Sorel Opens Pop-Up Shops Inside Hudson’s Bay
Hudson’s Bay, the Canadian luxury department store chain, opened three Sorel footwear pop-up shops on September 22 at Hudson’s Bay flagship stores in Vancouver, Montreal and Yorkdale in Toronto.
Bain Forecasts Nominal U.S. Holiday Sales Gain
Bain & Company forecasted nominal U.S. retail sales to slow this holiday season, with the lowest growth rate since 2018. Unadjusted seasonal sales are expected to grow 3.0 percent year-over-year (YoY) in November and December, reaching nearly $915 billion, with 90 percent of the growth coming from non-store (e-commerce and mail-order) sales.
EXEC: UBS Sees Weaker Softgoods Spending Ahead Tied to Student Loan Repayments
UBS, the global financial services firm, reported it expects the consumer spending environment for softgoods in the U.S. to partly deteriorate over the coming months due to the resumption of student loan repayments in October. Inflation concerns and higher interest rates are among other factors expected to impact consumer spending.
Dick’s to Close Nearly All Moosejaw Stores
Moosejaw, the outdoor specialty retailer acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in March, is closing 11 of 14 stores in a realignment of Dick’s outdoor specialty business, including the company’s Public Lands’ store concept. Moosejaw’s headquartered in Madison Heights, MI, is also closing.
PGA Tour Superstore to Open Location in Greater Richmond Area
PGA Tour Superstore reported it plans to open a store in early 2024 in Glen Allen, VA, its first in the greater Richmond market, at Colonnades West, on the corner of Cox Road and West Broad Street.
Survey Finds 92 Percent of Consumers Cut Spending This Year; Apparel Tops Cuts
A recent CNBC-Morning Consult survey found that 92 percent of U.S. adults reduced their spending over the past six months, and the majority expect to remain frugal through the 2023 holiday shopping season.
Nike Rise Store to Open in Birmingham, England
Nike plans to open a Nike Rise concept store in Birmingham, its second to open in the U.K. and the first outside of London, according to Hammerson, the British property development and investment company that owns Bullring.
Gartner Survey Points to Softer Holiday Spending
According to a survey of 302 consumers conducted in June by Gartner, Inc., only nine percent of respondents said they plan to spend more this holiday season than in 2022, with 28 percent saying they will spend less and 63 percent saying they would spend the same.
EXEC: Academy Sports CEO Talks Expansion Strategy Focused on Profitability
Speaking at Wells Fargo’s Sixth Annual Consumer Conference, Academy Sports and Outdoors officials discussed the retail chain’s competitive advantages and how it reworked its expansion strategy while rolling out an aggressive strategy.
Nordstrom Adds Board Member
Nordstrom, Inc. appointed Guy B. Persaud to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Persaud is president of the new business unit at Procter & Gamble.
Shoe Carnival Increases Quarterly Dividend
Shoe Carnival, Inc.’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend payment of 12 cents per share, representing an increase of 20 percent from 10 cents per share.
AGM Names Director of Membership & Education
The Association of Golf Merchandisers appointed Justine Gray as director of membership and education.
JD Sports Posts Double-Digit H1 Growth in N.A. with DTLR, Finish Line, JD and Shoe Palace
U.K.-based JD Sports Fashion reported total revenue of £4.78 billion ($5.91 billion) for the first half of its fiscal year ended July 29, up 8.3 percent year-over-year. JD said organic growth in its North America business was up 15 percent with the three largest segments—Finish Line/JD, DTLR and Shoe Palace—delivering between 13 percent and 17 percent organic sales growth.
Nordstrom Sets Plans for More Rack Locations in Ohio
With the addition of this new location in Mason, OH and a location opening in Macedonia, OH in spring 2024, Nordstrom will operate eight Nordstrom Rack stores and three Nordstrom stores in Ohio. The store is scheduled to open in fall 2024.
Adidas Opens New Fully Automated Distribution Center in China
The fully automated warehousing and distribution center in Suzhou, China, covering an area of 139,000 square meters, is said to “set a new industry standard with its high degree of speed and flexibility in warehousing logistics.”
