Asics announced the opening of an urban, large-scale, low oxygen training center in September 2019. The training center will be housed within a multi-purpose facility in Tokyo’s futuristic Toyosu district and will be approximately 5,000 square meters and occupy the second and third floors of the facility.
Yue Yuen reported sales in September rose 9.4 percent to $839.5 million from $767.5 million.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Fanatics have announced an innovative new partnership which will run for 10 years from March 2019 and is the first for Fanatics in Asia.
Merrell launched a video documentary titled “In Due Time” featuring ambassadors Jason Antin and Mike Chambers setting out to complete Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail by foot in the fastest known time.
Adidas has hired Jan Heinemann, Bayer’s former U.S. head of law, patents and compliance, as the company’s newest general counsel, according to law.com.
Allbirds, a San Francisco-based sneaker maker known for using sustainable material, raised $50 million in Series C funding.
Intersocks Group announced the appointment of In-Sport Fashions Inc. as the company’s Canadian distributor for licensed Salomon socks.
The Buckle Inc. announced that comparable store net sales for stores open at least one year for the five-week period ended October 6, 2018, decreased 2.4 percent from comparable store net sales for the five-week period ended October 7, 2017.
Continuing the focus of protecting, preserving and expanding public lands, American Hiking Society announced the launch of a Vote Public Lands campaign to encourage the society’s members, supporters and the public to get involved and get educated on public lands issues.
America Multi-Sport Inc., which owns the Viking Dash Trail Run series, welcomes Omni Apparel Inc. as the official apparel of all Viking Dash Trail Runs in the United States and Canada now through 2020, which currently includes 24 events annually.
The Big Sur Marathon Foundation welcomed Recover Brands, creator of creates eco-friendly custom apparel, as a community partner for the 2018 Monterey Bay Half Marathon.
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, this fall welcomes Farm to Feet, Kavu, Rab and Sierra Designs to the company’s national vendor network.
Kit and Ace, founded in 2014 for Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, has been sold to members of the company’s leadership team, led by CEO George Tsogas. The sellers were the Wilson family.
Under Armour Inc. has added the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center Joel Embiid as an ambassador. The five-year deal makes Embiid the NBA’s highest-paid center on a shoe deal and he will have a signature shoe.
On Wednesday at the college basketball corruption trial taking place in Manhattan’s federal court, Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola testified that the families of five recruits, Brian Bowen, Billy Preston, Silvio De Sousa, Dennis Smith and Deandre Ayton, received payments as a recruiting incentive.
FlexIt, the mobile app that enables users to access gyms and only pay for the time they use, announces the addition of fitness industry leader Robbie Sprechman, CFO of Retro Fitness, to the company’s advisory board.
Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to remain at near-record levels in October despite a new round of tariffs that took effect in September, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
About 820 Canyon Mountain Bikes that were sold on online at Canyon’s website are being recalled.
Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc. has issued a product safety bulletin for certain Ruger American Pistols chambered in 9mm.
Zamst, a leader in sports performance and injury prevention, announced the signing of Oklahoma City Thunder’s starting center Steven Adams.
New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago are among the U.S. public school districts enrolled for coaching education and player safety protocols within USA Football’s nationally endorsed Heads Up Football program this fall.
Origin, an outdoor-focused marketing agency, announced the company’s commitment to climate change awareness via a partnership with Protect Our Winters Canada.
Zumiez said same-store sales increased 1.2 percent for the five-week period ended October 6.
Kitsbow, the cycling apparel brand, has joined the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo as a major sponsor of the event.
Chums, eyewear retainer and outdoor accessory brand, announced the company’s sixteen-member ambassador team.
Tough Mudder announced a new multi-year partnership with Alanic as the official apparel partner.
The Kevin Love Fund announced that UCLA will be the fund’s first beneficiary through Headspace subscription donations and in-person mental training sessions for all student-athletes and coaches.
Dick’s Sporting Goods has expanded the company’s partnership with First Insight, which offers technology aimed at helping retailers and brands make better-informed product development and pricing decisions.
Capital One Financial, which bought the credit card operation of the former Cabela’s, said 153 employees in Lincoln, NE, will be laid off.
About 4,100 Kingpin Ski Bindings from Marker sold in the U.S. are being recalled.
RYU Apparel said the company prevailed in a trademark-infringement lawsuit against Lululemon.
New Balance has signed Harvard sprinter Gabby Thomas to a multi-year endorsement contract.
PGA Tour Superstore announced the opening of the company’s third store in the Chicago region, serving the Vernon Hills and northern Chicago communities.
Express Inc. expanded the company’s partnership with the NBA.
Retail industry employment in September increased by 25,600 jobs unadjusted over the same time last year despite a seasonally adjusted drop of 23,600 jobs from August, the National Retail Federation said.
