Puma Establishes New North American Headquarters
As part of its growth, retention and recruitment strategy, Puma North America Inc. announced plans to establish a new North American headquarters in Somerville, MA in 2021. The new headquarters will bring together two Puma offices, currently based in Boston and Westford.
Altra Signs World Champion Obstacle Course Racer And Ultrarunner
Altra signed world champion obstacle course racer Amelia Boone to its Elite Team. Boone has won the Spartan Race World and Toughest Mudder championships.
Sears’ Unsecured Creditors Object To Lampert’s Deal To Save Company
The official committee of unsecured creditors said in a court filing it opposed the sale to chairman Eddie Lampert and asked court permission to file under seal a complaint against ESL for years of misconduct.
Adobe: U.S. Holiday Online Sales Grew 16.5 Percent
AdobeAnalytics reported that $126 billion was spent online this holiday season (November 1 – December 31), an increase of 16.5 percent year-over-year. Smartphones drove half the traffic (51 percent) for the first time ever, accounting for nearly a third (31 percent) of revenue, 34 percent growth year-over-year.
Superdry Appoints Former Nike Executive As Creative Director
Superdry appointed former Nike executive Phil Dickinson as creative director, effective January 22. He will guide Superdry’s product design and brand experience.
Merrell Pledges To The National Park System
Merrell has made a $25,000 pledge to the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.
VF Corp.’s Shares Pop On Blowout Q3
With another blockbuster performance for Vans and an acceleration of growth at The North Face, VF Corp scored its best quarter in two years in its third quarter ended December 31 and again raised its full-year guidance. Shares of VF rose $9.08, or 12.4 percent, to $82.34 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Aisle Talk Week Of January 14
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Foot Locker making a strategic investment in Pensole Footwear Design Academy.
VF Corp Lifts Full-Year Guidance On Vans Gains
VF Corporation raised its guidance for the year after reporting earnings in its third quarter ended December 29 came in well above Wall Street’s consensus estimates. Sales grew 8 percent led by a 25 percent hike in Vans and a 14 percent gain at The North Face.
Skechers Returns To Chevron Houston Marathon
Skechers Performance, a division of Skechers USA, Inc., returns to Houston, Texas on January 20, 2019, for its sixth year as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
Shopko Becomes Latest Casualty Of Online Disruption
Shopko, already weighed down by a heavy debt load due to a leveraged buyout, said competition against the national big box chains and consolidation in the pharmacy industry both played a role in its trip to bankruptcy court. But in an affidavit in Nebraska’s bankruptcy court, Russell Steinhorst, CEO, blamed the retailer’s eroding operating performance largely on the dramatic shifts across retailer in recent years to online selling.
ICR Recap: Which Brands Won Over Investors?
The ICR Conference in Orlando, FL, gave brands across the consumer and retail industries a chance to present their current financial profile and plans for 2019 and beyond. Some companies, like Lululemon (whose presentation wasn’t public), have seen values surge post-conference.
Foot Locker Makes Strategic Investment In Pensole Footwear Design Academy
Foot Locker, Inc. announced that it has made a $2 million strategic investment in Pensole Inc., which operates the Pensole Footwear Design Academy. The investment by Foot Locker, Inc. deepens Foot Locker’s longstanding partnership with Pensole and extends the companies’ relationship across all aspects of the design process.
The Under Armour Association Adds Girls Basketball League Platform
The Under Armour Association (UAA) announced three newly formed grassroots platforms with UAA-Girls, UA Rise and UA Future, encompassing the entire spectrum of grassroots basketball from 17U to 10U for girls.
Running Awards & Apparel Merges With Racetrackers
Running Awards & Apparel has merged with with Racetrackers Enterprises, Inc. formerly of Spencer, IN. The two companies have supplied running events such as 5Ks, 10Ks and marathons among other races, across the U.S. with custom race apparel, race medals, technical running shirts, and more for over 35 years.
