JD Sports said that against a backdrop of widely reported retail challenges in the Group’s core UK market, it is encouraging to report positive like for like trends in the Group’s global Sports Fashion fascias, particularly overseas.
Author: SGB Media
AKU Appoints VP Sales And Marketing In USA
Italian footwear brand AKU announced that Canice Harte will join the AKU Outdoor company, serving as the vice president of sales & marketing in the U.S. Harte has worked for Nathan Sports, Waterbox, Salomon, Patagonia and The North Face.

Sports Tech On Full Display At CES 2020
CES 2020 marks the tenth year fitness and wearable technology have been featured at the biggest consumer trade show, and this year’s event showed digitization still has a long way to go in taking sports and fitness to the next level. SGB Executive highlights the active lifestyle products that caught our attention at this year’s show.

PVH, Pentland Each Had Solid Reasons For Speedo Deal
Despite the looming Summer Olympics and the Games’ quadrennial spotlight on the sport of swimming, PVH Corp. decided to sell its Speedo North America business to focus more attention on its core apparel brands. The move was strategic for PVH, which found a more-than-willing buyer in Pentland Group.

Aisle Talk Week Of January 6
The Industry’s top headlines from across the active lifestyle market featured in SGB for the week of January 6, 2020.
Retail Imports Settling Down After Year Of Tariff Surges
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.
Orange Mud Names Director Of Sales And Marketing
Orange Mud, maker of hydration packs and running gear, announced Friday the promotion of Steve Acciarito to director of sales and marketing.
Urban Outfitters’ Holiday Comps Expand 3 Percent
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.
Nike Outlet Store To Close At Corpus Christi Bay
The Nike Factory Store at Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay in Robstown, TX is closing.
Ross Stores Chief Merchant To Exit
Ross Stores Inc. announced that Bernie Brautigan, president, merchandising of Ross Dress for Less since 2016, is leaving the company.

NFL Enters Global Apparel Collaboration With H&M
The National Football League 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.
Adidas Golf Adds Two-Time PGA Tour Winner
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 on the course.
Avenatti Ordered To Face Fraud Charge
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.
Report: Equinox Seeks Funding To Expand Digital
Equinox Group, the operator of Equinox Fitness Clubs, Blink Fitness, Pure Yoga and SoulCycle, is an advanced talks to secure additional funding to expand its digital platform, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Varsity Brands Appoints John Hutchinson EVP, CFO
Varsity Brands on Thursday announced the appointment of John Hutchinson as executive vice president and CFO, effective immediately.