BolderBOULDER Inc., organizers of the ColderBOLDER 5K, announced Spyder as the presenting sponsor for Colorado’s coldest 5K.
Panelists have been announced for the IHRSA Women’s Leadership Summit, hosted by Athletic Business, on Thursday, November 8, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released the 2018 Health Club Consumer Report that showed that health club membership reached an all-time high in 2017, attracting 60.9 million members, an increase of 6.3 percent from 2016.
Vibram Corp., North Brookfield, MA, said Tuesday that Michael Gionfriddo has announced his retirement as the company’s president and CEO effective December 31, and that Fabrizio Gamberini has been appointed the new president of Vibram in the United States.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on Tuesday invited Calgary (Canada), Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden) to become candidate cities for the Olympic Winter Games 2026 on the committee’s final day of meetings in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
San Francisco-based public relations and sports marketing agency OutsidePR has appointed longtime outdoor industry professional Massimo Alpian as account director.
BlackStrap, a made-in-USA manufacturer of facemasks and accessories for winter sports, anglers and outdoor recreationists, has announced the acquisition of a new headquarters facility as well as the addition of employees and retailers nationwide.
Yuba Bicycles, maker of both electric and pedal cargo bicycles, has issued a response to the rounds of anti-dumping tariffs issued on August 10 and September 17, resulting in a 25 percent tariff to be applied to electric bikes and a 10 percent tariff to be applied to pedal bikes manufactured in China.
Elan Sports USA, an independent subsidiary of Slovenian-based Elan Skis, heads into the 2018/19 winter season with a several new hires and positions focused on representing the brand in the U.S. market.
Delta Apparel Inc. announced that DTG2Go LLC, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, has acquired substantially all of the assets of Silk Screen Ink Ltd. d/b/a SSI Digital Print Services, a leading provider of digital print services, for $12 million.
Rapha announced a partnership with EF Pro Cycling that marks the cycling brand’s return to men’s WorldTour professional cycling after a two-year hiatus.
P.W. Minor, the second oldest footwear maker in the U.S., based in Batavia, NY, closed down operations and laid off all 82 of the company’s employees.
Oofos, the maker of recovery footwear, has partnered with Beyond Type 1 as the official recovery shoe for the Beyond Type Run marathon team.
Blizzard and Tecnica, the maker of alpine equipment and outdoor footwear, announced a partnership with Maro LaBlance of Campfire-Collective for U.S. public relations.
Outdoor Sports Marketing (OSM) announced the hiring of Peter Reigelman to office manager.
Big City Mountaineers (BCM), a provider of life-changing wilderness experiences for under-resourced youth, announced the launch of the company’s 2019 Summit for Someone (SFS) season—a series of 15 premium mountaineering and outdoor adventures across the country.
Polygiene, the provider of “stays fresh” technology, said Rebecka Harvyl joined the office in Sweden as the new marketing manager, and Bobby Howell will come on as the commercial director of North America, located in Vancouver, Canada.
Altra announced the addition of Kara Goucher to the company’s elite team of professional athletes. Goucher had been with Skechers.
Altra released an inspiring short documentary called “Balance” about the different sides of an ultrarunner. The video follows three Altra athletes in their pursuit of finishing the legendary Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run while balancing careers, families and their own personal running goals.
Dick’s Sporting Goods will be opening two new Dick’s Sporting Goods and two new Golf Galaxy stores in October. Dick’s will now have 733 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores and 96 Golf Galaxy stores nationwide in 47 states.
Exped USA has hired Ground Up Sales to represent the brand in the southeast. Heath Rowland and Jared Leader began representing Exped to retailers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee on October 1.
RYU Apparel Inc. announced that commencing October 8 the company’s common shares will be listed for trading on the OTCQB Marketplace under the trading symbol OTCQB: RYPPF.
Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight gave 12 million shares of Nike stock valued at $990 million to an unnamed charity, according to a regulatory filing.
Fanatics Inc. has promoted Joe Bozich to president of Fanatics Brands, the sports licensing giant’s in-house manufacturing and wholesale apparel division, sources told SGB.
Puma has launched #REFORM, a new platform that will give activists from the worlds of sports, music and entertainment support in championing causes and encouraging conversations around issues such as universal equality and criminal justice reform.
Adidas signed a five-year deal to replace Puma as the kit sponsor of Arsenal.
VF Corp. is tracing the supply chain footprint for 10 of the company’s most iconic products through sourcing maps now available to consumers.
Reebok signed UFC fighter Conor McGregor to a multi-million dollar deal, according to ESPN. The report indicated the deal is worth at least $5 million.
Aku, the Italian footwear specializing in hand-crafted hiking and trekking boots, said the company experienced 16 percent growth in the past year in Canada and the U.S.
Photo courtesy Asics
