Placer.ai reported that overall U.S. retail traffic in early 2025 shows modest growth so far this year, boding well for the upcoming back-to-school season. Traditional back-to-school categories, such as sportswear and footwear, are expected to remain strong.
Category: Footwear
Lululemon Sues Costco Over Alleged Copycat Yoga Pants
The brand is seeking a court order to prevent Costco from manufacturing, importing, advertising, and selling the alleged LULU counterfeit products. It also wants Costco to pull all ads that promote the products and is asking for compensation for lost profits.
Caleres Amends and Extends Credit Agreement
The parent company of Famous Footwear and the Naturalizer, Vionic, Allen Edmonds, Blowfish Malibu, and Sam Edelman brands, has entered into an amendment of its credit agreement, which extends its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility to June 2030.
Big 5 Sporting Goods to Go Private via Acquisition by Specialty Golf Retailer and PE Firm
The retailer has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by a partnership comprised of Worldwide Golf and Capitol Hill Group, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $112.7 million in enterprise value, including the assumption of roughly $71.4 million in credit line borrowings as of June 29, 2025.
EXEC: Citi Survey Finds Adidas’ Brand Perception Catching Up to Nike
Citi Research’s latest quarterly Global Sporting Goods Survey found that Nike out-ranked Adidas in terms of intent to purchase and is the athletic brand consumers perceive as the most innovative in North America. However, Adidas tied Nike for the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) among athletic brands in June, highlighting the popularity of Adidas’ Terrace franchises
EXEC: Nike, Inc. Forcing Australia’s SurfStitch Into Liquidation
Nike claims SurfStitch owes it $237,760 and is demanding that the company be placed into liquidation. Edwin Narayan and Domenic Calabretta, from Mackay Goodwin, were appointed as administrators earlier this month to sort out the retailer’s finances.
Saucony Opens London Flagship in Covent Garden
The store, spanning 3,695 square feet over two floors, is located at 4 James Street and was designed to serve as a hub for the local running community.
EXEC: Nike Inc. CEO Expects $1 Billion Hit from Tariffs; Sees Turnaround Progressing as Planned
Nike, Inc. continues to face headwinds in its turnaround efforts, including an estimated $1 billion hit from tariffs. However, the company’s first-quarter guidance came in better than expected. Nike officials told analysts that its steps to reengage wholesale partners are paying off, with holiday bookings up. Shares of Nike in mid-day trading Friday, June 27, were up about 17 percent.
Nike, Inc. Beats Wall Street Estimates for Q4 Top- and Bottom-Line Declines
While the company produced a beat on both the top- and bottom-line consensus Wall Street estimates for the period, many analysts appeared more interested in the fiscal 2026 full-year guidance, which was not provided in the initial release of Q4 and full-year figures.
U.K.-Based Footwear Distributor Gardiners Acquires Dubois
U.K.-based footwear distributor Gardiners Group has acquired European footwear distributor Dubois in a strategic move to expand its offering into Europe.
FDRA Elects New Board Leadership for 2025/27 Term
The newly elected leadership for the 2025–2027 term includes Josue Solano, CEO of BBC International, as Board chair; Dan Friedman, chief sourcing and supply chain officer at Caleres, as vice chair; and Lisa Tucker, president of Shoe Show, Inc. as treasurer.
EXEC: Hibbett Parent JD Sports to Open More JD Stores in Spain
The UK-based owner of the JD, DTLR, Shoe Palace, Finish Line, and Hibbett retail brands in the U.S. has 130 stores in Spain operating under the Sprinter banner.
Survey: Early Back-To-School Shoppers Noticing Higher Prices
A survey of parents who have started back-to-school shopping conducted by Morning Consult found that 57 percent believe school supplies cost more this year than they did last year. A majority (59 percent) noted that inflation in general as the cause for the price increases, while 37 percent cited tariffs specifically.
Compass Diversified Reports Inability to Rely on 2022 and 2023 Financial Statements
The owner of the 5.11, Boa, Oxo, and Primaloft brands disclosed on Wednesday, June 24, its non-reliance on its financial statements for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 amid an ongoing investigation into its subsidiary Lugano Holding, Inc. The investigation does not involve CODI’s other subsidiaries.
EXEC: Topo Athletic CEO Tony Post Talks Meteoric Growth for the Running Brand
SGB Executive talks with Topo Athletic’s Founder and CEO Tony Post about the brand’s momentum, recent product wins, its partnership with DBI, tariff turmoil, and future opportunities.
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