OR and Surf Expo Owner Sold to Apollo Funds, Will Merge with Questex in Go-Private Deal
EXEC: Asia FW Factories Post Diverging Active Lifestyle Growth Trends in April 2026
Study: Pickleball Growth Slows as Skiing, Flag Football, and Pilates Step Up
EXEC: Under Armour and Mizuno Brazil Partner Posts Net Income Slide on Higher Debt Load
EXEC: JD Sports Sees Resilient Europe, Weak UK and Improving North America in 2026
SGB Update
OR and Surf Expo Owner Sold to Apollo Funds, Will Merge with Questex in Go-Private Deal
Apollo appears to have bigger plans for Emerald as the company entered into separate definitive agreements to acquire Emerald along with Questex, LLC with the intention to combine the businesses and create a leading North American B2B experiential events and media platform, in an all-cash transaction.
The Buckle Posts Flattish Comps in April
Comparable-store net sales for the 4-week period ended May 2 nudged up 0.2 percent year over year. Net sales increased 0.9 percent to $86.3 million from $85.5 million a year ago.
Nike Inc. Confirms Commitment to SNKRs App Amid Layoffs
Amid concerns in sneakerhead communities about steep layoffs at its technology division, Nike Inc. issued a statement stating it remains committed to the SNKRS product-release app. The statement read in part, “”SNKRS remains a critical tool in our digital marketplace strategy.”
NRF: Import Volumes Face Early-Fall Slide on Cautious Orders
Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to remain below last year’s levels into early fall despite a skewed year-over-year bump in May and June, according to the Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Salomon Opens Third Store in New York City
Salomon opened its third store in New York City with a location on the Upper West Side, near Central Park. Spanning 812 square feet, the location at 270 Columbus Ave. features the brand’s largest performance section of all its New York City stores.
SGB Executive
EXEC: UK’s Shoe Zone Posts Steeper Loss in Half As Sales Drop 12 Percent
U.K. off-price shoe retailer Shoe Zone widened its net loss for the fiscal half ended March 28, to £5.3 million ($7.2 mm) from £2.3 million a year ago. Sales dropped 12.0 percent to £62.9 million ($85.8 mm).
EXEC: Pou Sheng’s China Retail Business Ekes Out Small April Increase
Net consolidated operating revenue for April 2026 inched up 0.1 percent year-over-year to RMB 1.38 billion, compared to RMB 1.37 billion in April 2025. Pou Sheng trades and reports in the Chinese Yuan (RMB) currency.
EXEC: Havaianas Parent Sees Q1 Sales Expand 12.5 Percent
Brazil-based Alpargatas reported that sales in the first quarter grew 12.5 percent to Brazil Real $1,229.5 million ($251 mm). Overall volumes reached 61.5 million pairs, up 8.4 percent year over year. The gains reflect earlier sell-ins in its core Brazilian market and a shift in the U.S. from a direct to a distributor model.
EXEC: Asia FW Factories Post Diverging Active Lifestyle Growth Trends in April 2026
Yue Yuen’s manufacturing business, which boasts Adidas, Merrell, Asics, and other footwear brands as key customers, posted an 6.9 percent increase in April 2026, while Feng Tay revenue fell 7.2 percent year-over-year.
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.
