March Retail Sales Climb Again as Tax Refunds Offset Rising Gas Prices
Retail sales rose again in March as consumers received higher-than-usual tax refunds that offset higher gasoline prices, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were up 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-over-month and up 6.59 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Vuori Hires Heather Archibald to Newly-Created Chief Product Officer Role
Prior to Vuori, Archibald served in product leadership roles across global brands, including, most recently, as Rothy’s chief product and merchandising officer.
NSGA Sees Growth in 80 Percent of Tracked Sports in Annual Sports Participation Study
NSGA’s 2026 Edition of its Annual Sports Participation Study found 49 sports/activities, or 80 percent of the 61 tracked, showed increases in participation for 2025 compared to the prior year. Flag football, cheerleading, tennis, golf, pickleball, and hiking were among the sports seeing the strongest increases.
March 2026 Mall Index Sees Midday Traffic Shrinking Year-Over-Year
The softness seen in March at indoor and outlet malls does not negate the strong start to 2026, which drove overall year-over-year visit growth in Q1. However, it does highlight what will be required to sustain that momentum going forward.
Nike Returning to Manhattan’s SoHo Neighborhood With Smaller Store
Nike, after exiting its five-story flagship store in Manhattan’s SoHo district earlier this year, announced plans to open a new single-story store in a 40,217-square-foot space, formerly occupied by a Crate & Barrel at 611 Broadway.
Dick’s House of Sport to Open in Sarasota
Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open a House of Sport location in Sarasota, becoming the experiential concept’s fourth location in the state of Florida and the first on the Suncoast.
Nike to Sponsor Professional Lacrosse Leagues
Nike signed on as the Official Apparel Partner for the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL), replacing Champion, who has been the official sideline apparel partner for the PLL since 2021.
Steph Curry, New York Knicks Top NBA Jersey Sales
Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry and the New York Knicks secured the top spots on the NBA’s top-selling jersey and team merchandise lists for the 2025/2026 regular season, based on sales from NBAStore.com, Fanatics.com and Fanatics partner sites.
Gymshark to Open First Miami Gym
U.K.-based activewear brand Gymshark, which opened its first U.S. stores in 2025, will open its first-ever gym, in Miami’s Wynwood district. The new Gymshark Lifting Club is expected to open its doors this summer.
Lululemon Faces Texas State AG Investigation Over Potential Toxic Chemicals
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into Lululemon over the potential presence of toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in its apparel.
EXEC: Anta Brand Delivers HSD China Retail Gain in Q1 for Anta Sports; Fila Up in Low-Teens
Anta Sports Products, Ltd., which operates retail stores in China for the Anta brand, as well as Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, and Amer Sports, reported that retail sales, in retail value, for the Anta brand in the first quarter saw high-single digit positive growth.
EXEC: Nike Faces Downgrade from HSBC
HSBC lowered its rating on Nike Inc. to “Hold” from “Buy” while slashing its price target to $48 from $90, becoming the latest investment firm to downgrade the stock following a recent disappointing forecast. HSBC analyst Akshay Gupta said, “Nike’s turnaround thesis has gone from ‘not if, but when’ to a ‘show me’ story with no short-term catalysts.”
EXEC: Academy’s Chief Merchant Talks ‘Better, Best’ Push, Commitment to Newness
Matt McCabe, EVP and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors, spoke with SGB Executive about the chain’s evolving merchandise strategy, including pushes to feature more premium product, prioritize newness, and reduce out-of-stocks and markdowns. He also shared fresh insights into the Academy shopper.
GoPro Tests Defense and Aerospace Market Opportunities
GoPro, Inc. announced that it will pursue new market opportunities for its technology within the defense and aerospace sector. It has engaged Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm, to explore the space.
Wilson Golf Launches Brand Awareness Campaign in Times Square
Wilson Golf launched its Play Original brand campaign last week at 20 Times Square, on the corner of 47th and 7th in Manhattan, where pedestrian traffic averages roughly 360,000 per day. The campaign will run through April on a wraparound LED facade, one of the largest continuous exterior displays worldwide.
