SGB Executive Footwear
EXEC: AlixPartners Calls Out “Booming” Athletic Footwear Sector, Sees Fickle Brand Loyalty
AlixPartners’ recently released Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) identifies that demand for athletic footwear is “booming” amid strong shifts toward casual, comfort and active lifestyles. However, the Index also found that brand loyalty within athletic footwear is “fleeting,” with several brands experiencing fluctuations in popularity among consumers over the last year.
EXEC: Under Armour Hits Record High Quarterly Sales with South America Partner
Brazil’s Vulcabras reported sales jumped 21.8 percent to R$955.7 million ($178 mm) in the third quarter, with growth across its Olympikus as well as licensed Mizuno and Under Armour brands. Under Armour delivered its ”best quarter in operation in Brazil.”
EXEC: Kontoor CEO Sees Helly Hansen Moving into Q4 with “Incredible Momentum”
Kontoor Brands, Inc., the owner of the Helly Hansen, Lee and Wrangler brands, reported third-quarter revenue increased 27 percent year-over-year to $853 million, including a 2-point impact from a shift in the timing of shipments from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, and the inclusion of $186 million in revenue from the recently acquired Helly Hansen global business.
EXEC: Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyls Talks U.S. Turnaround, Tariff Impact and Q3 Performance
The Columbia brand had a strong response to its new “Engineered for Whatever” global brand platform as well as to several key launches, including the Amaze Puff jacket. However, management provided Q4 guidance below analyst targets and a subdued outlook for the first half of 2026 amid a continued sluggish U.S. business landscape and uncertainty over how consumers will react to tariff-driven higher prices.
EXEC: Crocs CEO Updates Playbook for Returning to Growth in North America
Crocs, Inc. reported third-quarter results that beat expectations, but again disappointed Wall Street with softer sales guidance amid higher competition from athletic footwear styles and broader weakness in consumer spending. During a call with analysts, Andrew Rees, CEO, outlined the steps being taken to revive the core Crocs brand’s growth in North America.
EXEC: Sebago, Superga Parent BasicNet Swings to Positive YTD Trends on Strong Europe Sales
BasicNet S.p.A., the parent company of the Sebago, Superga, Briko, Kappa, K-Way, Jesus Jeans, and Sabelt brands, has reported that commercial licensees and direct sales increased by 13.2 percent in Europe, on top of a 7.3 percent rise last year. The region accounted for ~80.8 percent of aggregate sales in the 2025 YTD period, compared to 76.5 percent of the total in the 2024 YTD period.
EXEC: Puma to Axe 900 Jobs as New CEO Resets Strategy
Puma’s new CEO Arthur Hoeld on Thursday, October 30, set out his plan to turn around sluggish trends at the German sportswear brand, saying it must discount less, improve marketing and cut its product range as it announced plans to slash 900 corporate jobs, or about 13 percent of its workforce.
EXEC: Adidas Posts Strong Q3 Results on Back of Strong DTC, Solid Wholesale; North America Lags
North America revenues for the Adidas brand were up 8 percent y/y, reflecting double-digit growth in both footwear and apparel, while accessories sales declined during the quarter, falling short of the double-digit increase posted for the quarter in all other regions.
EXEC: VF Corp. Q2 Earnings Beat and TNF’s Return to Americas Growth Overshadowed by Soft Guidance
Shares of VF Corp. were down about 9 percent in late-afternoon trading on Tuesday, October 28, after the company reported earnings that topped expectations but provided guidance for the third quarter that fell below analysts’ targets. Growth in the latest quarter moderated slightly for The North Face and more notably for Timberland, although both are reportedly seeing healthy demand. Vans’ turnaround continues to make slow progress.
EXEC: Reebok Opens New Europe HQ in London; New Reebok Europe CEO Named
Marc Le Roux steps in as the new CEO of Reebok Europe, bringing decades of sneaker industry expertise and vision to the brand’s next chapter. He takes the helm from Interim CEO Steve Robaire, who will remain close to the Reebok Europe business in an advisory role to the GB Brands board.
EXEC: Wall Street Generally Bullish on Deckers Despite Soft Guidance
Deckers Outdoor Corp. saw several analysts reduce price targets on its shares and lower earnings estimates for the current and next fiscal year as management provided guidance that implied a growth deceleration in its fiscal second half. However, several analysts reiterated their “Buy” ratings on the stock, citing still-healthy demand signals, particularly for Hoka.
EXEC: Fila Brand Delivers LSD China Retail Growth in Q3 for Anta Sports
Anta Sports Products, Ltd. (Group), which operates retail stores in China for the Anta brand, as well as Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, and Amer Sports, reported that retail sales, in retail value, for the Fila brand increased low-single digits year-over-year in the third quarter.
EXEC: Li Ning Posts MSD Decline in China Retail Sales in Third Quarter
Li Ning Company, Ltd. reported that retail sell-through for the third quarter at Li-Ning POS, excluding Li-Ning Young, declined by mid-single-digits year-over-year.
EXEC: Hoka Outpaces Overall Deckers Trends in Q2; Execs See H2 Trends Moderating
Hoka outpaced the overall Deckers Brands business and sister brand Ugg in the first half and second quarte. However, DECK has tempered its outlook for Hoka in the back half as the energy around fiscal 2026 new releases wanes going into the holidays.
EXEC: Deckers Brands Execs Talk Ugg Trends, Tariffs, Slower H2 Growth
While the first half of the fiscal year demonstrated the strength of Ugg and Hoka, the back half is expected to be affected by a more cautious consumer as the full impact of tariffs and price increases will be felt in the U.S.
