stores in Manhattan Beach, California, and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Members can also trade in their gently used gear for gift cards and help extend the life of a product for use by fellow members. REI estimates that buying a used item avoids 50 percent of carbon emissions from new product manufacturing.”

Free shipping: “Members receive free U.S. standard shipping on all orders, with no minimum purchase required. Exceptions apply for international shipping and oversize items.”

Shop service discount: “REI’s trained technicians tune, repair, and improve the performance for all bikes and snow sports gear. Bike, ski, and snowboard shop services discounts are now doubled to 20 percent off for members. Bicycle flat tire repairs and ski/snowboarding machine wax service continue to be free.”

The post REI Upgrades Co-op Membership Program, Aims for 50 Million Members by 2030 appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

January was a volatile month for the stock market, with the Fed dropping clues that it could hike interest rates as soon as March to combat inflation.��

The OBJ Outdoor Index last month saw shares of outdoor-focused companies fall 8.9 percent collectively. Those losses add to the 3.7 percent decline across the Index we saw in December.��

A few brands, like Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY) and Newell Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NWL), posted moderate gains, closing out January with a 5.16 and 6.23 percent increases, respectively.��

The net losses were staggering in comparison, however. The three companies with the largest declines all saw double-digit slides. The biggest loser in January was On Holding AG (NYSE: ONON) with a 30.2 percent slip in share value.��

This decline was not unique to the outdoor industry and its publicly traded companies. The Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq all closed out January with similar losses.

OBJ Outdoor Index Compared to Other Indices: January 2022

Of the 28 public companies that OBJ tracks, only five saw their share prices grow in January, while 23 saw declines. Here are the month’s top stock performers:

1. Newell Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NWL): 6.23%
2. Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY): 5.16%��
3. ANTA Sports Products Ltd. (OTC: ANPDY): 2.93%

And here are the companies that saw the biggest declines:

1. On Holding AG (NYSE: ONON): -30.2%
2. Solo Brands, Inc. (NYSE: DTC): -28.7%��
3. Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY): -19.8%��

Tracking the Monthly OBJ Outdoor Index

Below is the OBJ Outdoor Index for January 2022. The Index shows how 28 public corporations—mostly parent companies of outdoor brands, with a couple of retailers, a ski resort giant, and a trade show operator included as well—performed in the calendar month.

The chart includes the companies’ share prices on the last business day of the previous month (December 31), their share price on the last business day of the tracked month (January 31), the percent change in that period, and current market cap (equal to share price times the total number of shares outstanding).

The OBJ Outdoor Index, unlike other indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial, doesn’t use a market cap weighting system.

Foreign companies’ shares are presented here in U.S. dollars and designated as OTC (over-the-counter) securities since they aren’t listed on U.S. stock exchanges. Two exceptions are Dometic Group AB and Fenix Outdoor International Group, whose share prices can be found only on Nasdaq Stockholm and are represented as U.S. currency converted from the Swedish krona.

Underneath the stock chart is a capsule on each of the 28 companies of the OBJ Outdoor Index, including headquarters location, connections to the outdoor industry (if not immediately obvious), key executives, and recent editorial coverage in OBJ, where applicable.

This Index is a living document. We’ll update the chart as needed (monthly and/or quarterly), we’ll edit capsules based on organizational changes made, and we’ll add or remove companies based on mergers and acquisitions, newly available trading information, IPOs, and other relevant developments.��

OBJ Outdoor Index: January 2022

*Currency converted from Swedish krona

OBJ Outdoor Index: Company Guide

Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY)

• Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany (U.S. operation is based in Portland, Oregon)
• Outdoor connection: While Adidas might be known for its athletic apparel, the company also possesses some core outdoor DNA through its Portland, Oregon-based Adidas Terrex and Five Ten brands.����
• Key executives: Kasper Rorsted, CEO; Carla Murphy, GM, Adidas Outdoor

Anta Sports Products Ltd. (OTC: ANPDY)

