Kohl’s Opens Store in Downtown Milwaukee

Kohl’s opened a storefront in downtown Milwaukee, WI, as part of the retailer’s plan to open five stores this fall. The store represents a rare urban location for a Kohl’s store, with most historically focused on supporting suburban communities.

Nike Hires Amazon Executive as Chief Technology Officer

Nike, Inc. recruited Muge Erdirik Dogan, a longtime fashion executive at Amazon, as chief technology officer. Jenny Freshwater, most recently Amazon’s vice president of traffic and marketing technology, will replace Dogan as VP of Amazon Fashion & Fitness.

Descente Sees Mid-Single-Digit Growth in Fiscal H1

Descente, Ltd. reported that revenues for the fiscal six months ended September 30 rose 4.9 percent to ¥59.9 billion ($396 mm) from ¥57.2 billion a year ago. Gains from the incorporation of Le Coq Sportif (Ningbo) Co. Ltd. (NLCS) into China’s consolidated results and growth in activewear overall offset decreased sales in golfwear.

EXEC: Asics Lifts Outlook On Robust Third Quarter Results

Asics Corp. raised its outlook for the year after reporting strong earnings improvement in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30. Sales grew 14.5 percent in the third quarter and 23.4 percent in the nine months with healthy gains across regions.

EXEC: Inside the Champion Discussions and Actions at HBI

Like many other CEOs in the active lifestyle retail market these days, Stephen Bratspies is working through heavy retail inventories, shifting consumer trends and the effects of inflation. But Champion offers an even bigger challenge—a fickle consumer’s changing preferences.

EXEC: Adidas CEO Sees U.S. Marketplace Challenges Lasting Well into 2024

On Adidas’ third-quarter conference call with analysts, Bjorn Gulden, CEO, said Adidas’ sales in the U.S. “will probably not grow at all in the first half” of 2024 as North America lags other regions in rightsizing inventory levels. He said, “Inventory levels in the U.S. in general is still an issue. I think it lags about six months versus the rest of the world.”

Zanders Sporting Goods Hires Sales Manager

Zanders Sporting Goods, a national distributor in the hunt and fish channel located in Sparta, IL, hired Jeff Krieg as sales manager following the promotions of Danny Siegler to president and COO and Lucas Poston to director of procurement.

Kohl’s Lays Out Board of Directors Transition Plan

Board Chair Peter Boneparth will retire from Kohl’s at the end of his current term in May 2024, and Michael Bender will become Board chair upon Boneparth’s retirement. The Board also appointed Adolfo Villagomez as a new independent director, effective November 7