After a year of fluctuations driven by the uncertainty of the trade war with China, volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to return to its usual seasonal patterns during the first few months of 2020, according to the Global Port Tracker report released Friday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. Read more
Orange Mud, a maker of hydration packs and running gear, announced Friday the promotion of Steve Acciarito as director of sales and marketing. Read more
Urban Outfitters Inc. reported net sales for the two months ended December 31, 2019 increased 2.9 percent over the same period last year. Comparable retail segment net sales increased 3 percent, driven by growth in the digital channel, partially offset by negative retail store sales. Read more
Nike Factory Store at Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay in Robstown, TX, is closing. Read more
Ross Stores Inc. announced that Bernie Brautigan, president, merchandising of Ross Dress for Less since 2016, is leaving the company. Read more
The NFL announced a partnership with Swedish-based fast-fashion retailer H&M to launch a range of NFL-branded apparel and accessories to support the league’s growth overseas. Read more
Adidas Golf signed two-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Berger to a multi-year contract that includes him wearing Adidas headwear, apparel, footwear, and accessories during play. Read more
A Manhattan federal judge denied Michael Avenatti’s bid to dismiss the third count of an indictment accusing the embattled lawyer of trying to extort Nike Inc. over his alleged knowledge of basketball recruiting violations. Read more
Equinox Group, the operator of Equinox Fitness Clubs, Blink Fitness, Pure Yoga and SoulCycle, is in advanced talks to secure additional funding to expand its digital platform, according to a report from Bloomberg. Read more
Varsity Brands on Thursday announced the appointment of John Hutchinson as executive vice president and CFO, effective immediately. Read more
Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. on Thursday announced that the company is lowering its financial guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2019 due to headwinds stemming from competitors discounting firearms and ammunition as well as the shortened holiday season. Read more
Dick’s Sporting Goods closed its retail location in Plainville, CN. Read more
The Buckle Inc. reported comparable store sales increased 5.0 percent in December. Overall sales increased 4.8 percent to $143.9 million from $137.4 million in the same period a year ago. Read more
J. C. Penney Company Inc. announced that its comparable store sales for the combined nine-week period ending January 4, 2020, decreased 7.5 percent. The retailer reaffirmed its guidance for the year. Read more
Kohl’s Corp. reported that its comparable sales for fiscal November and December 2019 combined decreased by 0.2 percent over the same period last year. The department store operator expects EPS to come in at the lower-end of guidance. Read more
PVH Corp. announced that Tom Chu would become the regional president of PVH Asia Pacific effective February 1, 2020. Read more
Fanatics Brands, the in-house apparel division for Fanatics Inc., has signed a lease for 92,000 square feet located at 5332 Avion in Tampa, FL. Previously, the apparel division had been spread across three locations in Tampa, FL. Read more
Target has launched a proprietary All in Motion sports brands. Items will range from sports bras and leggings to hand weights and yoga mats. Read more
Firearms distributor Lipsey’s, on Wednesday, announced the promotion of two long-time members of its management team. Read more
Honors Holdings, a leading franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness, announced its expansion into the northeast U.S. with recent acquisitions including 12 corporate-owned studios and area development rights for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read more
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance has tapped outdoor industry veteran Jay Stuart to serve as the organization’s director of sales and marketing. Read more
Lululemon Athletica Inc. appointed Nikki Neuburger as chief brand officer, effective January 20. Neuburger had spent 14 years at Nike, including the position of global vice president of Nike Running. Read more
First Lite, the hunting gear brand, on Wednesday named company veteran Ross Copperman as its new president. Read more
True Sports, the maker of golf, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball equipment, announced the appointment of Chris Considine as president and chief executive officer effective immediately. Read more
Varsity Brands, the parent of BSN Sports, Varsity Spirit and Herff Jones, announced that submissions are open for its Fifth Annual 2020 Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards. Read more
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced that its board of governors had voted to add the title and duties of CEO to Joseph Bartozzi‘s current and ongoing responsibilities as the association’s president. Read more
Flight Fit N Fun, a developer and operator of indoor active adventure parks, acquired 11 new locations through their recent purchase of Jumpstreet, an indoor adventure park operator with locations across the southern U.S. Read more
Boardriders Inc., the parent of Billabong, Roxy, Quiksilver, DC Shoes, RVCA, and Element, announced that it is launching a multi-prong relief effort to support communities impacted by the Australia bushfires. Read more
ClassPass, the fitness membership subscription service, announced the close of a $285 million Series E investment. Read more