• Headquarters: Xiamen, China (subsidiary Amer Sports is based in Helsinki, Finland, and its U.S. operation is based in Ogden, Utah)
• Outdoor connection: Anta is the owner of Amer Sports and its portfolio of outdoor and snow sports brands — Salomon, ������’t������, Armada Skis, and Atomic.
• Key executives: Jie Zheng, CEO, Amer Sports

Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY)

• Headquarters: Carlsbad, California
• Outdoor connection: Though primarily a golf manufacturer and now the owner of Topgolf, the company made a big play in the outdoor space in late 2018 with the acquisition of European outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin.
• Key executives: Oliver Brewer, president and CEO, Callaway; Richard Collier, CEO, Jack Wolfskin; Diana Seung, GM, Jack Wolfskin North America

Camping World Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CWH)

• Headquarters: Lincolnshire, Illinois
• Outdoor connection: Camping World tried its hand at outdoor retail but abandoned that play in 2019.
• Key executives: Marcus Lemonis, CEO

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: In addition to its eponymous apparel brand, Canada Goose owns and operates footwear brand Baffin.
• Key executives: Dani Reiss, CEO

Canadian Tire Corp. (OTC: CDNAF)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: CTC boasts an iconic outdoor brand, Helly Hansen, in its portfolio. (It also operates a chain of sporting goods retail stores throughout Canada.)
• Key executives: Carrie Ask, CEO, Helly Hansen

Clarus Corp. (Nasdaq: CLAR)

• Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Outdoor connection: Clarus is a holding company whose flagship outdoor brand is Black Diamond Equipment. Clarus also owns Rhino-Rack, Pieps, SKINourishment plus two bullet manufacturers.
• Key executives: John Walbrecht, president

Columbia Sportswear Co. (Nasdaq: COLM)

• Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
• Outdoor connection: In addition to the Columbia brand, the Portland-based apparel and footwear giant includes Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and Sorel in its portfolio.
• Key executives: Timothy Boyle, CEO

Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI)

• Headquarters: Westport, Connecticut
• Outdoor connection: Long known for its hook-and-bullet assets, CODI added a big outdoor name in the fall of 2020 with the acquisition of Boa Technology Inc.
• Key executives: Shawn Neville, CEO, Boa Technology

Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE: DECK)

• Headquarters: Goleta, California
• Outdoor connection: Deckers is a major player in outdoor and active footwear with such brands as Hoka One One, Teva, Sanuk, and Ugg.
• Key executives: Wendy Yang, president, performance lifestyle brands

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS)

• Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Outdoor connection: The sporting goods retail giant recently launched an outdoor store concept called Public Lands, led by industry veteran Todd Spaletto.
• Key executives: Lauren Hobart, president and CEO; Todd Spaletto, president, Public Lands

Dometic Group AB (STO: DOM.ST)

• Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish-based company manufactures accessories for mobile-living end markets such as campers and RVs, and it recently acquired Igloo Products Corp.
• Key executives: Juan Vargues, president and CEO

Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX)

• Headquarters: San Juan Capistrano, California
• Outdoor connection: Emerald is the owner and operator of the twice-annual Outdoor Retailer and Surf Expo trade shows
• Key executives: Hervé Sedky, CEO

Fenix Outdoor International AG (OTC: FNXTF)��

• Headquarters: Zug, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado)
• Outdoor connection: The Swiss company’s outdoor brands include Fjallraven, Royal Robbins, and Primus.
• Key executives: Martin Nordin, CEO; Nathan Dopp, CEO Americas

Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN)

• Headquarters: Schaffhausen, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Olathe, Kansas)
• Key executives: Clifton Pemble, president and CEO

GoPro (Nasdaq: GPRO)

• Headquarters: San Mateo, California
• Key executives: Nick Woodman, CEO

Helen of Troy Ltd. (Nasdaq: HELE)

• Headquarters: El Paso, Texas
• Outdoor connection: Among its many consumer brands is Hydro Flask, the maker of insulated and stainless steel drinkware, and Osprey.
• Key executives: Julien Mininberg, CEO

Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT)

• Headquarters: Racine, Wisconsin
• Outdoor connection: The company owns two outdoor brands (Eureka and Jetboil) and two watercraft brands (Old Town and Ocean Kayak).
• Key executives: Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO

On Holding AG (NYSE: ONON)

• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
• Outdoor connection: The running shoe brand recently went public, pricing its IPO of 31.1 million shares at $24 a share—up from its initial expectations—for an initial raise of $746 million.
• Key executives: Martin Hoffmann, co-CEO and CFO, Marc Maurer, co-CEO, and Olivier Bernhard, co-founder and executive director

Newell Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NWL)

• Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
• Outdoor connection: The company’s core outdoor brands are Marmot and Coleman (and there is some crossover into outdoor with its other consumer brands Contigo, Ex Officio, and Stearns)
• Key executives: Ravi Saligram, CEO

Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY)

• Headquarters: Hong Kong
• Outdoor connection: The luggage giant owns outdoor pack and bag brands Gregory Mountain Products and High Sierra
• Key executives: John Sears, VP, Gregory

Solo Brands, Inc. (NYSE: DTC)

• Headquarters: Southlake, Texas
• Outdoor Connection: The growing specialty company owns Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Chubbies and water sports company Isle, and is rumored to be on the hunt for more acquisitions.
• Key Executives: John Merris, CEO; Samuel Simmons, CFO

Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY)��

• Headquarters: Malmö, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish maker of Thule car racks, luggage, and baby strollers recently got into car-top campers with its purchase of Tepui.
• Key executives: Magnus Welander, CEO; Hilary Hartley, president Americas

Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN)

• Headquarters: Broomfield, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: In addition to being the largest ski resort operator in the world, Vail also operates massive lodging and retail operations.
• Key executives: Kirsten Lynch, CEO

VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC)

• Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: One of the biggest, most influential corporations in the outdoor industry, VF Corporation owns and operates an “outdoor” portfolio of The North Face, Altra, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Timberland, and an “active” portfolio of Eastpak, JanSport, and Vans.
• Key executives: Steve Rendle, CEO

Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO)

• Headquarters: Anoka, Minnesota
• Outdoor connection: Vista did some rightsizing of its portfolio in recent years by shedding its firearms assets and acquiring new brands in the outdoor and shooting sports spaces. Its outdoor portfolio now consists of CamelBak, Camp Chef, Bell, Giro, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, and Venor.
• Key executives: Christopher Metz, CEO

Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW)

• Headquarters: Rockford, Michigan
• Outdoor connection: Another of the big footwear players, Wolverine owns and operates such outdoor brands as Merrell and Chaco, while other brands include Wolverine, Saucony, and Cat Footwear.
• Key executives: Blake Krueger, CEO

Yeti Holdings Inc. (NYSE: YETI)��

• Headquarters: Austin, Texas
• Key executives: Matthew Reintjes, president and CEO

The post As the Stock Market Suffers, Outdoor Businesses Feel the Sting appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s specialty retail growth report for 2021 is out, and the numbers look good, to say the least. Year over year, the national cohort of independent shops was up 29 percent in sales.

Grassroots members came into the first quarter of 2021 riding a wave of sales growth from the back half of 2020, the numbers show, and posted year-over-year increases of 28 percent by the end of Q2. The back half of 2021 brought similarly healthy sales trends with the help of a strong holiday season. From August through December, total sales were up 18.1 percent from 2020, with boosts in November (+36.2 percent over 2020) and December (+15 percent over 2020).��

Grassroots also welcomed 14 new retailer members to its ranks in 2021, bringing its total membership to 99 retailers with 196 locations across the country.

“The new normal has certainly shown that consumers value the indie experience and smiled on independent specialty outdoor retailers,” said Grassroots President Rich Hill in a release.

