Let Supply Chain Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. <br><br>The sports retailer continues to diversify its sourcing base as it plans for possible tariff hikes under the Trump administration.<br><span><span><span><span><span><span>Academy Sports and Outdoors has been proactive about diversifying its sourcing footprint to “reduce our direct import exposure from a single country,” said Ford.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>The retailer has also accelerated some spring receipts to transport goods ahead of the Lunar New Year after pivoting shipments to the West Coast to avoid possible delays from last fall’s <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/east-coast-port-strike-ila-usmx/728440/">East Coast port labor disputes</a>. While the October strike between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance was short-lived, industries are still navigating the event’s impact and preparing for the <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/will-ila-strike-january-experts-respond-usmx-negotiations/735862/">possibility of another strike</a> as a <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/east-coast-port-strike-ila-usmx/728440/">Jan. 15 negotiation deadline approaches</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>“This should have a two-fold benefit, in that it could help avoid any increase in tariffs, while at the same time avoiding key elements of our spring set getting caught up in a potential East Coast ports strike,” the CFO told analysts.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>Academy Sports and Outdoors is <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-china-tariffs-sourcing-changes/732966/">one of many companies</a> monitoring potential changes to trade policy and corporate taxes ahead of the next presidential administration. Last month, the Biden administration announced plans to increase Section 301 tariffs on <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/ustr-biden-tariff-increase-wafers-polysilicon-tungsten/735240/">wafers and polysilicon imports</a> from China. The increases build on <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/joe-biden-china-tariff-hikes-ev-battery-semiconductor-final/726946/">tariff hikes</a> finalized by the administration in September.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>Ford noted that the national brands Academy partners with have been on a “similar journey” to expand their sourcing bases in order to limit exposure to possible tariff-related price increases.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>The CFO added that the firearms and ammunition sector is an exception to this shift, as a “large portion” of those goods are manufactured domestically, which could “help insulate this important category from price disruptions.”</span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>Academy Sports and Outdoors has focused on refining and modernizing its supply chain strategy in recent months. The retailer started off 2024 with a new </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/academy-sports-and-outdoors-names-robert-howell-chief-supply-chain-officer/705428/"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>chief supply chain officer</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, followed by a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/academy-sports-and-outdoors-supply-chain-veteran-board/712085/"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>new board member</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> in March. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span><span><span>The company also </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/academy-sports-and-outdoors-q1-2024-warehouse-management-omnichannel/721290/"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>implemented a new warehouse management platform</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> at a distribution facility in Georgia as it focuses on store growth and omnichannel capabilities. In June, Academy Sports and Outdoors also began </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/academy-sports-and-outdoors-to-offer-on-demand-delivery-via-doordash/718553/"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>offering on-demand delivery</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> of apparel, footwear and sporting goods through DoorDash.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br>Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts<br>A federal mediator rejected a union request to be released from supervised negotiations as pilots push for better pay and retirement benefits.<br>The central bank trimmed borrowing costs from a two-decade high after policymakers noted their growing concern about softening in the labor market.<br>Subscribe to Supply Chain Dive for top news, trends & analysis<br>Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts<br>Want to share a company announcement with your peers?<br> <a class="pressrelease-footer-cta__link analytics t-pr-edfooter-start-loud" href="/press-release/get-started/"> Get started <span class="call-out-link__arrow">➔</span> </a> <br>A federal mediator rejected a union request to be released from supervised negotiations as pilots push for better pay and retirement benefits.<br>The central bank trimmed borrowing costs from a two-decade high after policymakers noted their growing concern about softening in the labor market.<br>The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOeUszcUY0ZVdiQ0VXc0x2UzY4S3Myci14WGxCaTFLUXZBYnp1a3Z6ZVhhajJwUnNZbms5Rm1YU3p5U21SMVk0eC1hZ2FpOGpCTVJkOXVCVF9ZN3A1VWFPUzF2TkI4XzVoVklZRmJRV2N4NjdPVmFsT2Q4ZzFXMUZvZDRTLWJVVlNqQnMyd0lfbWdITEtzRjFTdlZmbWZ0RTFWMmRfdzFB?oc=5">source</a>
