Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, former president and chief executive officer of the Lego Group from 2004 to 2016 and current deputy chair of the Lego Foundation, is expected to replace Cathleen Benko, a former Deloitte executive who is retiring from the board.
Category: Apparel

U.S. Consumer Confidence Worsens in June
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly declined in June, underscoring anxiety about the potential impacts on the economy and job market from higher U.S. import duties. The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 5.4 points to 93.

Wolverine Worldwide Appoints Sales Leader, Work Group
Jim O’Connor previously held executive roles at Timberland Pro, Shoes for Crews and Lands’ End. Wolverine’s Work Group includes Bates, Cat Footwear, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Hytest, Wolverine Boots & Apparel.

VF Corp. Appoints President of Napapijri
Valentina Visconti Prasca, formerly at Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, was appointed president of Napapijri, the Italian brand known for its travel bags and outdoor apparel. VF has owned Napapijri since 2004.

Amazon Expands Same-Store Day Delivery to More Rural Markets
The rural push comes as Amazon’s delivery speed hit record levels in 2023 and 2024, and the number of items Amazon delivered the same or the next day in the U.S. increased over 30 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year.

EXEC: Cutter & Buck’s Swedish Parent Acquires Austria’s Cotton Classics
Through this acquisition, New Wave Group will strengthen its presence in several Central and Eastern European countries, particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, as well as in other countries in the region. The purchase price amounts to €47.6 million ($55mm).

GSM Outdoors, Pelican Products and Momentec Brands Owner Adds Solo Group to Stable
Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity reached an agreement to acquire Solo Group, a European maker of business-to-business personalized products including apparel, drinkware, bags and luggage, stationery and tech accessories.

Swany America Appoints Director of Marketing and Creative
Adam Weitzel brings nearly a decade of experience in the outdoor industry. He has held key in-house marketing positions at Smartwool and Exxel Outdoors while also creating content campaigns in the agency world

Mechanix Wear Protective Apparel Acquires Kinco to Broaden Portfolio
Kinco manufactures and distributes gloves for farm, outdoor, and industrial use, with an enthusiast following in the ski and snowboard industry. This transaction represents the second add-on acquisition for the Mechanix Wear platform, which previously acquired Chicago Protective Apparel.

EXEC: Duer Partners on Europe Launch; Expands Retail Presence in North America
A strategic partnership with Hectic Europe is expected to facilitate the brand’s European launch while the company continues to expand its retail presence with new branded stores set to open in Victoria, British Columbia; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco, California.

Report: Dick’s SG Seeking Orland Park Financial Support for New House of Sports Project
The sporting goods retailer is looking to convert a 200,000-square-foot former Sears anchor space at the Orland Square shopping center, in a Chicago suburb, which has been empty since 2018.

EXEC: Wall Street Remains Skeptical of Any Nike Recovery in Fiscal Q4
Analysts expect Nike, Inc. will meet or exceed conservative guidance when it reports earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31 on Thursday evening, June 24; however, results will again be well below year-ago levels.

EXEC: Switchback Spring 2025 Through the Eyes of the Industry
Sights and sounds from the inaugural Switchback Spring event in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring photos from show attendees, exhibitors and Outdoor Industry Association.

Eastside Golf Expands Into Australia and New Zealand with New Distribution Deal
The brand’s regional debut includes a soft launch of its Core collection. TheFall 2025 collection will be its first full seasonal prebook in the market, supported by a curated group of golf, streetwear and lifestyle retailers.

JD Sports Opens First Canadian Flagship
The Robson Street store is JD’s first exterior street-front location in Canada and features the largest LED display in JD’s Canadian footprint, a DJ booth, and shop-in-shops for Nike, New Balance and Adidas brands.