EXEC: Liberated Brands Gets Bankruptcy Court Approval to Access DIP Funds
The former licensing company set up to manage Authentic Brands Group’s collection of action sports lifestyle brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday with $3.3 million in cash on hand and $226 million in debt, according to court filings.
Fleet Feet Franchisees Acquire Flying Feet Sports Shoes in York, PA
With stores in Mechanicsburg and Harrisburg, PA, this marks the third Fleet Feet store location owned and operated by Shelby and Fred Joslyn.
EXEC: Columbia Sportswear Shares Fall on Q4 EPS Miss and Tepid Q1 Forecast
Net sales increased 3 percent to $1.10 billion in the fourth quarter. First quarter net sales are expected to range between $749 million and $764 million, representing a decline of 3 percent to 1 percent from $770 million for the comparable Q1 period in 2024.
EXEC: JD Group Appoints Jared Briskin as CEO of Hibbett
Hibbett was acquired by global active lifestyle retail behemoth JD Group in July 2024. Briskin, who had been serving as EVP of Merchandising at the time of the sale, was promoted to COO after the sale closed and added the President title shortly thereafter.
Archive Raises $30M Series B Funding to Expand Resale Intelligence Software
Archive said it has launched new partnerships with New Balance, Fjällräven and Dr. Martens, among others, in addition to expanding existing resale programs with The North Face, DVF, Faherty, and M.M.LaFleur.
S&S Activewear Makes Key Leadership Appointments in Canadian Division
Craig Ryan has been appointed vice president of Commercial, Canada, and Steven Clune was named national director of Sales for Canada, reporting directly to Ryan.
JCPenney Launches B2B Website for Commercial Bulk Orders
The department store retailer said its new business-to-business website offers current and potential bulk order customers exclusive access to JCPenney’s vast catalog of products across several divisions.
EXEC: Smith Optics Returned to Growth in Q4, Boosted by DTC Business
Safilo Group S.p.A., the owner of Smith Optics and Blenders and licensee of the Under Armour, Fossil, Havaianas, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, and Liz Claiborne brands for eyewear, saw preliminary sales for 2024 decline 2.3 percent to €993.2 million.
Rally House to Open Store in Blacksburg, VA
The store is the first for Rally House in Virginia and will occupy the previous Tech Bookstore building near the corner of South Main Street and Lee Street. A Spring 2025 opening is planned.
Black Diamond Wilderness Exchange to Host Grand Re-Opening
The store’s renovation has been ongoing since October 2024, during which BDE reportedly invested in much of the related costs. The newly branded Black Diamond Wilderness Exchange store will host a grand reopening from February 8-16, 2025.
Timberland Appoints New Global Creative Director of Marketing
Drew Villani is responsible for bringing the company’s creative vision to life, including brand marketing, art direction, photography, store design, styling, and video production. Villani joined Timberland from Calvin Klein, where he was the senior director of global creative.
EXEC: Liberated Brands Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Liberated Brands LLC, the former licensing arm for Authentic Brands Group’s collection of action sports lifestyle brands, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Cotopaxi Makes Key Leadership Changes with New Hires and Stephan Jacob Move
Craig Rowley has been named chief marketing officer. Sara Westbrook has been named as the company’s new SVP of Product and Merchandising. Company Founder Stephan Jacob is transitioning into a new chief global/business development officer role.
Perfect Moment Shifts Senior Leadership; Adds Two Canada Goose Execs
New CFO and COO Chath Weerasinghe brings more than 20 years of experience in finance, operations, and leadership within the luxury, retail and consumer goods sectors. Vittorio Giacomelli will be responsible for overseeing product strategy, product development, and innovation.
Berghaus Adapts Program Removes Barriers to Outdoors for Disabled
Through Berghaus Adapts, consumers can request changes to the brand’s clothing and equipment to meet their specific physical needs. The company’s product team, based in North East England, will work directly with them to develop products for use in the outdoors that have otherwise made accessibility unattainable.
