SGB Update

Nordstrom Sets Plans for New Rack Locations in Georgia and Florida

The company currently operates two Nordstrom stores and seven Nordstrom Rack stores in Georgia, generating more than 700 jobs statewide, and six Nordstrom stores and 23 Nordstrom Rack stores in Florida, generating more than 2,900 jobs statewide.

Workout Anytime Appoints COO

Workout Anytime, which operates about 200 24-hour gyms across the U.S., appointed Peter Stipher as COO. Workout Anytime’s CEO and majority owner Jerry Pugh said, “”With Pete’s exceptional ability to connect strategy with execution, he is the right person to help us level-up as the premier fitness franchise.”

Report: Running Footwear Delivers Double-Digit Gains in First Half

Running footwear sales jumped 13 percent in both dollars and units in the U.S. in the first half, according to Circana’s Retail Tracking Service. Overall, performance footwear sales increased 6 percent in dollars with unit sales also increasing. Cross-training, golf, volleyball, and other activity-based categories also posted gains.

SGB Executive

EXEC: Saucony Raises Outlook After Solid Q2 with Wholesale Growth Led by Int’l, Continued U.S. Gains

Even with the strong performance of the Saucony team over the last handful of years, the brand team still views Saucony as a small challenger brand in a very attractive category. In Q2, the brand dropped collaborations with Estudio Niksen, Greyson, two with Engineered Garments, and Minted New York. Earlier this month the brand plans to drop a highly anticipated collaboration with Westside Gunn.

EXEC: Asics North America Sees Double-Digit Growth Across All Regions in Q2

Asics North America (ANA) reported that it delivered double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter across its three regions, with gains of 19.4 percent in the U.S., 25.8 percent in Canada, and  30.4 percent in Mexico. The gains were driven by the wholesale channel across regions, with wholesale sales up 36.6 percent in the U.S. region.