EXEC: Asics’ Onitsuka Tiger Business to Get Dedicated Facility in Japan
EXEC: Former Brooks CEO Jim Weber Highlights Key Leadership Traits
EXEC: Footasylum Sees Strong Fiscal 2025 Results Continue into Current Year
Survey: Women’s Interest in Outdoor Activities Remains Strong
Report: Back-to-School Spending to Surge 17 Percent, Shopping Starts Earlier
SGB Update

Nike, Inc. Appoints New Converse CEO
Aaron Cain, a 21-year company veteran, was named the new CEO of Converse. He replaces Jared Carver, who is stepping down after serving as CEO for two years.

MeatEater to Open Store in Wisconsin
MeatEater, the hunt & fish specialty retailer, announced plans to open a store at The Corners of Brookfield in Wisconsin, representing its second store. MeatEater’s flagship store opened in April 2024 near its headquarters in downtown Bozeman, MT.

Costco’s June Comps Get 11.2 Percent Growth from E-Commerce
Excluding gas, Costco’s same-store sales in the U.S. were up 5.5 percent in the U.S. and 6.2 percent overall. U.S. sales were up 7.4 percent year-to-date.

FDRA Urges Trump Administration to Halt New Tariffs on Footwear Ahead of BTS Selling
On Wednesday, July 9, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that it not impose additional footwear tariffs on top of the existing ones ahead of the critical back-to-school selling season.
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Imperial Appoints National Sales Manager, Golf
Andrew Blatnik joins industry veteran John Anderson, VP of Sales for Golf, in his new role. Currently he serves as the VP of Peter Millar licensing for Imperial.
SGB Executive

EXEC: Top Asia FW Factories See Improving Shipment Trends in June 2025
Feng Tay Enterprises, one of the longest-tenured producers of Nike footwear, saw manufacturing revenues decline 3.1 percent year-over-year (y/y) in June after cratering 23.4 percent in May. Yue Yuen Manufacturing increased 9.4 percent y/y in June after increasing just 0.5 percent y/y in May.

EXEC: Asics’ Onitsuka Tiger Business to Get Dedicated Facility in Japan
Sanin Asics Industry Corporation, a Japanese domestic shoe manufacturing facility, is being renamed Onitsuka Innovative Factory Corporation and will become a dedicated production base for Onitsuka Tiger.

EXEC: Le Coq Sportif Sold in Bankruptcy Proceedings
A group led by Franco-Swiss entrepreneur Dan Mamane, have committed to investing an initial €70 million (US$82.1 million) into the company to revive its growth. Alexandre Fauvet, a former executive vice president at Lacoste and previously the chief executive of skiwear brand Fusalp, will serve as Le Coq Sportif’s new CEO.

EXEC: Former Brooks CEO Jim Weber Highlights Key Leadership Traits
At a keynote session held during Switchback Spring, which took place from June 16-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Jim Weber, former CEO of Brooks Running, listed focus, curiosity and trust as his “winning” trifecta formula for leadership success.

EXEC: Footasylum Sees Strong Fiscal 2025 Results Continue into Current Year
Total sales for the first 21 weeks of fiscal 2026 are up 10.5 percent year-over-year and are reportedly “tracking slightly ahead of plan.” Footasylum’s exclusive brands were up 17 percent year-over-year for the 21-week YTD period.