Growth in the Clothing, Footwear and Accessories store sector decelerated from the April trend. The category that includes Sporting Goods stores was up 8.2 percent y/y unadjusted in May after a robust 9.2 percent y/y gain in March.
Category: Outdoor

Roots Sees Sales Climb 6 Percent in Q1
The Toronto-based retailer slightly narrowed its loss in the first quarter ended May 3 as sales grew 6.7 percent, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth. Founded in 1973, the retailer is known for its apparel, leather goods, footwear, and home furnishings.

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Names Top Retailer Members and Vendor Partners for 2025
The retailer-owned network of 105 independent outdoor retailers and 67 vendor partners, working together to grow the specialty outdoor retail network, named Trail Creek Outfitters Retailer of the Year and Patagonia Vendor of the Year for 2025.

Dick’s SG Joins Top 50 Most Patriotic Brands for First Time; New Balance Falls in Rankings
Nike, Wilson Sporting Goods, LL Bean, Gatorade, New Balance, Converse, and Dick’s Sporting Goods all earned spots on Brand Keys 24th Annual Most Patriotic Brands survey of the Top 50 U.S.-based brands that embody the value “patriotism.” The NFL, NBA and MLB also made the list. Dick’s made the list for the first time.

Indoor Malls Lead Overall Mall Foot Traffic Growth in May; Consumer Median Income Dips
The rise in mall visits for a second month in a row suggests that April’s positive year-over-year visit trends were more than a temporary pull-forward of consumer demand in response to tariff uncertainty.

EXEC: Academy’s Chief Merchant Talks Jordan Launch, Nike Brand Success, Tariff Disruption
Following the retailer’s first-quarter results report, Academy’s EVP and Chief Merchant Matt McCabe added more highlights from the business, including the promise to introduce the Jordan brand, a strong response to expanding Nike product and market share gains among higher-income households.

EXEC: Trump Announces U.S. and China Have Reached Trade Deal With 55 percent Tariff
President Donald Trump declared the trade war with China “done” Wednesday, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said tariffs on Chinese goods will be locked in at the current 55 percent rate without additional increases.

FFWD Wheels Broadens Founding Family Presence with New Global Sales Manager
Jurre Schipper is the son of company founder Henk Schipper and brother of FFWD General Manager Idsart Schipper. He will focus on strengthening relationships with dealers, distributors and partners worldwide.
Target Increases Quarterly Dividend
Target Corp. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.14 per common share, a 1.8 percent increase from the prior quarterly dividend of $1.12.

EXEC: Trump Tariffs Having Little Impact on Retail Footwear Prices
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.

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.

Duluth Holdings Undergoes Layoffs
As part of its expense savings initiatives to rightsize the business, the retailer reduced its workforce by 51 employees, or 3 percent of its total workforce, on June 4.

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.

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.”