PVH Corp. announced a $100,000 AUD contribution to the Australian Red Cross Disaster and Recovery Fund. Read more
Macy’s Inc. announced comparable sales results for November and December 2019 were down 0.7 percent on an owned basis for the November and December holiday period. Read more
Macy’s will close at least 15 stores in early 2020, according to reports. Read more
BSN Sports, a division of Varsity Brands, on Tuesday announced that it had acquired the team sports business, Wayne Sporting Goods, located in Wayne, PA. Read more
Brooks will continue to showcase their expertise as the Official Apparel and Footwear Provider for all P3R’s races. Read more
Velocity Outdoor announced that Nick Andrews will join the company as vice president of marketing. Read more
Marolina Outdoor Inc. announced Pete Angle as chief marketing officer of Marolina and Eric Young as national sales manager for Nomad. Read more
TSN, RDS and Hockey Canada on Tuesday announced a long-term media rights agreement that extends through the 2033/34 season, continuing their long-standing partnership that dates back to 1991. Read more
According to a report in the Baltimore Business Journal, Under Armour hired a chief accounting officer and an accounting and corporate controller on November 25, three weeks after publicly confirming that its accounting practices were being investigated by the federal government. Read more
Nike Inc. will become Liverpool Football Club’s official kit supplier beginning with the 2020/21 season. The company and club announced the multi-year agreement Tuesday. Read more
Town Sports International Holdings Inc., owner and operator of fitness clubs in the Northeast, agreed to acquire the studio business of Flywheel Sports Inc. Read more
Safariland Group completed the sale of its KleenBore brand of firearms cleaning accessories to Taylorville, IL-based Pro-Shot Products. Read more
Hadley Development has acquired the intellectual property of Sirphis LLC, including Muddy Girl, Lifestyle Camo, Pulse and Grit House. Read more
Reef Lifestyle LLC announced it has entered into several new distribution agreements with footwear distributor partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Read more
Snowsports Merchandising Corporation (SMC), a buying group in the winter sports industry, announced its 50th Anniversary servicing the specialty retail channel. Read more
360 Adventure Collective, the 40-year-old member association for the active outdoor industry, will host the New England Winter Expo in Providence, RI this month. Read more
Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, group fitness and boxing experience created by legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather, announced that its St. Petersburg, FL location will open on January 11. Read more
Wigwam Mills Inc. announced that Dana Gibson has joined the company as director of sales. Read more
Patagonia has opened a new store in Harvard Square in Boston’s Cambridge section at 39 Brattle Street. Read more
PXG, the maker of golf equipment and apparel, has opened its fourth brick & mortar location in Atlanta’s Lenox Square. Read more
Planet Fitness Inc. on Monday announced that it has opened its 2,000th location in Colorado Springs, CO. The company also opened its 2,001st store on December 31, 2019, bringing its 2019 total store openings to 261. Read more
The FBI completed 2.9 million gun background checks in December, up 15 percent from a year ago, and set the record in 2019 for the most gun checks performed since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was founded in 1998. Read more
VF Corp. on Monday announced the appointment of Gloria Schoch as director, VF Foundation & Global Impact. Read more
Hudson’s Bay Company, the Canadian parent of Saks and Hudson Bay, agreed to an amended deal to be taken private for C$11 per share. The offer comes from an investor group led by the retailer’s chairman, Richard Baker, an increase from the group’s previous offer of C$10.30 per share. Read more
Spartan Race announced the acquisition of an exclusive option to acquire Tough Mudder’s UK, Canadian and German events. Read more
Impressions Expo, formerly the Imprinted Sportswear Shows, will return to Long Beach, CA, on January 17-19, for its annual trade show. Read more
Rodney Smith, the president and second-generation owner of Boulder, CO-based Backpacker’s Pantry, died from injuries sustained while skiing at Eldora Mountain Resort. Read more
Modell’s Sporting Goods has committed to a 312,373 square feet industrial lease at 201 Old York Road in Bordentown, NJ. Read more
The NFL’s television ratings for the 2019 regular season increased 5 percent over 2018 according to Nielsen numbers shared by the NFL. Read more
Sequential Brands Group Inc., the parent of Avia, And1 and Gaiam, announced that brand’s executive, David Conn, has been appointed director and CEO. Read more
Contigo, a manufacturer of water bottles and travel mugs owned by Newell Brands, announced a partnership with Coachella to become the festival’s official reusable bottle partner in 2020. Read more
Puma will replace Umbro as the title sponsor of PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch football club, according to Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad. Read more
Magnus Wedhammar, who has been Sanuk’s GM since July 2016, left the company according to a report from Shop-Eat-Surf. Read More
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NFHS Network have entered into an agreement with merchandising company PepWear as a new corporate partner. Read more
Asics announced the sponsorship of Borna Coric, Caroline Garcia and Iga Swiatek ahead of the start of the 2020 tennis season. Read more
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