
ICSC Sees Holiday Sales Expanding 3.8 Percent
Retail sales are expected to grow 3.8 percent this holiday season, according to ICSC’s 2023 holiday shopping forecast. The agency also forecasted a 7.6 percent increase in F&B, bringing the total expected spend for the season to $1.60 trillion.

REI Again Closing for Two Days for Thanksgiving Holiday
The co-op said it will be paying its 16,000 employees to spend the day outside the day after Thanksgiving, while calling on the broader community to join and help others to do the same.

Costco’s Longtime CEO to Step Down at End of Year
Costco Wholesale Corp. said Craig Jelinek, CEO since 2012, plans to step down, effective January 1, 2024. Ron Vachris, president and COO since February 2022, will succeed Jelinek as president and CEO.
Heiq Appoints New GM for Heiq China
UK-based textile and materials manufacturer Heiq hired Robert Liu as general manager of Heiq China, leading its business operations.

DSW Confirms Chief Merchant to Step Down
Designer Brands, Inc. confirmed that Jim Weinberg, EVP and chief merchandising officer at DSW, is stepping down. He has been chief merchandising officer since February 2019.

Deloitte Sees 2023 Holiday Spending Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Deloitte is forecasting that holiday spending this year will surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Consumers surveyed for the report plan to spend an average of $1,652 during the shopping season—a 14 percent year-over-year increase, though a modest four-year CAGR of 2.5 percent reflecting a normalization of trends.

Kane Footwear x Honey Stinger Collaborate on Recovery Slip-On
Kane Footwear and Honey Stinger collaborate on limited-edition shoe to promote recovery.
Play It Again Sports Parent Posts Q3 Earnings Growth
Winmark Corp., the parent of Play It Again Sports, reported earnings improved 7.5 percent in the third quarter ended September 30, to $11.1 million, or $3.05 a share, from $10.4 million, or $2.93, a year ago.

Retail Sales Grew 3.8 Percent in September; Sporting Goods Trailing Market
The U.S. Census Bureau said overall retail sales in September were up 0.7 percent from August and up 3.8 percent year-over-year. The National Retail Federation (NRF) said the gains have moderated as consumers face continued pressures from the slowed economy.

VF Corp.’s Shares Jump on Activist Investor’s Move
Shares of VF Corp. jumped 14 percent on Tuesday after activist investor Engaged Capital reported that it had built a stake in the owner of Vans and The North Face and planned to push for changes, including steep cost cuts, divestitures of non-core assets and a board overhaul.

EXEC: Adidas Ups Full-Year Guidance on Improved Preliminary Q3 Results
Adidas now expects full-year 2023 currency-neutral revenues to decline at a low-single-digit rate in 2023 compared to its previous forecast of a mid-single-digit decline. An operating loss of around €100 million is now forecast, compared to its previous estimates for a loss of €450 million for the year.

UYN Opens Academy for Research and Engineering
Italy’s Unleash Your Nature (UYN) a Trerè Innovation company, officially opened its 38,000-square-foot Academy for Research and Engineering in Apparel and Sport (AREAS) adjacent to its global headquarters in Asola.

EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Acquires Top Germany Sports Retailer
Frasers Group plc, the parent company of UK-based sports retailer Sports Direct, entered into a binding agreement with Signa Retail Department Store Holding GmbH to acquire SportScheck, one of the top sports retailers in Germany.

Academy Sports to Open in Jefferson City
Academy Sports + Outdoors opened a store in Jefferson City, its eleventh location in Missouri, at 739 Stoneridge Parkway.

VF Appoints VP Supply Chain Operations, EMEA
VF Corp. named An Claes as VP of supply chain operations, EMEA. She replaces Stuart Pond, who is now VP of global supply chain platforms.