Nike had sought to trademark “footware” a play on words between “foot” and “software” or “hardware” for tech-related products. Puma has long argued that at least some consumers would misread “footware” to mean software or technology for the feet.
Category: Footwear

Nike Vet Hired As President of Cosmo Fabrics
Mark Griffie spent over 20 years working at Nike, most recently as VP of materials and sourcing. He will work from Cosmo’s Singapore headquarters, effective July 1.

Game-Set-Match to Open Fifth Store
Plans for the new store in Henderson, NV, include a soft opening in Fall 2024, pending store construction timing, with a grand opening in Spring 2025.

Bob’s and EMS to Close Stores, Layoff Employees Amid Financial Struggles
Owned by Los Angeles-based GoDigital Media Group, Bob’s Stores and EMS are closing some stores and will layoff employees beginning June 14 as it company faces liquidity woes.

Minnesota State Partners With Nike/BSN Sports
The deal benefits Maverick’s athletic department with preferred team pricing through BSN Sports on Nike uniforms, apparel, footwear, and Jordan brand and program rebates.

Target Raises Quarterly Dividend
The retailer reaffirmed announced a 1.8 percent increase in its quarterly dividend to shareholders, now set at $1.12 per common share, from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.10.

Yue Yuen’s May Sales Boosted by Manufacturing Growth
Yue Yuen Industrial, Ltd. reported revenues rose 2.3 percent in May to $717.4 million. Sales rose 2.3 percent in its manufacturing segment but declined 8.0 percent in its retail segment.

EXEC: Academy Sports CEO Remains Bullish on Sales Recovery
Academy Sports and Outdoors missed Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the second straight quarter on lower-than-expected sales but Steve Lawrence, CEO, told analysts he remains confident growth will improve in coming quarters as the chain benefits from a focus on newness and value while capitalizing on key selling occasions over the year.

Under Armour Partners With USA Football
As the official and exclusive uniform, apparel and footwear partner of USA Football, including the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, UA will also outfit the first Olympic team for the 2028 Summer Games as flag football and USA Football’s U.S. National Teams make their Olympic debut.

Dearfoams Parent Acquired by Marubeni Growth Capital
RGB becomes the first investment of the Next Generation Corporate Development Division of Marubeni in the U.S., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Marubeni Corporation.

Academy Sports’ Q1 Earnings Miss Wall Street Targets
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. reported first-quarter earnings on an adjusted basis slid 20.8 percent and came in lower than analyst expectations for the second straight quarter. Same-store sales were down 5.7 percent, and gross margins were off slightly. Steve Lawrence, CEO, said, “Our customers remain under pressure in the current economic environment.”
Lee Launches Collab with HeyDude For Summer
Lee and HeyDude launch new collaboration for Summer with Netflix Outer Banks series actor Chase Stokes, and current HeyDude ambassador, as the face of the campaign.

Puma Reintroduces the OG Speedcat in Classic Colors
The low-top Speedcat returns on June 19 with suede finishing in black and red, a nod to iconic F1 racing teams and racewear uniforms of the early 2000s. The campaign presents the silhouette as a symbol of empowerment and innovation.

Le Coq Sportif Parent Posts Loss In 2023
Airesis, the Swiss holding company that owns the Le Coq Sportif French sports brand and Movement skis, recorded a negative EBITDA of CHF 20 million ($22 mm) and a net loss of CHF 36 million ($40 mm) in 2023.

Waiting Period Ends In JD Sports Bid For Hibbett Sports
Hibbett, Inc. said in a regulatory filing that the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for the proposed acquisition by JD Sports expired, effective June 7, removing any objections from the federal government to the deal on antitrust grounds.