Barbier starts his role with the relaunch of the Sal 23 for Holiday 2024. He is “designing an SLB by Etnies collection that will launch in Spring 2026.
Author: SGB Media

EXEC: Kappa Retail Stores in China See Comp Sales Decline in Fiscal Q4
Same-store sales recorded a high-single-digit decline on a year-over-year basis for Kappa-branded stores that have been in operation since the beginning of the prior-year fourth quarter.

Dometic Returns Manufacturing to Elkhart, Indiana
The Elkhart plant will produce the 9100 series of power awnings, with subsequent models added in the coming weeks. Its facility in Mexico will continue to service the aftermarket segment, focusing on logistics optimized through Dometic’s Texas distribution center.

EXEC: Thule Gets Shot in the Arm from Resurgent Bike Business in Q1
In the Americas, the recovery of the cycling market boosted bike-related products sales, but Packs, Bags & Luggage category sales declined due to “significantly lower” sales of legacy products that are phasing out gradually.

Fischer Sports Recalls RC4 Junior Ski Boots Due to Fall Hazard
This recall involves RC4 50, RC4 60 and RC4 65 Junior Ski Boots in sizes 21.5 to 27.5. The RC4 50 and RC4 60 sold in Rhino Grey and Snow colors.

Skechers Opens First Concept Store In Brussels
Skechers expanded its retail presence across Belgium with a new 5,270-square-foot store showcasing the brand’s footwear, apparel and accessory collections.

Birkenstock Opens First Flagship in Mumbai
Celebrating 250 years of tradition in shoemaking in 2024, Birkenstock opened its first flagship store in Mumbai, marking its commitment to the region.

Rally House Opens Storefronts in Chicago, New Jersey, New York, and Kentucky
The retailer opened Rally House Old Orchard (Chicago), Rally House Deptford Mall (Deptford, NJ), Rally House Jefferson Mall (Louisville, KY), Rally House Walden Galleria (Buffalo, NY)

Life Time Continues Commitment to Health and Fitness in Dallas-Fort Worth
Life Time Las Colinas in Irving is nearly 110,000 square feet and opens on April 26; later this summer, Life Time will open a gym in Westlake, TX.

EXEC: Columbia Using Temp Stores to Offload Excess Goods as it Fights to Right-Size
While the company is focused on improving the Columbia, Sorel and Prana businesses through investments in innovation and marketing, the company only has to look as far as its Mountain Hardwear brand and new leadership and direction to see early results of similar efforts.

Adidas signs 2024 NFL Rookie Classmates to Athlete Roster
2024 NFL Rookie Classmates Xavier Legette, Adonai Mitchell, Rome Odunze, Michael Penix, Jr. signed with Adidas as they begin their pro careers.

Report: RV Shipments Inch Up in March on Towable RV Growth
Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended the month up 5.9 percent compared to last March. For the first quarter, RVs are up 9.3 percent compared to the year-ago Q1 period last year with 85,941 units shipped through March.

Report: U.S. Footwear Market Flat Year-Over-Year in First Quarter
Circana is reporting that the footwear market turned a corner in the first quarter, in terms of retail sales, as U.S. footwear industry sales revenue remained on par with Q1 2023, at $9.1 billion, and units sold experienced a 1 percent lift.

Newell Brands Sees Turnaround in Sight, but Outdoor Segment Continues Shrinking
The parent company of Marmot, Ex Officio, Stearns, Bubba, Coleman, and Contigo, among others, saw the Outdoor segment fall 25 percent in Q1, reflecting a core sales decline of 20.3 percent and the impact of unfavorable FX and certain business exits.

Beacon Athletics and Aer-Flo Sports Announce New VP of Sales and Marketing
Gregg Nelson joins the organizations with “an extensive background in the sports business and deep experience leading sales and marketing teams that have sold to universities, pro teams, architects, and both contractors and general contractors.”