Dick’s SG Signs Multi-Year Partnership With Boston Athletic Association
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported signing a multi-year agreement to be the official retail sponsor of the Boston Marathon and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Distance Medley events ahead of opening a Dick’s House of Sport in spring 2024.

Dillard’s Debt Ratings Upgraded
S&P Global Ratings raised the debt ratings on Dillard’s Inc. as the department store chain has maintained a “stable performance and a conservative financial policy even in the volatile retail operating environment of the past year.”
Marolina Outdoor Adds Industry Veterans To Team
Marolina Outdoor, the parent company of Huk Performance Fishing and Nomad Outdoor, hired Dean Rurak as CEO and Bill Ferreira as senior vice president of sales and merchandising, effective May 1.
Topo Athletic Appoints U.S. Wholesale Sales Director
Topo Athletic hired Ashleigh Cook as sales director of U.S. Wholesale, leading its domestic sales team to grow its network of retailer accounts and independent sales agents.
Yue Yuen Manufacturing Business Falls 21.3 Percent In March
Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, the subsidiary of Pou Chen Corporation that manufactures a large percentage of global athletic and outdoor footwear, reported that its net consolidated operating revenue for March was $696.5 million, a 10.0 percent decline versus the year-ago month.
Anta Sports Saw Solid Q1 China Retail Sales Growth With Fila Up In High Singles
Anta Sports Products Limited reported that retail sales of Anta-branded products posted mid-single-digit growth in the first quarter compared to the year-ago comparable period.
Pou Sheng Retail Sales Surge 29.8 Percent In March
Pou Sheng International (Holdings) Limited, the China-based retail subsidiary of Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited, reported that net consolidated operating revenue for March was RMB 1.73 billion, up 29.8 percent from RMB 1.34 billion in the year-ago comparable month.
Report: U.S. Parents Spend More On Kids Footwear, Less On Themselves
According to Circana (formerly IRI and The NPD Group), parents with kids living in the U.S. spend less on footwear for themselves and more on the category for their children.

Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans Break Sneaker Auction Record
Sotheby’s announced that a pair of red/black Air Jordan 13 sneakers worn by Michael Jordan when he played for the NBA sold at auction for $2.2 million, setting a record price for game-worn sports footwear.
Sun & Ski Sports Opens Salt Lake City Location
Sun & Ski Sports will officially open its 33rd store in Murray, UT, on April 14. Representatives from On, Hoka, Cannondale, Shimano, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, and Haro will attend the grand opening.
Xtep International Sees 20 Percent Retail Sales Growth In First Quarter
The Board of Directors of Xtep International Holdings Limited, which operates retail stores in China for K-Swiss, Palladium, Merrell, and Saucony, in addition to Xtep brand stores, reported that retail sell-through growth in the first quarter, including brick & mortar and online channels, increased approximately 20 percent versus the year-ago comparable period.

Golf Rounds Played Dip In February
Rounds of golf played in February 2023 were down about 3 percent on a national level year-over-year, impacted by storm-related weather activity in California, according to Golf Datatech.
Fanatics Signs Retail Partnership Deal With French Football Federation
Fanatics reported it signed a long-term, omnichannel retail partnership with the French Football Federation to improve its online and in-store shopping experience of the France National Football Team.

Sneaker Prices Reach Highest Levels This Decade
Average sneaker prices in March 2023 rose to record levels in the U.S. by 12.3 percent since 2020 but followed closely by deepening retail discounts, according to the USA Sneaker Market Index compiled by Centric Pricing*.

Authentic Brands Group Signs Agreement To Acquire Quicksilver, Billabong, DC Parent
After months of speculation in the active lifestyle market about a pending deal in the beach/skate lifestyle space, Authentic Brands Group reported it signed an agreement to purchase Boardriders, the parent of Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, RVCA, Element, VonZipper, and Honolua. On March 31, Authentic said it entered a period of exclusivity and made a binding offer to purchase Boardriders.