Outdoor USA Magazine

Darn Tough Vermont reports that Q1 2012 sales and profitability were the best ever in its (and parent company Cabot Hosiery’s) 34-year history.

Compared to Q1 of 2011—a year that saw an 82% increase in revenue over 2010—topline growth was up 42% this quarter.

“We’ve been aggressively expanding our distribution both nationally and internationally, redesigned out packaging, diversified our markets, invested in our infrastructure here at the Vermont mill and made strategic changes to our sales team in 2011,” said Ric Cabot, founder and president of Darn Tough Vermont.

Wolverine World Wide is set to acquire Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), including the wholesale and retail operations of Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds brands, for $1.23 billion. The transaction will go into effect in their third or fourth fiscal quarter of 2012.

Investment firms Blum Capital and Golden Gate will jointly obtain the remainder of the conglomerate, comprised of Payless ShoeSource and Collective Licensing International, which together will operate as a separate entity.

Ecco has crunched the numbers from 2011 and have posted the best results in the company's history. Turnover was increased from 2010 by $177 million with a bottom line of $160 million.

VF Corporation announces record results for the third quarter of 2011, yet another confirmation of the strength of the outdoor industry in these challenging economic times. Revenues rose 23 percent to $2.75 billion from $2.23 billion in 2010. The Outdoor and Action sports brands show continued momentum, with total global revenues up 37 percent reflecting strong organic growth of 22 percent.

Wolverine Worldwide has reported record financial results for the third quarter as ended September 10, 2011. Driven in part by success from the Outdoor Group, the company has seen double-digit growth in both revenue and earnings per share as well as record operating margin.

As they prepare for their annual back-to-school shopping trip, parents this year will make children scour their closets before agreeing to buy any new jeans, pencils or backpacks. According to NRF’s 2011 Back-to-School survey conducted by BIGresearch, families with children in grades K–12 will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics, within a few dollars of last year’s $606.40 average. Total spending on grades K-12 is expected to reach $22.8 billion.

AquaHydrate sports water has recieved a capital infusion of $10 million from Ronald Burkle of The Yucaipa Companies investment firm. AquaHydrate, whose investors include actor Mark Wahlberg and banking firm Emerald Partners, continues its discussions with a number of strategic investors in order to secure a long-term partner that will advance distribution and enhance marketing capability beyond the more than 2,200 stores that currently carry the product. Discussions are also being held with major international beverage distributors for expansion into overseas markets.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation has released record financial results for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 showing that 2010 net sales broke past the $1 billion mark. Net sales increased 23.1 percent to $1.001 billion compared to 2009's $813.2 million.