Report: Global Organic Cotton Jumps in 2008…

Global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $3.2 billion in 2008, according to the Organic Cotton Market Report 2007-2008 released by the Organic Exchange. This represents a 63% increase from the $1.9 billi

G-III Fourth Quarter Earnings Plummet on Charge

G-III Apparel reported net sales spiked 32.6% to $170.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 from $128.7 million in the year-ago period. In a conference call with analysts, management credited the company’s new retail segment along with significa

Gottschalks Inc. to Liquidate

Gottschalks, the department store chain based in Fresno, CA, will be liquidated after it failed to attract a buyer willing to operate the company going forward. A joint venture of liquidators including SB Capital Group LLC, Tiger Capital Group LLC, Great

Seizing the Women’s Opportunity at Sporting Goods Retail

If a survey of SportsOneSource magazine and newsletter subscribers is any indication, sports retailers of all stripes can be doing a lot more to lift their game when it comes to catering to women customers. The question – “How can sporting goods and athle

Nike Sues Two Chinese Companies

Nike is suing two Chinese companies for copying its Jordan brand logo, according to China Daily. Nike contends that Shanghai Century Lianhua Chengshan Supermarket Co. Ltd. was illegally displaying and selling fake sports pants bearing the logo for nearly

Lawsuit Erupts Over Jackets with Wireless Features

Several sports manufacturers, including Nike, Under Armour, VF Corp and Columbia Sportswear, are among the dozens of brands being charged by Tec-Technology Enabled Clothing, Inc. with patent infringement. The complaint against these companies stems from t

VF Corp. Lays Out Growth Plans at Investor Conference

Speaking last week at the Telsey Advisory Group Consumer Conference, Eric Wiseman, VF Corp. chairman, president and CEO, said The North Face has grown consistently now at a 25% annual rate for eight years but still has significant growth opportunities as

Genesco, Inc. Sees Upside During Economic Downturn

While consumer spending remains challenging, Genesco, Inc. sees many benefits from the economic downturn. Speaking last week at the Telsey Advisory Group Consumer Conference, Bob Dennis, Genesco, Inc. president and CEO, said this includes gaining lease ne

L.L. Bean Furloughing 150 Call Center Workers

L.L. Bean is temporarily laying off 150 of its 200 employees working at its call center in Bangor, Maine, beginning in May. The retailer and cataloguer told Banger Daily News that this is typically a slow time of year, but it is even slower due to the st

Rocky Extends Credit Facility

Rocky Brands, Inc. has amended its credit facility with GMAC Commercial Finance LLC to extend the facility’s maturity through Apr. 30, 2012. The credit facility was originally scheduled to mature on Jan. 5, 2010. The amendment also reduces the commitment

Cannondale Shifts Manufacturing to Taiwan

Dorel’s newly-named Cycling Sports Group (formerly the Cannondale Sports Group) plans to consolidate all North American product development, marketing and business management functions for the four cycling brands Cannondale, Schwinn, GT and Mongoose in Be

Outdoor Groups Urge Better Backcountry Management

Outdoor Industry Association has inked a partnership with The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Outdoor Alliance in support of responsible management of inventoried roadless areas. The three organizations are looking to sustain the high-qual

Affordable Footwear Act Re-Introduced in Senate

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Ensign (R-NV) have formally re-introduced the bipartisan Affordable Footwear Act (AFA), which would permanently eliminate “extraordinarily high tariffs” assessed on certain specialty outdoor footwear which have been