Yue Yuen’s manufacturing business, which boasts Adidas, Merrell, Asics, and many footwear brands as key customers, posted a 3.5 percent increase in March. Feng Tay, a major Nike supplier, returned to negative territory, dipping 1.7 percent year-over-year.
Author: SGB Executive

EXEC: Callaway to Sell Jack Wolfskin to Amer Sports’ Chinese Parent
Anta Sports Products, Ltd. is the largest shareholder of Arc’teryx, Wilson and Salomon parent Amer Sports and owns retail stores in China for the Anta brand, Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, and Amer Sports.

EXEC: Trump Admin Hits “Pause” on Most Higher Tariffs; Bumps China to 125 Percent
U.S. President Donald Trump either reminded the markets that he authored “The Art of the Deal” or awoke Wednesday to the reality that the U.S. bond and stock markets were going to drag down his legacy. Either way, there is broad relief coming.

EXEC: JD Sports Revises Medium Term Plan as Sport Fashion Market Growth Slows
The parent company of the JD, Hibbett, Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace retail brands in the U.S. now expects the sport fashion sector to grow at a slower rate over the medium term and is adapting its plans to capitalize on growth opportunities and the investments already made in infrastructure over the last two years.

EXEC: JD Sports Posts “Broadly Flat” FY 2025 Sales; Sees Comp Sales Lower in FY 2026
The parent of the JD, Hibbett, Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace retail brands in the U.S. reported 5.8 percent organic revenue growth for the 2025 fiscal year ended February 1. Total revenue in fiscal 2026 is expected to grow due to the impact of the acquisitions the company made during fiscal 2025.

EXEC: Oiselle Partners with New Majority Owner; Company Now Women-Owned Again
Margo Cramer, who has primarily been involved in the healthcare and the public sector over her career, but also had experience with Commando and Nike earlier in her career, is the new majority owner.

EXEC: Trump Threatens to Push China Tariffs to 104 Percent Total
At issue was what Trump said was an effort to strike a trade deal with China that would be fair to both sides. China’s latest move on Friday to assess a 34 percent retaliatory tariff apparently lit the fuse as Trump threatened to add another 50 percent to the total tariff.

EXEC: Rip Curl and Oboz Owner First Vendor to Re-Direct Inventory Destined for U.S.
KMD Brands said that until its has more clarity on changes to consumer demand in the U.S., the Group will redirect some U.S. inventory to other key global markets, or hold inventory with existing international 3PL partners.

EXEC: Spanish Fitness Club GOfit Expanding to Italy with Technogym Partner
After success in Spain, where GOfit has been using the Technogym Ecosystem, the group will start collaborating exclusively with the Italy-based Technogym in that country, with its first gym opening in Turin at the end of summer 2025.

EXEC: Puma SE Names New CEO and Chair of Management Board; Freundt to Exit
Puma SE’s Supervisory Board has appointed Arthur Hoeld as chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Puma SE, effective July 1, 2025. Due to differing views on strategy execution, Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma SE, and the Supervisory Board have mutually agreed that he will step down as CEO on April 11, 2025.

EXEC: Decathlon’s 2024 Profit Falls as Sales Rise; New CEO Appointed
Javier López has been appointed as chief executive officer, replacing Barbara Martin Coppola who has served in the CEO role since March 2022.

EXEC: Trump Tariffs Hit Active Lifestyle Stocks Hard; Vietnam Hit a Big Surprise
At issue for many in the active lifestyle market, including sporting goods, footwear, apparel, and outdoor, is the impact on goods sourced in Vietnam after many companies invested considerable time and capital in moving production there from China.

EXEC: Intersport Posts Tepid 2024 Omni-Channel Sales Growth to €14.0 Bn
Despite a challenging business landscape, Intersport saw particularly positive 2024 growth in its French, Italian and Swiss markets, as well as an upward trend in several specific categories, including Sportstyle, Football and Running.

EXEC: Sportsman’s Warehouse Shares Surge as Analysts Buy into Progress
Fishing led all categories for Q4 comp growth, following by Camping. Hunting and Shooting Sports comped down, but outpaced NICS trends. The retailer is estimating fiscal 2025 net sales to be in the range of negative 1 percent to up 3.5 percent over 2024.

EXEC: Puma Set to Open First European Flagship Store in London in Fall 2025
The store opening is part of Puma’s brand elevation strategy to strengthen its presence globally, delivering “a shopping experience that reflects the brand’s innovation, sports performance and deep connection to global street culture.”