Columbia Sportswear recorded excellent figures for its 2011 fiscal year, when sales soared by 14 percent to $1.694 billion. For the fourth quarter alone, turnover was up by 15 percent and reached $526.1 million. Net profit was up by 40 percent to $36.7 million for the same period. For the full year, net profit jumped by 34 percent to $103.5 million.
By brand, the overall winner was Sorel, one of the footwear brands of the group, whose sales jumped by 68 percent to $150.3 million for the full year, outpacing Mountain Hardwear, which still booked a nice increase of 17 percent to $142.3 million. The core Columbia brand was up by 10 percent, reaching $1,391.5 million for the full year.
By geography, the biggest increase was reached in the Latin American and Asia-Pacific region (LAAP) with growth of 29 percent to $341.0 million, followed by the EMEA region, where sales soared by 24 percent to $275.4 million. According to Tim Boyle, president and chief executive of the company, Sorel in Europe was one of the driving engines behind the growth (more on this brand shortly). The U.S. was up by 8 percent to $948.0 million. Traditionally one of its strongest single markets, Canada peaked by 11 percent to $129.6 million.
In a conference call yesterday, Boyle was extremely pleased by the development of the Columbia brand's distribution channels. He stated that specialty outdoor retail has again become the best channel for Columbia in the U.S. for the first time in a decade. This says that the brand's massive efforts in innovation and product development was appreciated by the core dealers who again see Columbia as a technical brand of outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment.
Meanwhile, Boyle has promoted Adrienne Moser to be vice president for global apparel merchandising and design for the Columbia brand, replacing Sue Parham, who has left the company. Moser most recently served as general manager of Columbia's apparel merchandising. Before joining the company, she was with Patagonia for 14 years, where she ended as head of merchandise. In between, she was also one of the founders and chief operating officer of Nau, the Portland-based marketer of sustainable apparel (more in The Outdoor Industry Compass).
