ICSC’s Survey Finds Back-To-School Shoppers Seeking Promotions
The 2025 ICSC Back-to-School Consumer Survey found that nine in ten respondents said promotions influence their purchases throughout the season, with 46 percent stating they plan their shopping around specific promotional events, such as Target Circle Week, Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals, or Labor Day sales.
Gymshark Opens Store in Manchester, England
The company opened a store in Manchester, marking its first standalone UK store outside of London. The activewear brand now has five stores with plans to open a store in New York City later this year.
EXEC: Moody’s Sees Tariffs Weighing On Apparel Retail Through First Half Of 2026
Moody’s Ratings, in an update, said that while a pause in some tariffs lessens the profitability hit, it’s maintaining a negative outlook on the Global Retail and Apparel sector, as tariffs are expected to “materially” impact earnings through the first quarter of 2026, with apparel and footwear sellers particularly vulnerable.
Vuori Accelerates Global Expansion with New Stores in Asia
Vuori announced an acceleration of its global expansion in Asia with the opening of its first stores in Seoul, Korea, this September under a franchise partnership, followed by another in Beijing, China in October. The California activewear brand has also expanded its digital reach with its e-commerce platform now live in 11 additional countries.
Nordisk Forms Partnership to Expand In China
The Danish outdoor brand entered a partnership with K2 Korea and China’s BA Capital to establish a strategic joint venture in China, including the opening of the first Nordisk stores in the country.
Study: Private Label is Quietly Taking Share from Established Brands
This latest First Insight study on private label trends offers a macro view of how shifting consumer perceptions and behaviors around private label products are influencing trial, loyalty and the decisions retailers must make in a changing economic and competitive landscape.
Arc’teryx to Open Store in Bethesda, Maryland
The store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, MD, is expected to open this fall. The outdoor brand, owned by Amer Sports, operates two stores nearby in Washington, D.C., including one in the Georgetown area.
Survey: Dads Lead Move to Earlier BTS Shopping Trend
A survey commissioned by Smarty, a rewards app, found 70 percent of U.S. consumers are starting their BTS shopping earlier than in previous years amid tariff concerns, with dads taking the lead across nearly every category, from spending more to prioritizing quality.
EXEC: Study Forecasts Continued Rapid Growth for Padel, Including in the U.S.
Playtomic’s “Global Padel Report 2025” found padel clubs increased 22 percent globally in 2024, with significant growth in Southern Europe. In the U.S., the sport is still in its early stages, but faster expansion is expected in 2026, with “real acceleration” projected for 2027.
Swing Control Adds Brand Manager to Nancy Robitaille’s Designer Role
Before joining Swing Control, Robitaille spent over a decade as the head designer at Fila Golf Sportswear for Fersten Worldwide. She was also a designer for Fitmatics Performance Apparel for Fersten.
Tiger Finance Appoints Managing Director, National Sales
Tiger Finance, which has invested in several active lifestyle and retail businesses, promoted Jason Rae, an asset-based lending veteran, as managing director, National Sales. Rae previously co-led Tiger Valuation Services’ Business Development team and covered the New England and Canadian markets.
Li & Fung Acquires UK-Based Hosiery Supplier Orrsum
Hong Kong-headquartered supply chain management company Li & Fung has acquired Orrsum, a UK-based manufacturer of hosiery, underwear and loungewear, for an undisclosed amount.sed sum. Founded in 1998, Orrsum reports that it produces over 50 million pairs of socks for distribution to more than 5,000 retail doors worldwide each year.
Centric Brands Appoints President of Kid’s Division
Based in New York, Rob Smith will report directly to CEO Jason Rabin as president of the company’s Kids’ Division and join the company’s executive leadership team. He replaces Steve Pinkow who has served as Kid’s Group president for 17 years.
Survey: Asics, Bass Pro, Golf Galaxy, Red Wing, and Timberland Make U.S. Best Retailers List
Red Wing Shoes came in at the top of the active lifestyle brands as the brand ranked No. 6 overall, while Golf Galaxy ranked No. 7 in the survey’s report. Other retailers in the active lifestyle space with high rankings in the survey included Asics (17), Timberland (19) and Bass Pro (25).
Asics Recommits to Boston; Signs Lease on Downtown Office Space
The company has signed a lease to occupy 44,000 square feet of office space at 179 Lincoln Street in downtown Boston, a slightly smaller location compared to its nearby Boston headquarters, which measures 60,000 square feet and opened in 2018.
