SGB Executive Footwear
Report: Sports & Fitness Manufacturers’ Sales Growth Moderated in 2024
SFIA’s latest report found that some key categories, including martial arts gear, tennis balls, pickleball racquets and outdoor/adventure footwear, delivered double-digit growth in 2024 while sales across various categories remained far above pre-pandemic levels.
EXEC: Authentic Inks New ANZ Licensing Partner for Former Boardriders Brands
Authentic said the move secures the future of over 200 branded retail stores, wholesale and e-commerce platforms, and ongoing success for Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element, VonZipper, Spyder, and Volcom.
EXEC: Gymshark to Restructure, Causing Hundreds of Position Cuts and Adds
After reporting that earnings in its latest year had declined due to omnichannel investments and is facing “intense macro-economic volatility” in the marketplace, Gymshark reported it is restructuring the company.
EXEC: Adidas CEO Clarifies U.S. Pricing Position; Will Wait for Competitors’ Moves
On Adidas’ first-quarter analyst call, Bjørn Gulden CEO, said Adidas hasn’t yet raised prices on U.S. products due to the U.S. tariffs but expects to should the tariffs remain and only after other brands raise prices. He said, “I have seen that certain press is writing that Adidas is raising prices. That is, of course, not true.”
EXEC: Big 5 CEO Expects Little Near-Term Tariff Impact Due to Early Q2 Receipts
Second quarter-to-date sales are reportedly down in the high-single-digit range, in part reflecting an approximate negative 400 basis point impact from one less sales day in the period-to-date due to the Easter calendar shift.
EXEC: Rocky Brands CEO Sees Tariff-Based Price Increases Coming in June
The Xtratuf brand continues its recent momentum and delivered another exceptional quarter with double-digit growth in Q1, with the most popular new spring styles being the women’s duck camo and ivory colored ankle deck boots.
EXEC: Nordic SG Retailer XXL Returns to Growth in Q1 Despite Weather Issues
The general availability of products improved in the quarter, said to be driven by increased quantities of products on lower price points, especially within Private Label. The inventory was stable in value at quarter-end.
EXEC: Sebago Parent BasicNet Sees Slight Revenue Decline in Q1
The Turin, Italy-based parent of the Kappa, Robe di Kappa, K-Way, Superga, Briko Jesus Jeans, Sabelt, and Sebago brands reported Q1 consolidated revenues were €98.3 million, down 3.3 percent from €101.6 million a year ago.
EXEC: Li Ning Posts Low-Single-Digit Retail Sales Gain in First Quarter
Li Ning Company, Ltd. reported that retail sell-through for the first quarter for Li-Ning POS, excluding Li-Ning Young, increased in the low-single digits year over year.
EXEC: William Blair Tackles Tariff Realties in Latest Management Survey
Blair said that for now, the best solution seems to be a well-diversified supply chain across multiple jurisdictions, potentially with built-in redundancies to allow for nimbleness.
Nike, Inc. Sued Over NFT Investor Losses Incurred After Closure of RTFKT Unit
The company is now being sued by purchasers of NFTs (non-funglible tokens) that originated with Nike’s December 2021 acquisition of the RTFKT, a virtual sneaker design company and studio for NFTs.
EXEC: Adidas Brand Posts 17 Percent Sales Gain in Q1 Excluding FX Shifts
Excluding Yeezy sales in the prior year, currency-neutral revenues for the Adidas brand increased 17 percent y/y for the quarter, driven by double-digit y/y growth across all markets and channels.
EXEC: Wall Street Reacts to Tariff News but Port Traffic Decline May Reflect a Sad Reality
The Dow and the S&P 500 both bounced on April 22 after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump’s primary negotiator on tariff deals, said that he believes the Administration’s ongoing tariff war with China will de-escalate soon because the rift is not sustainable.
EXEC: Analysts Make Tariff Impact Calls on Footwear and Apparel Stocks
Those experiencing price target cuts included Birkenstock, Crocs, Inc., Foot Locker, Nike, On Holding, Skechers, VF Corp., and Wolverine World Wide. Some of those hit hardest included Boot Barn, Deckers and Under Armour.
EXEC: Largest Asia FW Factory Warns on Q1 Profit Decline as Margins Shrink
The expected decrease in profit for the quarter was reported to be mainly attributable to the negative impact on gross margin due to “an increase in unit costs for footwear manufacturing, amid a volatile operating environment led by a complex and dynamic global economic landscape.”
