Fresh off its acquisition of Finish Line Inc., JD Sports Fashion Plc reported profit before tax grew 24 percent to £294.5 million in fiscal year 2018 ended Feb. 3.
Category: Footwear
Keen Names Kate Sweeney As COO
Keen Inc. has named Kate Sweeney as COO. Sweeney joins the executive leadership at Keen to drive results as the brand continues to build and invest in its future growth.

Stephen Curry, Warriors Once Again Tops NBA Merchandise Sales
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors top the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) list of most popular jerseys and team merchandise, marking the third consecutive regular season Curry and the defending NBA Champions have earned top honors.

Nike Second Most Reputable Company In U.S.
Nike landed as the second most reputable U.S. company in Reputation Institute’s annual US RepTrak 100 rankings.
Gander Outdoors Sets Grand Openings For Monroe And Warren
Gander Outdoors, formerly known as Gander Mountain, set grand opening festivities for stores in Monroe, NC; and Warren, OH.
Avia Reaches Deal For Expansion In China
Sequential Brands Group Inc. announced that the company has entered into a multi-year agreement with Beiying Sports Technology Co., Ltd., a leading sports manufacturer and distributor, to bring the Avia brand to Greater China.
Camping World Plans New SuperCenters In Georgia, Illinois And Ohio
Camping World Holdings Inc. announced expansion plans for the development of new SuperCenters in Augusta, GA, Marion, IL, and Huber Heights, OH.

Report: Under Armour MLB Deal Delayed Until 2020
Under Armour’s deal to make Major League Baseball uniforms will now start in 2020 instead of 2019, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

Big Day For Americans At Boston Marathon
Desiree Linden, who trains for the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, became the first American woman to win Boston since 1985. She joined a number of American women and men finishing among the top ten in the race.

Nike’s Head Of Diversity Exits
Antoine Andrews, Nike’s VP, diversity and inclusion, has left the company, according to Bloomberg. His exit comes after allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior led to changes in March in Nike’s executive ranks.

Camping Taking Off
Driven by an influx of younger and more ethnically diverse newcomers, camping is making a comeback with more than 6 million campers arriving over the last three years, according to the 2018 North American Camping Report. The report still found conflicted about technology as part of the camping experience and their commitment to “un-plug” in the outdoors.

Frank Hugelmeyer Sees RVs Supporting Camping’s Growth
With the RV (recreational vehicle) industry seeing record sales over the last three years at a double-digit growth pace, it’s no surprise to Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), that camping is seeing an uptick.
March Retail Sales Increased 5 Percent Over Last Year
March retail sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February and 5 percent year-over-year as the economy continued to grow, the National Retail Federation said. Sporting goods stores were down 0.9 percent year-over-year and down 1.8 percent from February seasonally adjusted.
The Conservation Alliance Kicks Off First Backyard Collective Event
More than 200 volunteers from six member companies participated in The Conservation Alliance’s Backyard Collective stewardship event in Santa Barbara, CA on Thursday, April 12.
ACT Lab Adds Phil Bash To Global Sales Team
ACT Lab, the independent, third-party accredited laboratory that conducts safety and compliance testing for the bike and outdoor industries, has announced the addition of Phil Bash to the lab’s global sales team, effective immediately.