Norrøna Selects Boston for New U.S. Concept Shop
Norrøna reported it will open a 2,637-square-foot concept shop on Boston’s Newbury Street in Spring 2024. The company said the move signifies the sustainable growth the family-owned Norwegian manufacturer of apparel and gear has achieved in the U.S.
AGM Names Director of Membership & Education
The Association of Golf Merchandisers appointed Justine Gray as director of membership and education.
JD Sports Posts Double-Digit H1 Growth in N.A. with DTLR, Finish Line, JD and Shoe Palace
U.K.-based JD Sports Fashion reported total revenue of £4.78 billion ($5.91 billion) for the first half of its fiscal year ended July 29, up 8.3 percent year-over-year. JD said organic growth in its North America business was up 15 percent with the three largest segments—Finish Line/JD, DTLR and Shoe Palace—delivering between 13 percent and 17 percent organic sales growth.
Apparel Group Inks Multi-Brand Licensing Deal with Marquee Brands LLC
The multi-brand licensing agreement encompasses licensing for five of Marquee’s signature brands, namely BCBG, Ben Sherman, Bruno Magli, Sur la table, and Martha Stewart across the regions of GCC and India.
Nordstrom Sets Plans for More Rack Locations in Ohio
With the addition of this new location in Mason, OH and a location opening in Macedonia, OH in spring 2024, Nordstrom will operate eight Nordstrom Rack stores and three Nordstrom stores in Ohio. The store is scheduled to open in fall 2024.
Adidas Opens New Fully Automated Distribution Center in China
The fully automated warehousing and distribution center in Suzhou, China, covering an area of 139,000 square meters, is said to “set a new industry standard with its high degree of speed and flexibility in warehousing logistics.”
MycoWorks Opens New South Carolina Factory
MycoWorks, a company developing a fungal-based biomaterial that it said could replace leather, began production at its new manufacturing facility in Union, SC. The San Francisco-based biomaterials start-up said its now set to grow millions of square feet of its leather-alternative material produced with the company’s proprietary technology, Fine Mycelium.
Bass Pro Shops Sets New Location in Tucson, AZ
The new retail store will be located off I-10 as an anchor of Marketplace at the Bridges.
Gildan Achieves ISO 45001 Certification in Two D.R. Sewing Factories
The company reported that the San Pedro de Macoris and Las Americas sewing factories in the Dominican Republic became the company’s first ISO 45001 certified plants, marking an important milestone in the organization’s safety strategy.
EXEC: Nike Retains Top Spot as Most Valuable Global Apparel Brand
Nike ranked as the world’s most valuable apparel brand for the ninth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance’s 2023 Annual Apparel 50 Report. Other brands in the active lifestyle space that made the Top 50 included Adidas, at #5; Lululemon, #16; Puma, #19; Anta, #26; Under Armour, #27; The North Face, #28; Moncler, #29; Skechers, #32; Fila, #34; Li Ning, #42; and New Balance, #50.
Kith To Open First Store in Toronto
Kith will officially open its first store in Toronto, and its first in Canada, on September 22.
Saks Survey Indicates Early Signs of Luxury Spending Rebound
Saks’ latest Saks Luxury Pulse survey, fielded in late July, found that 58 percent of luxury consumers plan to spend the same or more on luxury in the next three months. This is an increase from 53 percent in the prior Saks Luxury Pulse fielded in late April, and represents the first increase in luxury spending plans since the survey began tracking this in May 2022.
EXEC: KMD Sees Rip Curl Post Solid FY Growth while Oboz Sales Jump 62 Percent
The parent company to the Rip Curl, Oboz and Kathmandu brands reported it had achieved record sales of over NZ$1.1 billion dollars in the fiscal year ended July 31, its first year of uninterrupted trade post-pandemic.
Mastercard: U.S. Holiday Retail Sales Expected to Grow 3.7 Percent
Mastercard SpendingPulse said sales are expected to rise 6.7 percent online and 2.9 in-store for the period November 1 through December 24, with the biggest gain iexpected to come in electronics with a 6 percent increase.
Authentic Brands’ Debt Ratings Upgraded by Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the debt ratings of Authentic Brands Group to reflect the conglomerate’s “solid” operating performance, increasing scale benefits and improving debt leverage.
