EY expects U.S. deal volume will rise 10 percent in 2025, building on a robust 13 percent advance in 2024, driven by sustained economic activity, decreasing interest rates, pent-up demand & reduced valuation gaps.
Category: Footwear

The Buckle Appoints VP of Information Security
The company promoted Justin Ellison to VP of Information Security, effective February 28, 2025. Ellison has been employed by The Buckle since December 2005 and has recently served as the senior director of Information Security.

EXEC: Sports Direct to Expand South Asia Presence with Map Active
This latest strategic partnership between Sports Direct parent Frasers Group and MAP Active will expand the sporting goods retailer further into Indonesia, with entry into India, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Macy’s Names Senior VP & General Merchandising Manager, Men’s and Kids’
Daniel Leppo most recently served as Bloomingdale’s senior vice president and general merchandising manager, overseeing Cosmetics, Menswear, Children’s, and Home. Leppo started his career at Bloomingdale’s as an intern and was part of the executive training program.

EXEC: Spartoo Improves 2024 Cash Flows Through Improved Inventory Management
Spartoo is signaling that it will continue offering a wide range of footwear, ready-to-wear, bags, and accessories throughout 2024, even as it manages its online inventory more tightly.

L.L.Bean is Heading to Florida!
The 17,000-square-foot store will be located at the University Town Center in Sarasota near UTC’s Target, Best Buy and Old Navy. The new Bean location was previously a Bed Bath & Beyond.

EXEC: Fila Sets U.S. Re-Org and Inventory Sell-Off; Market Re-Entry TBD
The company has essentially shuttered the U.S. business and expects full clearance by strategically selling off Fila USA inventory by the end of 2025, and determine if best avenue for re-entry in the market is direct operations, licensing or a distribution model.

Rossignol Enters Trail Running Category
“We are shifting from being a winter sports brand to a mountain sports brand,” said Vincent Wauters, CEO, Rossignol group. On select price points, Rossignol is competing directly with names like Salomon and Hoka.

KMD Brands Appoints Nike Vet Ashley Reade as Rip Curl CEO
Ashley Reade will join the Australian surf brand in the coming months from Nike, where he is currently the vice president and general manager of Nike Pacific, responsible for growing the region to an AU$1 billion business.

EXEC: Stella Footwear Factories Ship 53M Pairs in 2024
The manufacturer of footwear for Nike, Saucony, Under Armour, Merrell, Timberland and Ugg saw Q3 shipment volumes roughly flat in US dollar terms, despite comping against a decrease of approximately 18.7 percent in Q3 last year.

Snipes Names Under Armour Vet as New Chief Marketing Officer, U.S.
The global street culture brand reported that Kelley Walton will lead the marketing organization in the U.S. to include all budget and marketing functions aligned with the company’s long-term vision

Lands’ End Sees Q4 Revenues Fall as Kids’ and Footwear Moves to Licensing
The 14.2 percent decrease in net revenue was reportedly driven by the transition of the kids’ and footwear product lines to licensing arrangements and optimizing promotional activity.

Authentic Brands Group Appoints Former Disney Exec as EVP, Head of India
Sanjeet Mehta will oversee the company’s strategy in India, focusing on expanding brand presence, forging strategic partnerships and driving revenue growth, working with Henry Stupp, regional president of the EMEIA.

Nike, Inc. Sees Turnaround Efforts Lasting through Fiscal 2026
Analysts were optimistic about the “Win Now” initiatives outlined by CEO Elliott Hill, but many shared concerns that the path ahead is likely to be long and volatile, pushing into the 2026 fiscal year, which commences in July 2025.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. to Re-Banner to Majority Shoe Station Stores Within 24 Months
The move to re-banner comes as the posted mixed results in Q4, with top-line sales of $262.94 million missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $274.21 million, while Adjusted EPS of 54 cents beat the consensus estimate of 43 cents per share.