Holt Renfrew, the Canadian luxury department store chain, reported Sebastian Picardo plans to step down as president and CEO, effective Sept. 30, 2025. He has served in the role since 2020.
Author: SGB Media

Nordstrom to Close Two Stores
The retailer plans to close its Santa Monica, CA store at Santa Monica Place and its St. Louis, MO location at Saint Louis Galleria in late August of this year.

Nike Virtual Studios Vice President Exits
Ron Faris, who served as vice president and general manager of Nike Virtual Studios, has joined Disney Consumer Products as VP of global marketing.

Report: Back-to-School Spending to Surge 17 Percent, Shopping Starts Earlier
JLL’s 2025 Back-to-School survey of 1,010 parents found a 17.3 percent increase in planned spending this year, with respondents shifting toward in-store shopping while adopting earlier purchasing patterns and becoming more sensitive to higher prices.

509 Recalls Nearly 230,00 Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury
The helmet maker, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and its counterpart in Canada, has issued a recall on three “populations” of 509 and 509 for Polaris branded helmets, as the helmets may not provide sufficient protection in the event of a crash.

Cotopaxi Opens Pop-Up in Georgetown
The pop-up shop in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood, at 1057 Wisconsin Avenue, represents the company’s second pop-up and third on the East Coast.

Lancer Systems Secures National Rep Coverage
Lancer Systems, a maker of rifles and related components, signed Ken Jefferies & Associates, gaining national sales coverage for the first time in company history.

Kimber Appoints Chief Operations Officer
Scott Moore was promoted to COO. He recently returned to the Alabama-based firearms manufacturer after a brief stint at E-One, a firetruck apparatus manufacturer. Before his return, Moore served seven years as the VP of operations for Kimber.

Health & Fitness Association Sets New Board
Luke Carlson, founder and CEO of Discover Strength, becomes The Health & Fitness Association (HFA’s) new chairman. Al Noshirvani, managing partner of ALTA Technology Group and owner of Method Gym, acts as vice chair; Ahmar Azam, CEO and founder of TriFit, as finance chair; and Jeff Sanders, chief growth officer and partner of Energy Fitness, as secretary.

Uvex Group Sold to PE Firm
The German maker of helmets and goggles for ski, cycling and equestrian purposes announced that Warburg Pincus will acquire a majority interest in the company. The owner families Winter and Grau will retain a significant minority stake and be actively involved in the future growth of the business.

Pinarello Establishes New Subsidiary In Shanghai
The Italian manufacturer of road bikes, accessories and apparel announced the opening of its new subsidiary in Shanghai, enabling the company to directly manage its operations in the Chinese market.

Sturm, Ruger to Acquire Anderson Manufacturing
The purchase, including Anderson’s manufacturing facility and machinery, is expected to strengthen Ruger’s production capabilities and expand its product offerings. Ruger will not continue the Anderson Manufacturing brand or its firearms products

Remark Closes on $16 Million Series A Funding Round
The round was led by Inspired Capital, with participation from Stripe, Neo, Spero Ventures, Shine Capital, and Visible Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to $27 million. Remark describes itself as an AI company making online shopping more human.

Foreign Rider Opens Flagship Store in Salt Lake City
The store also serves as a gallery, allowing customers to “touch and feel each fabric, to see where the product fits into travel, daily performance and recovery,” the company stated in a media release.

Revelyst Unveils Bozeman Innovation Center
The parent company of the Bell, Bushnell, CamelBak, Fox, Giro, and Simms Fishing brands, and others, has opened the Bozeman Innovation Center, a new hub of “outdoor gear excellence” for several of its brands.