L.L.Bean Pledges $1 Million For Parks
L.L.Bean announced the company’s partnership with The Trust for Public Land with a $1 million investment to help connect more people to nature.
College Basketball Scandal Spreads
In opening statements in the first trial tied to the FBI’s investigation into corruption throughout college basketball, a lawyer representing James Gatto, Adidas’ former director of global sports marketing, asserted that her client’s payments to the families of top high school basketball recruits were only made to compete with similar payments being made by Nike and Under Armour.
Foot Locker Partners With Fred Jordan Missions
Foot Locker Inc. has again partnered with the Fred Jordan Missions to provide thousands of under-priviledged children in the Los Angeles area with free athletic shoes.
AAFA Lists Certain Amazon Marketplaces in Notorious Markets Submission to USTR
The American Apparel & Footwear Association included certain Amazon marketplaces in the company’s submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) identifying foreign markets that facilitate the sale of counterfeits.
College Hoops Corruption Trial Gets Under Way
The first trial tied to the FBI’s investigation into corruption throughout college basketball started on Tuesday. A lawyer representing James Gatto, Adidas’ former director of global sports marketing, asserted that her client’s payments to the families of top high school basketball players violated NCAA rules, but those rules “are not the laws of this country.”
Jordan Brand To Open Flight 23 Flagship In Downtown Los Angeles
Jordan Brand announced that the company will open a massive Flight 23 flagship in Downtown Los Angeles on October 20.
Under Armour Signs Lumen Christi
Under Armour signed on to become the provider of uniforms and other athletic merchandise to Lumen Christi Catholic School, based in Jackson, MI.
Two Former Nike Executives Join Forces To Form CO-Lab.
Nike alums Keith Crawford and David Odusanya have launched CO-Lab., a creative agency focused on design strategy for companies, from brand and product development to the consumer experience.
Relief Over Recast NAFTA Deal
With fears over the arrangement being scrapped entirely, relief arrived after the U.S., and Canada came to a last-minute agreement on a revised trade deal that could replace NAFTA. While the dairy and auto industries will face some changes, the impact on the apparel and footwear sectors appears negligible.
JC Penney Names Jill Soltau CEO
J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s board of directors on Tuesday announced the appointment of Jill Soltau as CEO and a member of the board of directors, effective Oct. 15. Soltau is a 30-year retail veteran who most recently served as president and CEO of JOANN Stores, the nation’s largest fabric and crafts retailer, after serving as president of Shopko Stores.
Smartwool Welcomes New Canadian Sales Manager
Smartwool announced Tuesday the company has hired Josh Novis as its Canadian sales manager, a new position created to allow Smartwool to better serve the company’s customers in Canada.
Timberland Opens Experiential Pop-Up In NYC
Timberland opened the doors to the company’s first experiential pop-up store on New York’s famed Fifth Avenue, at 43rd Street. The concept store reflects the brand’s 45-year heritage through the lens of nature–living trees, natural earth terrariums, an over-sized living green wall–and experiential weather moments to inspire the community to embrace the outdoors in the city.
Puma Appoints Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Puma has reinforced the company’s corporate communications team by appointing Robert-Jan Bartunek as senior manager corporate communications. In this position, Bartunek will report to Puma’s senior head of communications Kerstin Neuber.
SGB Executive Q&A: Hibbett Execs Discuss Latest Digital Initiative
The leadership team at Hibbett Sporting Goods Inc. readily acknowledges that the Birmingham, AL-based retailer has been behind the curve on digital capabilities, but Monday’s launch of new online features—Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) and Reserve Online, Pick Up in Store (ROPIS)—is another step in Hibbett’s plan to close the gap on its competitors.
FFANY And Informa Announce Collaboration To Support Footwear Industry Growth
The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), the non-profit organization that leads FFANY Market Weeks in New York and the organization’s NY Shoe Expo Tradeshows, and Informa PLC, organizer of FN Platform, MAGIC, Coterie and PROJECT, announced a joint collaboration to promote the development and growth of the footwear industry in the United States.
