The partnership comes as Wade showcased Russell’s debut signature sneaker, the DL, last month, marking the first athletic-specific shoe under his “Way of Wade” brand umbrella. The two will also serve as ambassador athletes for the platform.
Category: Footwear

Under Armour to Offer $400 Million in Senior Notes
Proceeds will be used to help redeem, repurchase, repay, or otherwise retire all $600 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 3.25 percent senior notes due 2026.

JD Sports Lands on the Vegas Strip with New Flagship Store
The opening of a new flagship on Las Vegas Boulevard is said to mark JD’s third in the U.S. and its continued “connection to global youth culture in the most influential cities across the U.S.” As of 3 May 2025, there were 339 JD stores across North America (including Canada).

EXEC: Havaianas Parent Inks North America Distribution Deal
The company stated that the Distribution Agreement does not foresee any initial cash outflow for either party and will have an initial length of four years commencing from the date of its execution. The agreement may be extended if certain previously agreed-upon metrics are met or by mutual agreement.

Caleres’ Principal Accounting Officer to Retire
Todd Hasty, SVP and chief accounting officer, plans to retire, effective October 17, 2025, after nearly 22 years of service with the company.

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Jumps as Inflation Expectations Improve
Consumer sentiment increased in June for the first time in six months, the latest sign that Americans’ views of the economy have improved as inflation has stayed tame and tariff concerns lessen.

Survey: Retailers Passing Along 51 Percent of Tariff Costs
A survey of 500 U.S. e-commerce executives found that 76 percent had increased the price of goods to mitigate the cost of the new and expected tariffs. On average, retailers are passing along 51 percent of the cost of President Trump’s import taxes on to consumers.

Strava Nets $2.2 Billion Valuation in Funding Round
The funding follows the acquisitions earlier this year of AI-driven training apps Runna and The Breakaway, as well as the continued growth of the platform, which now has over 150 million reported global users.

CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Notes Robust Sporting Goods Sector Continued into May
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.

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.

K-Swiss Appoints Anwar Carrots as Creative Director of New Premium Line
K-Swiss appointed Anwar Carrots, the creative director and founder of the Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Carrots by Anwar Carrots, as creative director of K-Swiss Racquet Club (KSRC), its new premium line.

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.