Home / Eric Smith

Welcome

I'm a Colorado-based writer who specializes in business news, analysis and features from the outdoor and sporting goods industries. My current role is Senior Business Editor for SGB Media, a B2B trade publication that covers the active lifestyle marketplace (you can view my SGB oeuvre by clicking here).

Below you'll find my most recent work, or please visit my portfolio page for a more comprehensive look at my writing, including clips from SGB, past jobs and even a few side hustles. Also, be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and follow on Twitter (feed is at the bottom of the page).

Cheers!

SGB Media • 18th October 2019

RMU Stays True To Ski Bum Roots Amid Expansion

Breckenridge, CO-based Rocky Mountain Underground— a ski maker that also runs a combination retail shop and tavern—is expanding into Canada with a locale in Whistler, BC. But Mike Waesche and Scott Mant told SGB the company sees this move as a grassroots extension of RMU’s unique concept rather than a corporate expansion.

SGB Media • 16th October 2019

Nexgen Outfitters Steps Out Of Cabela's Shadow

Six former Cabela’s employees are running the startup outdoor gear seller Nexgen Outfitters Inc. in Sidney, NE, where Cabela’s had been headquartered before being acquired by Bass Pro Shops. With the recent expiration of a noncompete injunction, the online provider is feeling a surge of momentum. SGB checks in on Nexgen’s journey.

SGB Media • 14th October 2019

VF Maps Growth Plans For Three 'Emerging' Brands

Smartwool, Icebreaker and Napapijri aren’t the largest assets in VF Corp.’s $12 billion portfolio, combining for about $600 million in annual sales. But the company has big plans for these so-called “emerging” brands, including each one hitting double-digit growth over the next five years to reach $1 billion together.

SGB Media • 3rd October 2019

September M&A Roundup: Spy Optic, Bollé, Dick's, Sportsman's And More

September was another busy month for M&A in the active lifestyle space. Notable transactions occurred in outdoor eyewear (Bollé Brands acquired Spy Optic), sporting goods retail (Sportsman’s Warehouse acquired eight Field & Stream stores from Dick’s) and recreational vehicle manufacturing (Winnebago acquired Newmar). SGB digs into the important details of each deal.

SGB Media • 2nd October 2019

Q&A With CamelBak President Greg Williamson

Greg Williamson took over as president of CamelBak at a precarious time for the brand. Not only was he the company’s fifth leader in four years, but when he arrived in July 2018, a key retailer had boycotted CamelBak products. With Williamson leading the charge, the brand’s fortunes are improving. He spoke with SGB about what that journey entails.

SGB Media • 2nd October 2019

Behind The Deal: Kathmandu Adds Iconic Surfing Brand To Portfolio

SGB goes behind the deal of Kathmandu Holdings Ltd.’s $236 million acquisition of Australian surf brand Rip Curl. We dig into why this addition will help Kathmandu grow into new markets and also reveal why Rip Curl turned down more lucrative offers to join the growing New Zealand-based outdoor retailer.

SGB Media • 30th September 2019

Why Dick's Unloaded Eight Field & Stream Locales

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. on Monday took another important step in the ongoing “strategic review of its hunt business” by selling eight Field & Stream stores to Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. for $28 million. SGB looks at how the deal affects each company.

SGB Media • 26th September 2019

The Ongoing Evolution Of VF Corp.

VF Corp. hosted its 2019 Investor Day Wednesday in Beaver Creek, CO, a couple hours up I-70 from the company’s new hometown of Denver. There, VF’s chairman, president and CEO, Steve Rendle, outlined for analysts and investors the changes completed and the changes yet to come in VF’s ongoing evolution.

SGB Media • 25th September 2019

How Will Vail's Latest Move Impact Ski Industry?

Vail Resorts Inc. officially expanded its empire Tuesday when the Broomfield, CO-based ski area owner and operator closed on its previously announced $264 million acquisition of Peak Resorts Inc. But what impact will Vail’s latest expansion have on the ski and snowboard industry? SGB takes a look.

