Skechers Returns to Super Bowl with KC Coach Andy Reid in Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins
Skechers will appear for the 12th year in 2025, making it a perennial advertiser during the Super Bowl. The brand’s first appearance starred Joe Montana in 2010, and, last year, it featured Mr. T and Tony Romo.
EXEC: Liberated Brands Gets Bankruptcy Court Approval to Access DIP Funds
The former licensing company set up to manage Authentic Brands Group’s collection of action sports lifestyle brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday with $3.3 million in cash on hand and $226 million in debt, according to court filings.
Fleet Feet Franchisees Acquire Flying Feet Sports Shoes in York, PA
With stores in Mechanicsburg and Harrisburg, PA, this marks the third Fleet Feet store location owned and operated by Shelby and Fred Joslyn.
EXEC: Columbia Sportswear Shares Fall on Q4 EPS Miss and Tepid Q1 Forecast
Net sales increased 3 percent to $1.10 billion in the fourth quarter. First quarter net sales are expected to range between $749 million and $764 million, representing a decline of 3 percent to 1 percent from $770 million for the comparable Q1 period in 2024.
EXEC: JD Group Appoints Jared Briskin as CEO of Hibbett
Hibbett was acquired by global active lifestyle retail behemoth JD Group in July 2024. Briskin, who had been serving as EVP of Merchandising at the time of the sale, was promoted to COO after the sale closed and added the President title shortly thereafter.
Fleet Feet Concord Opens in North Carolina
Mark and Kristin Harris’ Concord, NC store, in the Christenbury Village, is the second for them, as they also own a Fleet Feet store in Huntersville, NC.
Superfeet Makes Four Key Strategic Leadership Hires
The manufacturer of performance insoles has promoted Annie Quammen to chief people officer and hired Dan Bailey as chief growth officer, Mike Donnelly as VP of Marketing, Jiewei Fridgen as VP of Operations, and Heather Allerdice-Gerow as head of Digital Product.
Archive Raises $30M Series B Funding to Expand Resale Intelligence Software
Archive said it has launched new partnerships with New Balance, Fjällräven and Dr. Martens, among others, in addition to expanding existing resale programs with The North Face, DVF, Faherty, and M.M.LaFleur.
JCPenney Launches B2B Website for Commercial Bulk Orders
The department store retailer said its new business-to-business website offers current and potential bulk order customers exclusive access to JCPenney’s vast catalog of products across several divisions.
Black Diamond Wilderness Exchange to Host Grand Re-Opening
The store’s renovation has been ongoing since October 2024, during which BDE reportedly invested in much of the related costs. The newly branded Black Diamond Wilderness Exchange store will host a grand reopening from February 8-16, 2025.
Timberland Appoints New Global Creative Director of Marketing
Drew Villani is responsible for bringing the company’s creative vision to life, including brand marketing, art direction, photography, store design, styling, and video production. Villani joined Timberland from Calvin Klein, where he was the senior director of global creative.
EXEC: Liberated Brands Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Liberated Brands LLC, the former licensing arm for Authentic Brands Group’s collection of action sports lifestyle brands, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Caleres Appoints Brian Costello as Chief Merchant at Famous Footwear
Costello was, most recently, the footwear DMM at Nordstrom. He will oversee all buying and merchandising, including women’s, men’s and kids’ athletic and fashion footwear and accessories, for the brand’s U.S. and Canada stores and e-commerce sites.
Berghaus Adapts Program Removes Barriers to Outdoors for Disabled
Through Berghaus Adapts, consumers can request changes to the brand’s clothing and equipment to meet their specific physical needs. The company’s product team, based in North East England, will work directly with them to develop products for use in the outdoors that have otherwise made accessibility unattainable.
Taos Footwear Gets $65 Million Influx, Loans from Investment Firm
Prospect Capital Corp. has provided a first lien senior secured term loan, a first lien senior secured convertible term loan and a preferred equity investment to Taos Footwear Holdings, LLC in collaboration with the company’s founder and leadership team.
