Dive Brief:
- As it experiments with new store concepts, Dick's Sporting Goods has hired Ray Sliva as its executive vice president of stores, the retailer announced on Thursday.
- Sliva joins from Best Buy, where he was most recently chief people officer and managed the company's employee engagement efforts. Prior to that, he was Best Buy's president of retail, overseeing its in-home consultations, Best Buy for Business, digital sales and nearly 1,000 brick-and-mortar storefronts.
- Sliva starts Jan. 3 and will report to President and CEO Lauren Hobart, per the press release.
Dive Insight:
Dick's Sporting Goods is tapping into Sliva's prior experience at Best Buy as it works to expand its store portfolio and continue its sales growth.
"Our stores are a critical touchpoint with our athletes," Hobart said in a statement. "Ray's retail experience, passion for people, culture and operations will be tremendous assets as we continue to elevate the athlete and teammate experience in our stores."
Over the past few years, Dick's Sporting Goods has been experimenting with new store concepts. In 2020, the company unveiled two clearance-based formats dubbed Overtime by Dick's Sporting Goods and Dick's Sporting Goods Warehouse.
The following year, the retailer debuted its first Golf Galaxy Performance Center, which offers hitting bays, golf lessons and custom fittings. Dick’s is also testing an experiential House of Sport concept and its Public Lands banner, which targets the outdoor sector.
As the retailer grows its store portfolio, it has seen an increase in sales. In its Q3 results, the retailer reported a 7.7% year-over-year sales bump to almost $3 billion, a more than 50% jump compared to 2019. At the time of the report, Hobart said the company’s House of Sport concept has been “absolutely tremendous” and that the company is “really excited” about Public Lands, which is expanding.
Dick’s Sporting Goods also entered the resale market earlier this year. The company introduced an in-store buyback program in collaboration with Out&Back. The store will accept outdoor gear at its Dick's Sporting Goods and Public Lands locations in select markets.
