
Salomon’s President & CEO Departs
Franco Fogliato, president and CEO of Salomon, is leaving the company for personal reasons. James Zheng, CEO, Amer Sports, will reportedly lead Salomon and the Outdoor Performance division on an interim basis.

Nike Doubles Down on Evolving Air to New Levels for Summer Olympics
Nike, Inc. will debut a new line of products that signals a multi-year innovation cycle, and plans to deliver better, faster and more efficient solutions for athletes this summer at the Paris Olympics.

Study: Gen-Z Lags Other Demos When Assessing Link Between Exercise and State of Mind
The Asics Corpration study of over 26,000 global respondents found that the more people exercise, the higher their State of Mind scores. Gen Z had the lowest scores, with an average of 62/100 compared to the Baby Boomers’ 68/100 and the Silent Generation’s 70/100.

P.F. Flyers Announces Brand Refresh, Expands Into Wholesale Distribution
P.F. Flyer’s partnership with Revolve and the Desert Adventure collection are the starting point of new offerings from the heritage company with plans to roll out more over the next year.

The Buckle Appoints VP of Women’s Merchandising
Stacey Manary has been employed by The Buckle since September 1995 and, most recently, was the retailer’s director of women’s denim merchandising and operations.

The Buckle Comps Down 9.4 Percent in Fiscal March
Net sales for the 2024 fiscal March period decreased 8.0 percent to $104.3 million from net sales of $113.4 million for the prior-year comparative period.

EXEC: Lululemon, Patagonia and Vuori Top Best Brands for Resale Report
Active lifestyle brands dominated the leader board in the latest annual resale report from ThredUp and doubled representation in the report’s Top 20 for Best Brands for Resale.

EXEC: First Quarter Footwear Manufacturing Sees Mixed Results
Long-time Nike manufacturing partner Feng Tay posted a solid 6.5 percent increase for Q1, while footwear shipments at Yue Yuen, one of the biggest makers of athletic and outdoor footwear, saw flat shipments for the quarter.

EXEC: 361 Degrees Posts Strong Double-Digit Q1 Retail Sales Growth
Retail sales performance of the 361° core branded product in offline channels posted high-teens growth compared to the year-ago comparative period, while sales generated via the 361° e-commerce platform increased approximately 20 percent to 25 percent in Q1.

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.