George & Phillips, the tennis and running specialty shop based in Exeter, NH, is closing after 106 years in business. Owner Bert Freedman, the third generation to run the store, is retiring.
Author: SGB Media
JCPenney’s Q1 Losses Expand on Sales Slide; Activewear Shines
JCPenney reported a slightly wider operating loss in the first quarter as sales slid 4.6 percent. A bright spot was the Active category, which grew “significantly” due to expanded assortments of Nike apparel and NCAA fleece.
Wilson Sporting Goods to Open Second Florida Store in Naples
Wilson Sporting Goods, owned by Amer Sports, reported signing a lease agreement to open a new store at Aventura Mall in Florida, marking its second retail location in the state after Naples and 17th overall.
Newton Golf Company Fights to Stay Alive with New Financing Options
The golf equipment maker has entered into a $5.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility and completed the exchange of ~$2.3 million of outstanding convertible promissory notes, including accrued interest, for Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
DXL Rejects Higher Buyout Offer from Zodiac Partners II
Destination XL Group (DXL), the owner of DXL Big + Tall, DXL Men’s Apparel, and Casual Male XL, said its board rejected a revised 84-cents-a-share unsolicited buyout offer from Zodiac Partners II, charging the offer is “opportunistic” and significantly undervalues the retailer’s long-term worth.
Costco’s June Comps Climb 8.8 Percent, Digital-Enabled Sales Surge
Costco Wholesale Corp.’s same-store sales, excluding changes in gas prices and foreign exchange, were up 7.6 percent in the U.S. and 7 percent in total. Digitally-enabled sales gained 21.5 percent on that basis.
EXEC: Coresight Research Highlights Athleisure as Top Back-To-School Trend
Coresight Research’s “U.S. Back to School 2026” survey identifies Athleisure as the leading fashion trend for the 2026 BTS season, with 37.6 percent of parents citing it as the trend they are most excited about for their school-age kids. Similar to last year, Nike and Adidas lead BTS apparel brand preferences, with Old Navy, Levi’s and Under Armour rounding out the Top 5 most sought-after apparel brands.
L.L.Bean Appoints Independent Directors
L.L.Bean, Inc. appointed Jared Carver, the CEO of Tracksmith and former Converse CEO, and Kyle Leahy, the former CEO of Glossier, as independent directors to its Board of Directors.
Deloitte: Back-To-School Spending Declining Amid Economic Anxieties
Back-to-school spending, adjusted for inflation, is expected to decline 6 percent this year as consumers’ concerns about the economy heightens, according to Deloitte’s annual Back-to-School Survey. Adjusted spending is expected to be down 27 percent compared to a recent peak in 2021. Families are expected to prioritize necessities such as clothing while cutting back on tech purchases.
Carbitex Names Principal Scientist
The maker of carbon fiber composites for performance footwear appointed Dheepak Arumukhom Revi, Ph.D., to the newly created role of principal scientist to support in-house biomechanics projects.
Millennium Outdoors Names Director of Sales and Marketing
Millennium Outdoors, known for its tree stands, hunting blinds, tripods, and marine seating for shooting enthusiasts, appointed Scott Ware as its new director of sales and marketing. His career includes a 26-year tenure with Outtech, the rep group that supports Millennium’s sales and marketing efforts.
MidwayUSA Promotes Jeff Larkin to President
The e-commerce retailer for shooting sports promoted longtime executive Jeff Larkin to president, effective immediately. A 33-year veteran of the company, Larkin will report to Larry Potterfield, founder, chairman of the Board, and CEO
Life Time Opens Club in Brea, California
Life Time opened Life Time Brea Athletic Country Club in Brea, CA, its 10th California location and fourth in Orange County. Located at Brea Mall, the site spans nearly 123,000 square feet, combining an 85,000-square-foot building with 38,000 square feet of outdoor amenities set on three acres.
Journeys Parent Secures Institutional Shareholder Services Nod in Proxy Fight
Genesco, Inc., the parent of Journeys, scored a victory against an activist investor ahead of its annual meeting as proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommended shareholders vote for all nine of Genesco’s board nominees over the activist group’s proposed replacements.
Authentic Selects European Partner for Lee Denim
Authentic Brands Group announced a new long-term partnership with Experience Group for Lee denim across Europe. The partnership will take effect following the closing of Authentic’s previously announced acquisition of Lee, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
SGB Today
Active Lifestyle Market Product and Brand Marketing Stories from SGB PRO PR and SGB Premium PR Partners
Post your Product or Marketing News in the SGB PR Portal