Grassroots collected data for the 2021 report mainly through individual reporting among its members. It was the first large release of numbers since the group launched its new data-focused trade association for independent retailers, called Indie Outdoor. Though this report isn’t fully based on numbers collected through that effort’s central technology—the POS data company PivotPoint—it does lay the foundation for future Grassroots reports based entirely on Indie Outdoor numbers. The first full financial report exclusively based on PivotPoint data will be available mid-February.

Sitting on two solid years of sales growth, board members at Grassroots are confident in the continued expansion of specialty outdoor retail and emphasize optimism going into 2022.��

“For both Grassroots retailers and vendors, the only constant in the last 12 months has been the revolving door of business challenges,” Hill said. “Every week has been a new adventure, but fortunately this is a remarkably resourceful community that clearly thrives when things get tough.”

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On January 17, Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) named Conor Hall the new director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC). Hall will assume the post on February 22.

In a press release announcing his appointment, Hall pledged that he’ll use his new position to “support, attract, and expand [Colorado’s] outdoor recreation industry to promote sustainable economic growth and expand equitable access while prioritizing our shared goals of clean air, clean water, and the protection of public lands.”��

Hall comes to the job from The Trust for Public Lands, where he served as the director of conservation strategies, policy, advocacy, and government relations for the Intermountain West region. In his time at the nonprofit, the region saw a $2 billion increase in public funding for conservation and equitable access. Hall also worked on Michael Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign as a senior advisor on climate and conservation, and has served as senior advisor to former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.��

Growing up in Colorado, Hall developed a love for the outdoors during summers on a cattle ranch. Today, he is an avid snowboarder, mountain biker, hiker, rock climber, paddleboarder, and kayaker.

Hall’s position at Colorado’s OREC office will involve oversight of a critical component of Colorado’s economy. In 2020, the outdoor industry in the Centennial State accounted for $9.6 billion in consumer spending and supported 120,000 jobs. One of Halls’ main tasks in the next few years will be to deploy the $9.7 million EDA grant that the office has received to aid in pandemic recovery. The office will also be concerned with Outdoor Retailer’s contract expiration and implement new programming.

Hall will replace predecessor Nathan Fey, who will transition to a role with the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation as director of land and water programs.

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Evo this week announced its purchase of a new retail site in downtown Seattle, Washington. The project, dubbed “Campus Seattle,” will expand on an existing evo store and adjacent skatepark, rock climbing gym, and 23,000 square feet of office space to create a full city block of mixed-use retail, sporting, and business space. The land for the project, which will be managed by development firm Evolution Project, reportedly cost $17.5 million.

Other businesses that will lease space in the campus have not been announced.

The company is also expanding beyond the U.S. In October 2021, it purchased Callaghan Country Wilderness ���ϳԹ���s, which includes Journeyman Lodge, in British Columbia. On Tuesday, evo announced that it had acquired Rhythm Japan, a retail, rental, and experiences company that reflects many of evo’s goals and values. In a press release detailing the acquisition, evo emphasized that both companies will mutually benefit from each other’s complementary strengths.��

Despite all this expansion, CEO Bryce Phillips emphasizes that quality will always trump quantity for evo.

“We are twenty years in, so, in the scheme of things, we have moved slowly,” Phillips said. “We look to have a positive impact on each of the communities that we are a part of while delivering highly differentiated customer experiences across the board.”

According to Phillips, the continued demand for human connection and hands-on service from evo’s customers has been a leading factor in keeping the retailer’s stores busy in a virtual world.

“The pandemic has shined a bright light on what matters most,” Phillips said. “The desire to get outside has definitely driven incremental traffic and for us, [especially] combined with the experiences that we deliver in our stores.”

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On Monday, Merrell announced it will no longer attend Outdoor Retailer’s 2022 Snow Show, staging January 26-28 in Denver, Colorado. In a press release distributed by the footwear company, it cited the increased infection rate of the Omicron variant as the main factor in the decision.��

The withdrawal may come at a surprise for some, but Merrell global brand president Chris Hufnagel confirms it was not a hasty decision.��

“As we have since the beginning of 2020, we’ve been evaluating all in-person gatherings as they approach,” Hufnagel said.

