SGB Executive

EXEC: Adidas Sees North America Struggles Continue

Adidas’ second quarter results included several encouraging signs, including securing an incremental profit of €150 million ($164 mm) from the first drop of leftover Yeezy, significantly improved margins due to better sell-throughs and less discounting, and a return to double-digit growth in China. However, the laggard continues to be North America, where sales on a currency-neutral basis tumbled 16.4 percent in the period.

EXEC: Adidas Says No More Yeezy After Sell-Off Despite Flat Q2, Profit Bump

On Thursday, Adidas raised its earnings outlook for the year, in part because of demand for the company’s remaining stock of its discontinued Yeezy merchandise. The brand was boosted by the margin benefit from reduced inventory levels in the marketplace and China’s continuing recovery.

EXEC: Rocky Brands Sees Brand Momentum Build After Tough Start to Q2

Notwithstanding the slow start, at-once orders reportedly improved month-over-month as the quarter progressed and the trend continued into July, providing a good start to the third quarter creating optimism that channel inventories are getting properly aligned with demand.

EXEC: Big 5 Unable to Overcome Slow Start to Summer Selling

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. saw its core market in El Segundo, a city in Los Angeles County, CA, where it is headquartered, baking in extreme heat in recent weeks. Still, president and CEO Steve Miller told analysts that cool weather in the early months of the second quarter ended July 2, caused sales to fall below the retailer’s already low target.

EXEC: Avoli Founders Talk Up Women’s Volleyball Opportunity

Avoli (pronounced Ah-Volley), a volleyball-specific brand, is focused on designing volleyball equipment for female players. Founded by former Nike, Lululemon and Under Armour veterans Mark Oleson and Rick Anguilla, they launched their product line last month with a low-top volleyball shoe.

EXEC: Sebago Parent BasicNet Sees Net Profit Drop in H1; Royalties Decline

Royalties from commercial and productive licensees declined 6.4 percent to €32.7 million. Direct sales grew versus the same period in 2022 partly due to the contribution of K-Way France S.a.s, acquired in April 2022, but corresponding royalties from the French subsidiary decreased.

EXEC: Footwear De-Stocking Hits Factory Sector as Yue Yuen Warns on H1

Call it a reverse trickle-down process as bad news looks to be moving up the supply chain with predictable results. As retailers de-stock inventories and brands follow suit, the backup and subsequent slow-down have hit the manufacturing sector with more ferocity.