EXEC: Columbia Brand Set to Take Market Share Back in 2025; Q1 Exceeds Outlook
First-quarter net sales and earnings exceeded guidance, driven by late-season demand for winter products and strong early-spring shipments. International markets, which contributed 40 percent of annual sales, performed well, with double-digit growth in the LAAP region and high-single-digit growth in EMEA.
Nordstrom NYC to Host New Balance Pop-Up at The Corner
The corner pop-up will include monthly product drops across shoes, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. Customers can also access limited-edition collaborations and customization opportunities available only in-store.
Stio Promotes Four Employees, Hires an Associate Creative Director
The company has promoted Sarah Raff to VP of operations, Liz Barrett to senior director of brand marketing, Stirling Cobb to product marketing director, and Chris Ragusa to director of customer experience. John Brown joins Stio as an associate creative director.
Foot Solutions x Pickleball Pro Ben Johns Create Custom Orthodic for Pickleball Play
The product is a result of several months of testing and revisions with Johns working alongside Foot Solutions experts. The result is a 3D printed custom orthotic for customers at the store level.
Report: Sports & Fitness Manufacturers’ Sales Growth Moderated in 2024
SFIA’s latest report found that some key categories, including martial arts gear, tennis balls, pickleball racquets and outdoor/adventure footwear, delivered double-digit growth in 2024 while sales across various categories remained far above pre-pandemic levels.
EXEC: Authentic Inks New ANZ Licensing Partner for Former Boardriders Brands
Authentic said the move secures the future of over 200 branded retail stores, wholesale and e-commerce platforms, and ongoing success for Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element, VonZipper, Spyder, and Volcom.
EXEC: Gymshark to Restructure, Causing Hundreds of Position Cuts and Adds
After reporting that earnings in its latest year had declined due to omnichannel investments and is facing “intense macro-economic volatility” in the marketplace, Gymshark reported it is restructuring the company.
Report: More U.S. Consumers Will Abandon Shoe Purchases Based on Price
The new Spring 2025 U.S. Footwear Consumer Survey from AlixPartners and the FDRA found that consumers are more likely to abandon a purchase due to cost, with 78 percent of respondents in its latest survey stating they halted a purchase due to price, up 12 percentage points from 2024.
Liberated Brands Europe Acquired by OneTurn S.A.S.
OneTurn S.A.S., a company newly formed by members of Liberated’s leadership team — CEO Joost Grootswagers and COO Antoine Lanusse — will continue to “preserve and grow the business independently.”
Coleman, Marmot Parent Sees Q1 Outdoor & Rec Segment Slide 9.1 Percent
Newell Brands, the parent company of Marmot, Ex Officio, Stearns, Bubba, Coleman, and Contigo, among others, reported that its Outdoor & Recreation segment suffered another sales decline in the first quarter, although profitability improved.
Report: Decathlon Plans Sale of 30 Percent Stake in China Business
The potential sales comes as Decathlon announced in March that Javier López, who had previously led Decathlon’s value chain, was appointed CEO, replacing Barbara Martin Coppola who had served in the role since March 2022.
EXEC: Adidas CEO Clarifies U.S. Pricing Position; Will Wait for Competitors’ Moves
On Adidas’ first-quarter analyst call, Bjørn Gulden CEO, said Adidas hasn’t yet raised prices on U.S. products due to the U.S. tariffs but expects to should the tariffs remain and only after other brands raise prices. He said, “I have seen that certain press is writing that Adidas is raising prices. That is, of course, not true.”
U.S. Consumer Confidence Sinks to Near Five-Year Low
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 86 on the month, down 7.9 points from its prior reading and below the Dow Jones estimate of 87.7. It was the lowest reading since May 2020.
EXEC: Big 5 CEO Expects Little Near-Term Tariff Impact Due to Early Q2 Receipts
Second quarter-to-date sales are reportedly down in the high-single-digit range, in part reflecting an approximate negative 400 basis point impact from one less sales day in the period-to-date due to the Easter calendar shift.
EXEC: Rocky Brands CEO Sees Tariff-Based Price Increases Coming in June
The Xtratuf brand continues its recent momentum and delivered another exceptional quarter with double-digit growth in Q1, with the most popular new spring styles being the women’s duck camo and ivory colored ankle deck boots.