According to the company’s press release, Merrell will redirect $25,000 that would have gone to the trade show to make an immediate donation to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, an organization aiding those displaced by wildfires in Colorado last month.

OR was not able to confirm how Merrell will be refunded for its OR exhibitor fees—whether in cash, a credit toward a future trade show, or some other form of reimbursement—but Hufnagel said the two businesses are working toward an agreement. “We’re continuing to communicate with the great team at Outdoor Retailer and are looking forward to attending future shows,” Hufnagel said.

Despite the high-profile cancellation, OR show director Marisa Nicholson says she still expects hundreds of brands to exhibit this year. “Each company is unique and making the best decisions for their business right now,” Nicholson said. “For those able to attend, we have new resources available, including business matchmaking services and in-person meetings with trend and data experts.” The show’s current exhibitor list is currently live.

Are you attending the show?

We’re still taking responses to our OR attendance poll. Weigh in below to let us know if your plans have changed, or if you’re coming to Denver later this month.

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In December, the OBJ Outdoor Index took another hit after slow and steady growth in the months of October and November, as analyzed in previous reports of the OBJ Outdoor Index.��

A 3.74 percent decrease in the OBJ Outdoor Index was calculated for the month of December. This is not as steep as the losses seen in Q3, but the same issues—a new COVID variant and supply chain issues—were exacerbated by the consumer demands of the holiday season.��

After strong growth in the month of November, Canada Goose Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GOOS) fell a sharp 16.89 percent, making it the biggest decline in the OBJ Outdoor Index this month. Yeti Holding Inc. (NYSE: YETI) also declined in the double digits, closing out the month with a 10.42 percent loss.��

The net gains of companies that did experience growth this month were not sufficient enough to balance out this loss. The biggest gain was Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY), which achieved 8.5 percent growth in December.��

This decline was unique to the outdoor industry and its publicly traded companies. The three tracked indices all closed out the year in the net positive. The Dow Jones increased by 5.38 percent, the S&P 500 by 4.36 percent, and the Nasdaq squeezed out 0.69 percent growth.��

OBJ Outdoor Index Compared to Other Indices: December 2021

Of the 28 public companies that OBJ tracks, 13 saw their share prices grow in December and 15 saw declines. Here are the month’s top stock performers:

1. Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY): 8.5%
2. Canadian Tire Corp. (OTC: CDNAF): 8.46%
3. Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO): 5.5%

And here are the companies that saw the biggest declines in the month:

1. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS): -16.89%
2. Yeti Holdings Inc. (NYSE: YETI): -10.12%
3. Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT): -9.95%

With ongoing supply chain challenges likely to remain an issue well into next year, OBJ will continue to track the ways that brands and retailers are navigating the crisis. Be sure to look for our next OBJ Outdoor Index in early February.��

Tracking the Monthly OBJ Outdoor Index

Below is the OBJ Outdoor Index for December. The Index shows how 28 public corporations—mostly parent companies of outdoor brands, with a couple of retailers, a ski resort giant, and a trade show operator included as well—performed in the calendar month.

The chart includes the companies’ share prices on the last business day of the previous month (November 30), their share price on the last business day of this month (December 31), the percent change in that period, and current market cap (equal to share price times the total number of shares outstanding).

The OBJ Outdoor Index, unlike other indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial, doesn’t use a market cap weighting system.

Foreign companies’ shares are presented here in U.S. dollars and designated as OTC (over-the-counter) securities since they aren’t listed on U.S. stock exchanges. Two exceptions are Dometic Group AB and Fenix Outdoor International Group, whose share prices can be found only on Nasdaq Stockholm and are represented as U.S. currency converted from the Swedish krona.

Underneath the stock chart is a capsule on each of the 28 companies of the OBJ Outdoor Index, including headquarters location, connections to the outdoor industry (if not immediately obvious), key executives, and recent editorial coverage in OBJ, where applicable.

