SGB Executive Apparel
EXEC: Tactical and Outdoor Rec Led Active Consumer M&A Activity Growth in 2025
Tactical Products M&A maintained its prior-year momentum, with deal volume increasing by 19 percent in 2025. Outdoor Recreation M&A volume saw its second consecutive year of expansion, rising 48 percent to 164 transactions. In Apparel & Footwear, M&A activity retracted nearly 14 percent year-over-year to 152 deals in 2025, the first decline since 2022.
EXEC: Former Exec Sues Adidas Over Alleged Gender Discrimination
Lindsay Gregg, who was Adidas’ head of women’s basketball sports marketing from January 2022 to February 2026, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, charging she was fired for raising concerns about gender discrimination and the treatment of female athletes. She also charged Adidas with whistleblower retaliation.
EXEC: European Soccer E-Tailer Unisport Enters U.S. with WeGotSoccer Acquisition
Unisport Group, one of Europe’s leading online football retailer based in Denmark, has acquired Arocam, Inc., the U.S.-based parent of WeGotSoccer.and TUDN Fan Shop. Unisport said the transaction “marks Unisport’s strategic expansion into North America ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026,”
EXEC: Nike and Apple CEOs Loaded Up on NKE Shares as Price Fell
Elliott Hill, Nike Inc’s president and CEO, and Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO and Nike’s lead independent director, both made significant investments in Nike’s shares in recent days following the stock’s recent sell-off.
EXEC: Nike Faces Downgrade from HSBC
HSBC lowered its rating on Nike Inc. to “Hold” from “Buy” while slashing its price target to $48 from $90, becoming the latest investment firm to downgrade the stock following a recent disappointing forecast. HSBC analyst Akshay Gupta said, “Nike’s turnaround thesis has gone from ‘not if, but when’ to a ‘show me’ story with no short-term catalysts.”
EXEC: Academy’s Chief Merchant Talks ‘Better, Best’ Push, Commitment to Newness
Matt McCabe, EVP and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors, spoke with SGB Executive about the chain’s evolving merchandise strategy, including pushes to feature more premium product, prioritize newness, and reduce out-of-stocks and markdowns. He also shared fresh insights into the Academy shopper.
EXEC: Puma SE Appoints New SVP for Creative Direction
James Carnes is expected to directly oversee creative direction, innovation and product excellence, reporting directly to Chief Brand Officer Maria Valdes.
EXEC: Resale Activity Continues to Boom
Recent surveys found a shift toward secondhand sales accelerating as consumers, particularly younger ones, seek value amid current inflationary pressures. For sellers of new products, a recent university study found that secondhand purchases supplement primary-market consumption rather than replace it.
EXEC: Nike Makes Change at Innovation Chief, Suffers Another Stock Downgrade
Nike Inc. faced a downgrade by Piper Sandler on Friday amid unrelated reports that the brand’s chief innovation officer, Tony Bignell, is departing the company after less than a year in the role.
EXEC: Pou Sheng’s China Retail Business Swings Back to a Negative Trend in March 2026
Net consolidated operating revenue for March 2026 declined 6.3 percent year-over-year to RMB 1.35 billion, compared to RMB 1.44 billion in March 2025. Pou Sheng trades and reports in the Chinese Yuan (RMB) currency.
EXEC: Academy Sports Scores Stock Price Target Upgrades Following Analyst Day
A number of analysts raised their price targets on Academy Sports + Outdoors Inc. following the company’s release of a five-year growth plan at an Analyst Day event, with many more convinced the chain will inflect back to growth this year.
Fashion Resale Platform Vinted’s Revenues Climb 38 Percent in 2025
Vinted, the second-hand fashion platform based in Vilnius, Lithuania, reported sales of €1.1 billion ($1.28 billion) in 2025, a 38 percent year-over-year surge. The platform’s gross merchandise value (GMV) totaled €10.8 billion, up 47 percent year-over-year.
EXEC: Canada’s Roots Corporation Swings to Q4 Profit as Sales Grow in Mid Singles
The Canada-based premium outdoor-lifestyle brand reported total sales of CAD$115.5 million in Q4, up 4.2 percent from CAD$110.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
EXEC: Skechers Opens First Flagship Store in Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in the heart of Amagertorv, the roughly 7500-square-foot store offers consumers an extensive selection of Skechers products, including its Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins.
EXEC: Ed Stack and Lauren Hobart Talk Foot Locker Remodels, Dick’s House of Sport’s Fine-Tuned Expansion
Speaking on Wednesday, April 8, at J.P. Morgan’s 12th Annual Retail Round Up, Dick’s Sporting Goods’ management team provided a deep dive into the success the Foot Locker business is seeing with its Fast Break remodels and why Dick’s is taking a more measured approach in the rollout of House of Sport locations.
