SGB Executive Footwear
Study: Pickleball Growth Slows as Skiing, Flag Football, and Pilates Step Up
NSGA’s 2026 Sports Participation Report found alpine skiing, cheerleading, flag football, kayaking and Pilates saw the strongest participation gains among sports, fitness and outdoor activities in 2025. Golf, tennis and pickleball all saw solid gains, although pickleball moderated from its breakneck pace in recent years.
EXEC: Under Armour and Mizuno Brazil Partner Posts Net Income Slide on Higher Debt Load
Under Armour reinforced its presence in the training market and expanded its role in performance running in Brazil in the first quarter while Mizuno picked up steam after its return to road running.
EXEC: BOA and Velocity Outdoor Drive CODI’s Q1 Gainers; PrimaLoft Takes Impairment Charge
Compass Diversified (CODI) reported BOA’s sales grew 7 percent in the first quarter on market share gains across key categories to lead the company’s active lifestyle businesses. 5.11’s sales declined due in part to efforts to reduce DTC promotions. PrimaLoft, which recently overhauled leadership, absorbed a goodwill write-off.
EXEC: JD Sports Sees Resilient Europe, Weak UK and Improving North America in 2026
The parent of Hibbett, JD, Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace in the U.S. and multiple other sports, outdoor and footwear banners across Europe and Asia Pacific, posted total sales of £12.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 31, an 11.7 percent year-over-year (y/y) increase at constant FX rates and 10.5 percent y/y growth at reported rates.
EXEC: Nidecker Group Adds Europe Distribution for Etnies, éS, and Emerica
The Nidecker brands join OneTurn’s already stellar line up of Volcom, Spyder, and Aspen Collection. The Etnies, éS, and Emerica brands remain owned by The Nidecker Group and continue to operate as part of the company’s global portfolio of boardsports brands.
EXEC: Titleist Parent Talks Product Launches, Pricing Actions and Tariffs
Acushnet Holdings Corp. reported sales grew 4.1 percent in the first quarter on a currency-neutral basis, led by strength in Titleist golf balls and clubs and higher prices across many categories. On a quarterly analyst call, David Maher, Acushnet’s president and CEO, called out a promising launch to Titleist’s GTS drivers and indicated the overall golf season is off to a healthy start globally.
EXEC: Descente Sees Fourth Consecutive Year of Record Profits
Descente, owned by Japanese trading house Itochu Corp, achieved record profits for the fourth consecutive year, mainly due to robust growth in China.
EXEC: GameStop Makes $56 Billion Bid to Acquire eBay
The original “meme stock” company has made an unsolicited, non-binding offer to acquire eBay for $125 per share in a cash-and-stock deal, valuing the e-commerce platform at roughly $55.5 billion. GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen told the Wall Street Journal that he saw a path to make the e-commerce company a much bigger competitor to Amazon.com.
EXEC: Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle Sees U.S. Wholesale Returning to Growth in Second Half
Total company first-quarter results topped expectations, driven by early Spring 2026 wholesale shipments and better-than-expected demand in Europe and the U.S. as disciplined expense management. The company raised its guidance for the year due to lower-than-planned U.S. tariffs driven by the temporary tariffs that are in place through July 2026.
EXEC: Adidas To Invest €100M Into German Football’s Bundesliga
Adidas agreed to invest €100 million ($116.8M) into the Bundesliga, which governs the top two divisions of German football. The partnership is designed to support the growth of the leagues and the development of its 36 member clubs.
EXEC: Crocs Sees DTC Strength Offset Steep Wholesale Declines in Q1 Beat
Crocs Inc. saw North American wholesale sales tumble 18.9 percent for the Crocs Brand and 24.7 percent for HeyDude due to efforts to rationalize inventories in the marketplace. However, sales still topped expectations as a healthy response to new product led by better-than-expected DTC growth. Crocs lifted its guidance for the year.
EXEC: Sebago, Sundek and Woolrich Europe Owner Gets Q1 Lift from 2025 Acquisitions
Milan, Italy-based BasicNet S.p.A., the parent of Briko, K-Way, Kappa, Robe di Kappa, Sebago, Sundek, Superga, Woolrich Europe, reported that consolidated revenues, which includes Direct Sales and Royalties from the licensees, grew 35.1 percent year-over-year.
EXEC: Hoff Hires Former Nike Exec as CEO
Hoff, the low-profile sneaker brand based in Spain, appointed Nicolas De Ros Wallace as CEO. He was most recently CEO at Canyon Bicycles and a former Nike executive in Europe.
EXEC: Puma SE Sees FX Rates Cut Into Reported Performance in Q1
Reported sales, which were said to be supported by the clearance of elevated inventories – mainly through selected partners in the wholesale channel – took a significant hit from foreign currency exchange rates and falling 6.3 percent year-over-year.
EXEC: Puma SE Names Former Hugo Boss CEO as Chief Financial Officer
Mark Langer reportedly brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience in finance, strategy and general management, with a strong track record in driving performance and shaping global consumer brands in publicly listed environments.
