Brooks Running, which is based in Seattle, WA, is restricting all non-essential travel and encouraging employees to work from home if possible as part of its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Category: Footwear

Draymond Green Signs With Converse
Converse signed Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors to become the face of the brand as it looks to get back into performance basketball.

Le Coq Sportif To Supply French Team For Paris 2024 Olympics
Le Coq Sportif reached an agreement to supply apparel for the French Olympic and Paralympic team for the Paris 2024 Games. The French brand had supplied France’s Olympic team between 1912 and 1972.

Macy’s Debt Ratings Outlook Lowered To Negative
Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Macy’s debt ratings but changed its outlook to negative from stable. Christina Boni, Moody’s vice president, said in a statement, “Macy’s weak 2019 operating performance requires an acceleration of its efforts to stem market share erosion and stabilize margins.”

New National Report Puts Spotlight On Girls’ Sports Participation
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) in a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation released” Keeping Girls in the Game: Factors that Influence Sport Participation,” a new, national research report examining the social influences on youth entry, retention and drop out from sports.

Former NFL Star Joe Theismann Joins Sports Engineering
Sports Engineering Inc. (SEI) announced that former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann has joined SEI to help advance SEI’s SmartSpring technology. SEI is continuing its efforts to make footwear and sports equipment safer for athletes and active people of all ages.

Brooks Brothers Files Counterclaim Against Brooks Sports
Brooks Brothers Group Inc. announced that it has filed a response and counterclaim against Brooks Sports, Inc. for breach of contract, trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition. The lawsuit seeks to eliminate potential consumer deception or confusion caused by Brooks Sports by intentionally dropping its logo in association with its brand name.

The Buckle’s Comps Improve 6 Percent In February
The Buckle Inc. announced that comparable store net sales, for stores open at least one year, for the 4-week period ended February 29, 2020 increased 6.3 percent.

Under Armour’s Long-Time PR Chief Steps Down
Diane Pelkey, Under Armour’s long-time SVP of communications, has left the company. She joined Under Armour in 2007.

Nike Temporarily Closes London Headquarters Over Coronavirus
Nike has temporarily closed its London headquarters in Soho as cases of coronavirus spreads in the U.K. Another Nike office at Doxford Park near Sunderland was also temporarily closed.

Boardriders’ Debt Ratings Downgraded
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Boardriders Inc.’s ratings, including the corporate family rating to Caa1 from B3, probability of default rating to Caa1-PD from B3-PD, and secured term loan rating to Caa1 from B3. The outlook is stable.

Ross Stores Sees 4 Percent Comp Gain In Q4
Ross Stores Inc. reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2020 grew 7 percent to $1.28 on net income of $456 million. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $4.4 billion, with comparable-store sales up 4 percent on top of a 4 percent gain in the prior-year period.

Urban Outfitters’ Q4 Earnings Slump
Urban Outfitters Inc. reported earnings on an adjusted basis fell 45.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Comparable Retail segment net sales increased 4 percent, driven by growth in the digital channel, partially offset by negative retail store sales

REI Closes Corporate Campuses Over Coronavirus Precautions
REI, based in Seattle, is temporarily closing three corporate campuses in Washington state to conduct a deep cleaning process after learning that two headquarter employees may have been exposed to coronavirus. REI’s King County and Alderwood stores are also undergoing a deep cleaning.

Decathlon’s Sales Grew 9 Percent in 2019
Decathlon, the French-sporting goods chan, reported sales rose 9 percent in 2019, to over €12.4 billion ($13.78 bn).