Kevin Plank Discusses Under Armour’s Vision Quest

Speaking last week at the Advertising Week conference in New York City, Under Armour’s Kevin Plank spoke about the importance of brand values in driving sales and earning advocacy. The brand’s recent sales slump, according to the CEO, is partly because management neglected the company’s core purpose after years of growth.

Under Armour Signs Joel Embiid

Under Armour Inc. has added the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center Joel Embiid as an ambassador. The five-year deal makes Embiid the NBA’s highest-paid center on a shoe deal and he will have a signture shoe.

NBA’s Top Draft Pick Ensnared In College Basketball Scandal

On Wednesday at the college basketball corruption trial taking place in Manhattan’s federal court, Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola, testified that the families of five recruits, Brian Bowen, Billy Preston, Silvio De Sousa, Dennis Smith and Deandre Ayton, received payments as a recruiting incentive.

Retail Imports Expected To Remain Strong

Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to remain at near-record levels in October despite a new round of tariffs that took effect in September, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

DSW Reinvents Business Model With Camuto Group Acquisition

On a conference call with analysts, DSW Inc. officials said the Camuto Group deal extends the company’s growth opportunities outside the moderate channel and footwear category, but will particularly support its effort to sell exclusive brands inside DSW locations, at third-party stores and direct to consumers. Said DSW’s CEO Roger Rawlins, “As the retail landscape evolves strong brands with the ability to build the direct-to-consumer model have captured increasing market share.”

DSW And Authentic Brands Group To Acquire Camuto Group

DSW Inc. announced the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the operations of Camuto Group, best known for the Vince Camuto brand and the footwear licenses of Jessica Simpson and Lucky Brand. Additionally, DSW and Authentic Brands Group LLC (ABG) have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire several intellectual property rights from the Camuto Group under a new partnership. Total consideration paid to the Camuto Group will be approximately $375 million.

Cabela’s Credit Card Staffers Face Lay Offs

Capital One Financial, which bought the credit card operation of the former Cabela’s, said 153 employees in Lincoln, NE, will be laid off. In June, about 450 people had been working in Lincoln, NE, servicing the customers of the Cabela’s CLUB card, according to the Omaha-World Herald.

New Balance Signs Sprinter Gabby Thomas

New Balance has signed Harvard sprinter Gabby Thomas to a multi-year endorsement contract. Thomas won the 200m 2018 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and took 2nd in the DI NCAA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships.

Report: Sears Hires Bankruptcy Professionals

Sears Holdings Corporation, the parent of Sears and Kmart, is considering filing for bankruptcy protection as soon as this week as it faces a large debt repayment on Monday, reports The Wall Street Journal. Advisory firm M-III Partners LLC has been hired to prepare the bankruptcy filing, according to the report.