This Index is a living document. We’ll update the chart as needed (monthly and/or quarterly), we’ll edit capsules based on organizational changes made, and we’ll add or remove companies based on mergers and acquisitions, newly available trading information, IPOs, and other relevant developments.��

OBJ Outdoor Index: December 2021

**Currency converted from Swedish krona

OBJ Outdoor Index: Company Guide

Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY)

• Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany (U.S. operation is based in Portland, Oregon)
• Outdoor connection: While Adidas might be known for its athletic apparel, the company also possesses some core outdoor DNA through its Portland, Oregon-based Adidas Terrex and Five Ten brands.����
• Key executives: Kasper Rorsted, CEO; Carla Murphy, GM, Adidas Outdoor

Anta Sports Products Ltd. (OTC: ANPDY)

• Headquarters: Xiamen, China (subsidiary Amer Sports is based in Helsinki, Finland, and its U.S. operation is based in Ogden, Utah)
• Outdoor connection: Anta is the owner of Amer Sports and its portfolio of outdoor and snow sports brands — Suunto, Salomon, ������’t������, Armada Skis, and Atomic.
• Key executives: Jie Zheng, CEO, Amer Sports

Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY)

• Headquarters: Carlsbad, California
• Outdoor connection: Though primarily a golf manufacturer and now the owner of Topgolf, the company made a big play in the outdoor space in late 2018 with the acquisition of European outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin.
• Key executives: Oliver Brewer, president and CEO, Callaway; Richard Collier, CEO, Jack Wolfskin; Diana Seung, GM, Jack Wolfskin North America

Camping World Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CWH)

• Headquarters: Lincolnshire, Illinois
• Outdoor connection: Camping World tried its hand at outdoor retail but abandoned that play in 2019.
• Key executives: Marcus Lemonis, CEO

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: In addition to its eponymous apparel brand, Canada Goose owns and operates footwear brand Baffin.
• Key executives: Dani Reiss, CEO

Canadian Tire Corp. (OTC: CDNAF)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: CTC boasts an iconic outdoor brand, Helly Hansen, in its portfolio. (It also operates a chain of sporting goods retail stores throughout Canada.)
• Key executives: Paul Stoneham, CEO, Helly Hansen (departing)

Clarus Corp. (Nasdaq: CLAR)

• Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Outdoor connection: Clarus is a holding company whose flagship outdoor brand is Black Diamond Equipment. Clarus also owns Rhino-Rack, Pieps, SKINourishment plus two bullet manufacturers.
• Key executives: John Walbrecht, president

Columbia Sportswear Co. (Nasdaq: COLM)

• Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
• Outdoor connection: In addition to the Columbia brand, the Portland-based apparel and footwear giant includes Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and Sorel in its portfolio.
• Key executives: Timothy Boyle, CEO

Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI)

• Headquarters: Westport, Connecticut
• Outdoor connection: Long known for its hook-and-bullet assets, CODI added a big outdoor name in the fall of 2020 with the acquisition of Boa Technology Inc.
• Key executives: Shawn Neville, CEO, Boa Technology

Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE: DECK)

• Headquarters: Goleta, California
• Outdoor connection: Deckers is a major player in outdoor and active footwear with such brands as Hoka One One, Teva, Sanuk, and Ugg.
• Key executives: Wendy Yang, president, performance lifestyle brands

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS)

• Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Outdoor connection: The sporting goods retail giant recently launched an outdoor store concept called Public Lands, led by industry veteran Todd Spaletto.
• Key executives: Lauren Hobart, president and CEO; Todd Spaletto, president, Public Lands

Dometic Group AB (STO: DOM.ST)

• Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish-based company manufactures accessories for mobile-living end markets such as campers and RVs, and it recently acquired Igloo Products Corp.
• Key executives: Juan Vargues, president and CEO

Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX)

• Headquarters: San Juan Capistrano, California
• Outdoor connection: Emerald is the owner and operator of the twice-annual Outdoor Retailer and Surf Expo trade shows
• Key executives: Hervé Sedky, CEO

