China-based sports brand Xtep International Holdings Ltd announced plans to acquire E-Land Footwear USA Holdings Inc., the parent of K-Swiss, for $260 million in an all-cash deal, according to Reuters.
Category: Footwear

Under Armour Swings to Profit, Boosts 2019 Outlook
Under Armour Inc reported stronger-than-expected first quarter earnings while boosting its full-year earnings guidance, as solid overseas demand offset a fall in North American sales.
Gildan Activewear’s Q1 Earnings Plunge
Gildan Activewear reported net earnings dropped 66.6 percent in the first quarter on a decline of 3.6 percent in revenues. The company said results were in line with expectations and it maintained its adjusted earnings guidance for the year.
Modell’s Appoints CFO
Modell’s Sporting Goods has officially hired David Stern to the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Stern will play an intricate role in strategic planning and growth opportunities for Modell’s while overseeing the finance and information technology departments.

Big 5 Delivers Robust First Quarter But Weak Outlook
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. delivered a strong first quarter as cold weather boosted its winter business. But the California-based sporting goods chain also warned of a loss in the current quarter due to a later Easter this year and also warned that overall sales appear soft.

Adidas Partners With Little League Baseball And Softball
Little League Baseball & Softball and Adidas announced a multi-year partnership in which the Portland, OR-based company will be Official Sponsor & Supplier of uniform, footwear & coaches apparel. Adidas replaces Russell Athletic.
Puma Hires New SVP, Wholesale, North America
Puma appointed John Miller as senior vice president, wholesale for Puma North America.
Genesco Promotes Mimi Vaughn To COO
Genesco Inc. announced that Mimi Eckel Vaughn has been named chief operating officer of the company, effective May 1, 2019. In addition to her new role, Vaughn will continue as chief financial officer until a new chief financial officer is appointed.
Academy Sports Opens Store in Ardmore, OK
Academy Sports + Outdoor opened its first store in Ardmore, OK, representing its 13th store in Oklahoma.

Modell’s Fight For Survival
In a comprehensive interview with SGB Executive, Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell’s Sporting Good’s, discusses the retailer’s frantic outreach efforts to save the company following reports of a possible bankruptcy filing. Plans to further stabilize and improve the business were also detailed.

Report: Modell’s Re-Secures Vendor Support
A report that ran Sunday in the Wall Street Journal shows that Modell’s Sporting Goods has regained shipments from the wide majority of its vendor base following concerns over the sporting goods retailer’s hiring of a restructuring firm.
Hibbett Sporting Goods Appoints Interim CFO
Hibbett Sporting Goods appointed Christine E. Skold, a CPA, consultant and former executive of Tractor Supply Company, as interim chief financial officer, effective April 26, 2019, according to a regulatory filing.
Mother’s Day Spending Predicted To Hit Record $25 Billion
Mother’s Day spending is expected to total a record $25 billion this year, up from $23.1 billion in 2018, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation.

Puma’s Q1 Boosted By Promising Start To Basketball
With robust growth in China and the U.S. and a healthy reception to its return to performance basketball, Puma SE kicked off the year with its strongest quarter ever. Said Bjørn Gulden, “The growth in all regions and all product divisions shows that we continue to make progress.”

Puma’s Q1 Revenues Climb 15 Percent
Puma SE reported earnings jumped 40.1 percent in the first quarter as sales improved 15.3 percent and gross margins expanded 80 basis points. Sales in the Americas grew 16.3 percent on a currency-neutral basis. Bjørn Gulden, CEO, said: “The first quarter of 2019 was the best quarter Puma has ever seen.”