Threadless Acquires Bucketfeet
Threadless, best known for their graphic apparel and accessories, has acquired direct to consumer shoe brand, Bucketfeet.
Report: Under Armour Mulling Category Exits, Kip Fulks Takes Sabbatical
Kip Fulks, a co-founder of Under Armour, will take a sabbatical from the company, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The company is also exploring exiting tennis and other smaller outdoor categories, including outdoor gear and fishing, sources told the Journal.
VF Corp.’s Tops Q3 Targets, Lifts Outlook
VF Corp. again raised its outlook for the year after reporting third-quarter earnings that came in well above Wall Street’s targets. In Outdoor & Action Sports, its largest coalition, revenue increased 8 percent, led by a 28 percent gain by Vans.
Supreme Sells Equity Stake To Carlyle Group
Supreme, the skateboard apparel manufacturer, sold an approximately 50 percent stake in the company to private-equity firm Carlyle Group LP for about $500 million.
NRF: Imports Set A Second Record High
Imports set a second all-time monthly record high this summer as retailers brought in merchandise for the busy holiday season, and are continuing at unusually high levels this month, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released this month by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Hudson’s Bay’s CEO To Step Down
HBC announced that Gerald L. (Jerry) Storch has stepped down as chief executive officer, effective November 1, 2017, to return to his advisory firm, Storch Advisors.
Vibram’s Sole Factor Raises $12,000 For Big City Mountaineers
Vibram said it raised $12,000 via its Sole Factor Program and subsequent summer/fall REI Tour for partner, Big City Mountaineers (BCM).
Under Armour Signs Syrian Swimmer
Under Armour added 19-year old Syrian freestyle and butterfly swimmer Yusra Mardini to its team of international athletes.
Aisle Talk, Week Of October 16
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
NOAA Winter Forecast: Cooler, Wetter North And Warmer, Drier South
Forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released the U.S. Winter Outlook, with La Nina potentially emerging for the second year in a row as the biggest wildcard in how this year’s winter will shape up. La Nina has a 55- to 65-percent chance of developing before winter sets in.
Adidas, Patagonia Achieve Fair Labor Reaccreditation
The programs at Adidas and Patagonia, both long-time Fair Labor Association (FLA) members, were reaccredited for their continued work to build and maintain internal structures that support the highest workplace standards.
Skechers Easily Tops Wall Street’s Q3 Targets
Skechers USA Inc. reported net earnings in the third quarter jumped 41.8 percent on a 16.2 percent revenue gain. The top-line gains were driven by double-digit increases in its company-owned Skechers retail business worldwide and its international subsidiary and joint venture businesses.
Jefferies Sees Curry 4 Becoming Top B-Ball Sneaker This Year
“Our calls, store visits, social media analysis and review of StockX pricing of Curry 4 soft launches (official launch 10/27) points to very strong buzz in the market,” Randal Konik, Jefferies’ lead analyst, wrote in a note to clients.
Goldman Sachs Downgrades Nike Due To Inventory Concerns
Lindsay Drucker Mann wrote in a note that wholesale growth for Nike will be “tougher to come by” with declining traffic and poor productivity at traditional brick and mortar retail partners “driving excess inventory in the system.”
Under Armour First-Ever Subscription Box
ArmourBox is able to provide a high level of customization by tapping into the brand’s unique AI system to help arm its human stylists with initial recommendations based off of the subscriber’s profile, purchase data from UA.com and Under Armour’s Connected Fitness customers.