Fenix Outdoor International AG (OTC: FNXTF)��

• Headquarters: Zug, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado)
• Outdoor connection: The Swiss company’s outdoor brands include Fjallraven, Royal Robbins, Brunton, and Primus.
• Key executives: Martin Nordin, CEO; Nathan Dopp, CEO Americas

Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN)

• Headquarters: Schaffhausen, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Olathe, Kansas)
• Key executives: Clifton Pemble, president and CEO

GoPro (Nasdaq: GPRO)

• Headquarters: San Mateo, California
• Key executives: Nick Woodman, CEO

Helen of Troy Ltd. (Nasdaq: HELE)

• Headquarters: El Paso, Texas
• Outdoor connection: Among its many consumer brands is Hydro Flask, the maker of insulated and stainless steel drinkware.
• Key executives: Julien Mininberg, CEO
• Recent OBJ coverage: Osprey announces new ownership

Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT)

• Headquarters: Racine, Wisconsin
• Outdoor connection: The company owns two outdoor brands (Eureka and Jetboil) and two watercraft brands (Old Town and Ocean Kayak).
• Key executives: Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO

On Holding AG (NYSE: ONON)

• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
• Outdoor connection: The running shoe brand recently went public, pricing its IPO of 31.1 million shares at $24 a share—up from its initial expectations—for an initial raise of $746 million.
• Key executives: Martin Hoffmann, co-CEO and CFO, Marc Maurer, co-CEO, and Olivier Bernhard, co-founder and executive director
• Recent OBJ coverage: On Running goes public, raising $746 million in IPO

Newell Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NWL)

• Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
• Outdoor connection: The company’s core outdoor brands are Marmot and Coleman (and there is some crossover into outdoor with its other consumer brands Contigo, Ex Officio, and Stearns)
• Key executives: Ravi Saligram, CEO

Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY)

• Headquarters: Hong Kong
• Outdoor connection: The luggage giant owns outdoor pack and bag brands Gregory Mountain Products and High Sierra
• Key executives: John Sears, VP, Gregory

Solo Brands, Inc. (NYSE: DTC)

• Headquarters: Southlake, Texas
• Outdoor Connection: The growing specialty company owns Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Chubbies and water sports company Isle, and is rumored to be on the hunt for more acquisitions.
• Key Executives: John Merris, CEO; Samuel Simmons, CFO

Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY)��

• Headquarters: Malmo, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish maker of Thule car racks, luggage, and baby strollers recently got into car-top campers with its purchase of Tepui.
• Key executives: Magnus Welander, CEO; Hilary Hartley, president Americas

Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN)

• Headquarters: Broomfield, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: In addition to being the largest ski resort operator in the world, Vail also operates massive lodging and retail operations.
• Key executives: Rob Katz, CEO

VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC)

• Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: One of the biggest, most influential corporations in the outdoor industry, VF Corporation owns and operates an “outdoor” portfolio of The North Face, Altra, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Timberland, and an “active” portfolio of Eagle Creek (soon to be dearly departed), Eastpak, JanSport, and Vans.
• Key executives: Steve Rendle, CEO

Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO)

• Headquarters: Anoka, Minnesota
• Outdoor connection: Vista did some rightsizing of its portfolio in recent years by shedding its firearms assets and acquiring new brands in the outdoor and shooting sports spaces. Its outdoor portfolio now consists of CamelBak, Camp Chef, Bell, Giro, QuietKat, and Venor.
• Key executives: Christopher Metz, CEO

Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW)

• Headquarters: Rockford, Michigan
• Outdoor connection: Another of the big footwear players, Wolverine owns and operates such outdoor brands as Merrell and Chaco, while other brands include Wolverine, Saucony, and Cat Footwear.
• Key executives: Blake Krueger, CEO

Yeti Holdings Inc. (NYSE: YETI)��

• Headquarters: Austin, Texas
• Key executives: Matthew Reintjes, president and CEO
• Recent OBJ coverage: YETI billboard in Texas—apparently poking fun at Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk—goes viral

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