Nike’s Colin Kaepernick Ad Earns Wide Approval From Younger Millennials

According to new poll from Quinnipiac University, American voters approved by a ratio of 49-to-37 percent of Nike’s decision to include Colin Kaepernick in the company’s “Just Do It” anniversary ad campaign. The results showed a wide age gap as voters 18 to 34 years old approve 67-to-21 percent while voters over 65 years old disapprove by a narrow 46-to-39 percent.

SGB Executive Q&A: Garmont North America CEO Bill Dodge

When Bill Dodge was named CEO of Garmont North America in 2014, he took the reins of a footwear company that was emerging from bankruptcy, adjusting to new private ownership, repositioning after shedding its ski boot division and searching for a U.S. headquarters locale. He spoke with SGB recently about the brand’s revival.

Nike To Sell On Walmart’s Jet.com

Walmart-owned Jet.com will start offering Nike product in October ahead of the holiday season as part of a relaunch focused on urban dwellers. Converse will also be available.

Jordan Brand Partners With Paris Saint-Germain

Nike said the Jordan Brand launched its first collection with a football club, Paris Saint-Germain. The collection will feature over 90 performance, training and lifestyle products. The Jordan Brand this season will also make the company’s UEFA Champions League debut.

Pocket Outdoor Media Appoints New CEO

Andrew Pemberton, a 20-year veteran of publishing and former executive of Panache Cyclewear, has been named chief executive officer of Pocket Outdoor Media, the holding company that publishes VeloNews, Triathlete, Women’s Running, Competitor and VeloPress books.

Tariff ‘Wild Card’ Threatens Retail Imports

With retail sales continuing to grow, imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to remain strong this month after setting three new records this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The Path to $5 Billion: Vans Unveils Roadmap For Lofty Goal

The numbers that the Vans leadership presented at Wednesday morning’s investor meeting in Costa Mesa, CA, were staggering relative to the company’s current financial snapshot of $3 billion in annual revenue for fiscal 2018. The footwear and apparel brand expects to generate compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 percent to 12 percent each year over the next five years to reach $5 billion in annual revenue by 2023. Here’s how the company plans to do it.

What Would Anta’s Merger Mean For Amer Sports?

“What’s Anta Sports?” was among the questions heard from more than a few market observers after news arrived Tuesday that the Chinese sports powerhouse had made an all-cash offer to acquire Amer Sports. But Anta has spelled out the company’s ambitions to become a global superpower in sporting goods and is ideally-positioned to attack major growth opportunities in the company’s home market.

Macy’s To Hire 80,000 Seasonal Employees In 2018

Macy’s Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to hire approximately 80,000 seasonal colleagues for positions at the company’s Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers nationwide for the 2018 holiday season. Macy’s anticipates a strong and successful holiday shopping season.

Nike Veteran Joins Curaleaf

Chris Melillo, who formerly served as senior director of stores North America for Nike Inc. and VP of stores for DTLR/Villa, has joined Curaleaf, a vertically integrated cannabis operator based in Wakefield, MA.