The May Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in cooler than expected, defying fears that the impact of President Trump’s tariffs would start to show a rise in prices. A separate analysis by the FDRA indicates that footwear prices in May likewise declined year-over-year.
Category: Footwear

Nike Appoints Director, Waste & Circularity
Alice Hartley was previously director of circularity at Under Armour after spending 11 years at Gap, Inc. as director of Product Sustainability and Circularity.
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Carbitex Enters Tactical Boot Market
The collaboration introduces Carbitex’s MonoFlex M1 technology into Prabos’s professional footwear tactical boot line. both companies aim to meet the demanding requirements of military and law enforcement personnel.

Stitch Fix Returns to Growth In Fiscal Q3
The company narrowed its loss in the fiscal third quarter ended May 3 while showing its first quarterly sales gain since the second quarter of 2022. The styling service lifted its guidance for the year.

Pickleball Kingdom to Open Club In Austell, GA
The Austell club, spanning approximately 25,000 square feet, will feature 10 professional-grade indoor courts, with a target opening of winter 2025. Nithi and Usha Anand, franchisees of Pickleball Kingdom, will manage the club.

NFIB: Small Business Optimism Rises For First Time This Year
A gauge of sentiment among small businesses, rose to 98.8 in May from 95.8 in April, bringing the Index back above its long-term average, represented by a reading of 98. The increase ends a four-month streak of weakening sentiment.

Adidas Partners with Spanish Soccer Club, Sevilla
Adidas will provide playing and training kits for the men’s first team, as well as the women’s and academy teams, under an agreement running from the 2025/26 season through the 2034/35 campaign.

Game One Forms Apparel Partnership With University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis announced an exclusive multi-year agreement with Game One and Nike. The deal replaces a supplier arrangement with BSN Sports and Nike.

Authentic Brands Group Establishes APAC Headquarters in Shanghai
The Shanghai HQ will support Authentic’s growing brand portfolio, including Reebok, Champion, Quiksilver, Billabong, and Sperry, as well as its network of partners across the Greater China region and APAC market.

Yonex Appoints President Of North America Operations
LaNiece Douglas’ hire “will support Yonex’s stepped-up plans to expand in the U.S.” She was VP of and head of U.S. retail for Adidas since 2020.

Adidas, Shoe Palace and Skechers Stores Hit by LA Looters
An Adidas store in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway and Shoe Palace on Main Street, were hit by looters Monday night, June 9, as the civil unrest following days of anti-ICE protests continued overnight.

EXEC: Academy CEO Sees Promising Returns from Improved Nike Allocations, Jordan Launch
First-quarter results missed analyst estimates and the retailer widened its full-year guidance due to potential inflationary pressures arriving this year. Management also shared many positive developments, including a healthy response to Nike product expansion and Jordan brand launch.

Orvis to Close Chicago Store
The storefront, located on the Magnificent Mile, will close on July 24, after two decades, “due to the changing retail landscape on the Magnificent Mile.”

Arc’teryx, Atomic, Keen, Vuori, and Gregory Top REI Vendor Partner of the Year Honors
Established in 1993, REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year awards program “honors brand partners that demonstrate remarkable philosophy and partnership with the co-op and that drive impact for the outdoor industry.

EXEC: Asia FW Factories Post Weaker Shipment Volumes in May 2025
Yue Yuen manufacturing revenue growth flattened to only a 0.5 percent year-over-year in May 2025, a sharp deceleration from the April 2025 trend. Feng Tay’s May year-over-year shipment decline cycled against strong double-digit growth in May 2024.