SGB Media • 20th September 2019

Specialized-Owned Bottle Brand Purist Hits Stride With Cindy Feinauer At Helm

Cindy Feinauer, general manager of the stainless steel bottle brand Purist and custom business leader at Specialized Bicycle Components, spoke with SGB Executive recently about Purist’s progress since launching last year. Although the brand is seeing triple-digit growth over 2018, revenue is only one way the company and Feinauer measure success.

SGB Media • 18th September 2019

New Era Begins For Camber Outdoors

Camber Outdoors has a new executive director. Emily Newman was tapped to lead the nonprofit after the interim ED, Diana Seung, left to join Jack Wolfskin. With a tumultuous start to 2019 in the rear-view mirror yet still cognizant of past missteps, Camber believes it found the right person to lead the organization into this next chapter. Here's what Camber shared about the news—including why a person of color wasn't hired.

SGB Media • 17th September 2019

Jack Wolfskin's North America Plan Starts To Take Shape

As SGB first reported Monday, Diana Seung has been named general manager of Jack Wolfskin’s North America operation, which will be based in Salt Lake City. In this key role for the German-based brand, Seung is charged with spearheading Jack Wolfskin’s lofty ambitions for this market. Here's what she and the company shared about that endeavor.

SGB Media • 16th September 2019

Spy Optic Addition Bolsters Bollé Brands' Portfolio

Less than a year after being sold by Vista Outdoor Inc. to a European private equity firm, Bollé Brands is bolstering its eyewear platform with the acquisition of U.S.-based Spy Optic. The addition of the Carlsbad, CA-based eyewear brand gives Bollé a strategic play in the U.S. market and tees up plenty of expansion opportunity for the company.

SGB Media • 13th September 2019

Outdoor Brands Reveal True Cost Of Tariffs

Representatives from outdoor brands NEMO Equipment Inc., VF Corp., Columbia Sportswear Co. and Nester Hosiery spoke Thursday about the wide-ranging impact that tariffs are having on their companies. The cost of the trade war, they said, extends far beyond a dollar amount and is taking a toll on hiring, expansion and, perhaps most worrisome, product innovation.

SGB Media • 10th September 2019

CamelBak Lands First REI Contract After Vista's Firearms Exit

CamelBak is officially coming back to REI Co-op. The hydration pack and bottle brand last week inked its first contract with the outdoor retail giant in more than a year and announced plans to scale up over the coming seasons with a full line of products on REI shelves by Spring 2021, according to CamelBak President Greg Williamson.

SGB Media • 5th September 2019

Clarus' John Walbrecht Talks 'Superfan' Brands With Investors

Clarus Corp. President John Walbrecht took his message about the company’s “superfan” brand strategy on the road this week when he presented at the 2019 Gateway Conference in San Francisco. Here’s what he shared about Clarus’ unwavering vision for its portfolio.

SGB Media • 4th September 2019

More On Camping World's Pivot Away From Outdoor Retail

Camping World Holdings Inc. has put outdoor retail in the proverbial rear-view mirror and set its sights on selling only recreational vehicles and accessories—even as the RV market sputters along. Now that the company has shed some light on its larger plan, those moves are just a hint of what’s to come.

SGB Media • 3rd September 2019

August M&A Roundup: Camping World, Accell Group, Nike and More

M&A heated up in the final full month of summer with several market-shifting transactions occurring in the active lifestyle space. August’s biggest moves included Camping World and Accell Group unloading non-core assets and Nike adding to its portfolio.

SGB Media • 30th August 2019

Six Takeaways From Paddlesports Retailer

SGB is back from the third annual Paddlesports Retailer show, held this week in Oklahoma City. We identified six takeaways from the event, including reaction to the format changes, why most paddlesports brands believe this show trumps Outdoor Retailer and the meaning behind one attendee’s description of demo day as “mayhem and awesome.”

SGB Media • 27th August 2019

SSL Bootfitting Academy Gives Specialty Ski Shops Jump On Winter

SGB dropped in on last week’s Elevated Bootfitting Academy, hosted by specialty retail buying group Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL). The event brought together specialty ski shops and insole brands to share innovations and techniques in boot fitting—a customer service add-on that can elevate the specialty channel and the sport of skiing.

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