Report: Revising Expectations for the Back-to-School Season
Retailers gearing up for back-to-school (BTS) season may have one less week to prepare and plan for the expected surge in families shopping for new sneakers and other footwear this year due to the shift in the retail calendar.
Lotto Launches Pickleball Collection at Dick’s; Adds Pablo Tellez as Brand Ambassador
The new pickleball line, which expands beyond Lotto’s soccer and tennis collections, includes equipment and footwear for both men and women. Tied to the announcement, Major League Pickleball and PPA Tour player Pablo Tellez, was added to Lotto’s roster of over 300 athletes globally.
REI’s Chris Speyer to Join MEC as New Chief Merchandising Officer
Speyer, who has worked as REI Co-op’s CMO for the last seven years, reportedly brings over thirty years of leadership experience in the specialty outdoor retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer businesses.
EXEC: Rossignol Reopens Paris St–Germain Store
Joining a host of other brands freshening or expanding their Paris retail presence for the Summer Olympics, The Rossignol Group has reopened its Paris St–Germain store following a complete renovation.
REI Co-op Appoints SVP, Chief Technology Officer
Guillaume Ledieu succeeds Dan Shull, who will depart REI on July 12 for a new opportunity. Guillaume joined the co-op in 2023 as VP of foundation technology and has already had an incredible impact in his short time working for the company.
EXEC: Anta Sports Sees Fila’s China Retail Sales Growth Slow in Q2
The Fila brand increased in mid-single-digits year-over-year in the second quarter, a moderation from the high-single-digit first quarter trend and the high-teens trend for full year 2023.
EXEC: Footwear Factories See Diverging Trends in June
Yue Yuen’s footwear manufacturing revenue grew 2.9 percent year-over-year in June 2024 while Feng Tay Enterprises reported footwear manufacturing revenues were essentially flat for the month of June, rising just 0.8 percent
Locally Names First Chief Marketing Officer
Karen Sage joins the company as CMO to further fuel Locally’s expansion as it marks a 12-month growth trajectory to over $1.8 billion in retail referral sales.
American Exchange Group Acquires Island Surf Company
Island Surf Company will become a division of White Mountain Footwear, a brand that American Exchange acquired in January 2023. Joe O’Brien will reportedly continue to lead the Island Surf Company brand.
Macy’s, Inc. Appoints New Chief Information Officer
Keith Credendino, who is currently SVP of technology product development, customer experience, will succeed the retiring Laura Miller as CIO, effective August 4, and join the company’s Corporate Strategy Group.
NRF: Inbound Cargo Volume Forecasted to Grow 14.4 Percent for 2024 First Half
Importers are looking at issues including high shipping rates, unresolved port labor negotiations and continuing capacity and congestion issues from the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea.
Target Will Stop Accepting Checks at Checkout
Target announced on Tuesday, July 9, that, as of July 15, it will no longer accept personal checks from customers at the time of checkout. The retailer confirmed its decision with the Associated Press, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who pay by check.
Nordstrom to Open a New Rack Store in Coral Springs, FL
The new Nordstrom Rack in Coral Springs, FL, is expected to open in fall 2025. The 31,000-square-foot store will be located in Pine Ridge Square, a popular shopping center.
EXEC: Tom Peddie Returns to Nike as VP of Marketplace Partners
Executive search firm MacGregor Black noted the reappointment on Tuesday morning on LinkedIn, saying that the “move comes as the iconic sports brand looks to enhance its relationships with existing retailers such as Foot Locker.”
Saucony Releases Redesigned Hurricane 24
The revamped Hurricane 24 boasts a dual cushioning system of PwrRun PB and PwrRun, for the “ultimate” cushioning experience.
