
Carbitex Strengthens Global Team With New Hires
Filippo Sartor was hired as VP of global sales and Sam Gardner as VP of engineering and operations to better serve strategic brand partners, achieve forecasted growth in the short and long term and expand global market presence.

OrthoLite Expands Patent Protection for Hybrid Technology Line
As of April 2, 2024, OrthoLite holds three design patents protecting the visual aesthetics of its Hybrid line against knock-off products, and should competitors try to challenge its IP claim.

EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Looks to Expand Presence in the Netherlands
Frasers Group has signed a deal to acquire Dutch sports retailer Twin Sport BV as it looks to expand its footprint across the Benelux region and beyond. Frasers currently has five stores in the Netherlands under the Sports World banner.

Macy’s Inc. Appoints Two New Board Members as Acquisition Talks Move Forward
Investor Arkhouse Management nominees Ric Clark and Rick Markee have been appointed to the Macy’s Inc. Board of Directors, heading off a broader proxy fight, while Macy’s and Arkhouse move forward with buy-out talks.

Puma Launches Brand Campaign to Strengthen Sports Performance Positioning
It is the first time that Puma has one message—Forever. Faster.—throughout an entire year and across all performance categories, including Football, Running, Basketball, and Handball.

EXEC: Nike and Lululemon Fight Teen Perceptions as Smaller Brands Take Share
With all the conversations about Wall Street darlings Lululemon and Nike stumbling this spring after recent earnings reports for their most recent quarters, it is interesting to read the hard data supporting or countering early reactions.

NRF: Despite Baltimore Port Shutdown, Import Cargo Expected to Hit 2M Containers
The Baltimore bridge accident will likely shift container imports and exports to New York/New Jersey, Virginia and other surrounding ports until a shipping channel is cleared, perhaps as soon as within a couple of months.

Allbirds, Inc. Receives Nasdaq Non-Compliance Notice on Closing Bid Price
Allbirds is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq’s Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) because the closing bid price of its Class A common stock has fallen below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive days.

Sportsshoes.com Appoints First Partnerships Coordinator
Georgia Malir will manage run and fitness community partnerships. She joins the company from Saucony, where she was a technical rep.

DHS Outlines Enforcement Actions to Support U.S. Textile Jobs
The Department of Homeland Security outlined an enhanced strategy to combat illicit trade and level the playing field for the U.S. textile industry, which accounts for over 500,000 U.S. jobs and is deemed critical to U.S. national security.

EXEC: Decathlon Boasts Robust Growth for 2023 Despite Market Headwinds
Decathlon posted a solid year-over-year gain for 2023, with sales up 1.2 percent in reported euro terms to €15.6 billion for the year, or an increase of 4.4 percent in constant-currency terms.

EXEC: Sports Direct to Open Two New Flagship Locations in London
The stores, one in Westfield Stratford and the other in Westfield London, are “further progress” in Sports Direct’s elevation strategy, while the Oxford Street flagship will remain the cornerstone of the Sports Direct brand in London.

Keen Launches Radical New Boot, Targhee IV with Keen.Fusion
Keen.Fusion creates a “mechanical bond stronger than glue using heat and pressure to fuse the sole and upper of the boot together into one piece.

EXEC: Levi Strauss Gets DD Lift from Beyond Yoga in Q1; Exits Footwear
Revenues from e-commerce grew 13 percent on a reported basis and 12 percent on a constant-currency basis, reflecting double-digit growth across the Levi’s and Beyond Yoga brands.

Crossover Culture Upgrades Court Presence With Fortune and Fatale
Crossover Culture released the Fortune and Fatale, two new basketball sneakers using its proprietary Ghost Foam technology.