SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
EXEC: Fila Sets U.S. Re-Org and Inventory Sell-Off; Market Re-Entry TBD
The company has essentially shuttered the U.S. business and expects full clearance by strategically selling off Fila USA inventory by the end of 2025, and determine if best avenue for re-entry in the market is direct operations, licensing or a distribution model.
Nike, Inc. Sees Turnaround Efforts Lasting through Fiscal 2026
Analysts were optimistic about the “Win Now” initiatives outlined by CEO Elliott Hill, but many shared concerns that the path ahead is likely to be long and volatile, pushing into the 2026 fiscal year, which commences in July 2025.
EXEC: The Apparel Brands Bringing the Brand Heat in 2025
The Third Annual Brand Heat Index from L.E.K. Consulting identified the brands to have gaine in popularity, or increasing brand “heat,” across major product categories and generations in women’s and men’s footwear and apparel.
EXEC: Wall Street Lays Out Expectations Ahead of Nike’s Fiscal Q3 Results
Margins are a concern in the near term, given the need for Nike to liquidate inventory. While the company continues to pull back promotions on its website, outlet stores will continue to see increased pressure.
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent to Make Another Run at Nordic Retailer XXL ASA
It appears that Frasers Group plc (Frasers), the UK-based parent of the Sports Direct global sporting goods retailer, is making another run at Norway-based sporting goods retailer XXL ASA.
EXEC: Saucony and Merrell Grow 57 Percent in China in 2024; Saucony Hits Benchmark
In 2024, revenue from the combined Merrell and Saucony brands segment realized a year-over-year growth of 57.2 percent, accounting for 9.2 percent of the Group’s total revenue.
EXEC: New Kohl’s CEO Kicks Off Turnaround Effort; Sees Private Label as Key
Asked about the balance between private label and national brands by an analyst, new CEO Ashley Buchanan emphasized that the customer will ultimately determine the mix, with a focus on delivering quality and value.
EXEC: Puma SE Forecast Q1 Sales to Decline on Weak U.S. and China
For the first quarter, Puma said it anticipates currency-adjusted sales growth to be down in low-single-digits versus the 2024 Q1 level, primarily due to a soft performance in the U.S. and China.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Shares Decline as Street Worries About Weaker 2025 Outlook
Dick’s posted a 5.2 percent comp store sales increase for the 2024 fiscal year, cycling against a 2.6 percent comp sales gain in the 2023 fiscal year. The retailer expects full-year comp sales growth from 1.0 percent to 3.0 percent for fiscal 2025.
Adidas Inks Liverpool Football Kit Deal Rumored at £300 Million
British media reports suggest the deal is a five-year agreement worth over £60 million ($77.4 million) per year. Adidas last provided the kit deal with the LFC from 2006 through 2012. Nike has held the deal since 2020.
EXEC: Adidas Swings to Full-Year Profit in 2024; Job Cuts Loom at Herzo HQ
The company expects 2025 sales for the Adidas brand to grow at a double-digit rate in North America, Greater China, Emerging Markets, and Latin America. Europe and Japan/South Korea will increase at a high-single-digit rate.
EXEC: Foot Locker Execs Break Down Q4 Region, Banner and Brand Trends
Nike is still working to find its way back to a magic formula but found some energy around the NBA All Star festivities. Adidas is the focus in lifestyle and the Terrace trend while New Balance and Asics are gaining momentum and wall space.
EXEC: On Brand Sees Retail Stores and Apparel as Keys to Growth; Tariff Exposure Limited
On Holding reported in 2024 that it sourced about 90 percent of its shoes and approximately 60 percent of its apparel and accessories from Vietnam. The company last year sourced about 7 percent of its apparel and accessories from China.
EXEC: Sports Direct to Roll Out Stores in Gulf States and Egypt Via GMG Partnership
GMG has a strong presence in the Persian Gulf States (Gulf), North Africa and Southeast Asia, where it’s a key distributor and operator of Nike stores as well as its home-grown multi-brand sports retailer Sun & Sand Sports, among others.
EXEC: Fox CEO Talks Marucci’s MLB Ramp Up and an Uneven Return of Bike Sales
As Marucci enters its first year as MLB’s official bat partner, the company has expanded its bat manufacturing capacity as well as designed new products to drive incremental sales and reinforce the company’smarket-leading position in the MLB with Marucci and Victus.
