Hudson’s Bay Co. is exploring a spin-off of Saks.com as a public company, separating the online business from Saks Fifth Avenue’s brick & mortar operation, according to a report from WWD.
Category: Footwear

Golf Datatech Reports All-Time Best December For Equipment Sales
Golf Datatech, LLC announced that U.S. golf equipment sales for December 2020 were up 58 percent over the same period in 2019, while exceeding December’s previous all-time high, set in 2006, by 16 percent.

Cohere Capital Completes Strategic Growth Investment In CCS
Cohere Capital announced that it has made a strategic growth investment in Portland, OR-based CCS, the online retailer of streetwear and skateboard equipment. The investment will allow CCS to continue to invest in technology-enabled products and service offerings and accelerate its brand growth.

Backcountry To Open New Retail Stores Spring 2021
Backcountry announced plans to open brick & mortar retail locations beginning May 2021. The retailer currently has one store adjacent to its fulfillment center in Salt Lake City, UT, and will expand its retail footprint this year with two new stores, the first of which will open in Park City, UT, followed by a location in Boulder, CO.

The 2021 NRF Big Show Chapter Two Goes Virtual
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has moved Chapter Two of its 2021 Big Show from an in-person to a virtual event.

Nike Exits 280,000 Square Feet Of Office Space
Nike is leaving its 280,000-square-foot office space in Sunset Corridor at the Tektronix campus in Beaverton, OR according to a report from the real estate firm JLL Capital Markets.

Academy Sports And Outdoors Eliminates COO Position
Academy Sports and Outdoors said in a regulatory filing that it has eliminated its COO position, resulting in the lay off of current COO and EVP Kenneth Attaway.

Belk Seeking Out-Of-Court Financial Restructuring
Belk, its major lenders and the private equity firm Sycamore Partners are nearing a deal to restructure the department store’s debt outside of bankruptcy proceedings, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Lululemon Ranks Eighth On Glassdoor’s Best Places To Work List List
Lululemon Athletica was the only company in the active lifestyle space to land in the Top 10 of Glassdoor’s Annual Ranking of the 100 Best Places To Work in the U.S., coming in at No. 8. Other companies in the industry landing on the list include Vans, 36; REI, 48; and Nike, 49.

Running USA Survey Finds Runners Eager To Return To Live Events
According to Running USA’s 2020 Global Runner Survey, 66 percent of runners in North America plan to be back out racing as soon as an event is available in their area or within traveling distance. An additional 20 percent wanted a vaccine to be available before they raced again.

ReCircled Acquires Circlarity
ReCircled, LLC, a Denver-based industrial sustainability company serving the textile, apparel and footwear sector, announced the acquisition of Circlarity, LLC, a digital sustainability intelligence technology company.

Hari Mari Appoints New President
Hari Mari appointed Jake Szczepanski its new president. Szczepanski previously co-founded and served as CEO of menswear and womenswear label Billy Reid for 13 years.

Pentland Brands Appoints Its First Positive Business Director
Pentland Brands Limited has announced the appointment of Sara Brennan as its first positive business director.

Ebay Appoints VP Of Fashion
Ebay has appointed Charis Márquez, formerly VP for sales effectiveness at Levi Strauss & Co., to the newly created role of vice president of fashion.

Li Ning Acquires Majority Stake In Clarks
Viva China Holdings, the sports talent agency founded by Chinese gymnast-turned-entrepreneur Li Ning, has acquired control of the U.K.-based footwear brand, Clarks for £51 million ($62 mm).