Amazon Warehouse Employee Charged with Stealing $225K Worth of Workboots and Sneakers
Between November 12, 2022 and June 9, 2023, Asraf Mohamed allegedly created 1,838 unique accounts with Zappos.com, an Amazon subsidiary, using the information of new workers through an Amazon program called Zappos at Work. The program was designed to provide employees with a free pair of work boots or sneakers to be worn on the job. The footwear brands stolen included Timberland, Dr. Martens, Wolverine, Carhartt, New Balance, and Brooks.
Former TAG Buying Group Owner Trevor Swangard Passes Away
Trevor Swangard, who was the former president and a co-owner of the Team Athletic Goods (TAG) buying group, passed away on June 27 at age 85.
Consumer Sentiment Inches Up in July; Low Levels of Optimism Persist
The University of Michigan’s preliminary index of consumer sentiment edged up to 61.8 in July from 60.7 in June; however, consumer sentiment has declined by 6.9 percent (4.6 points) compared to the same time last year and is down 16 percent from December.
Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods Extend Antitrust Review Period for Merger
Foot Locker Inc. announced in a regulatory filing that Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. has voluntarily withdrawn its pre-merger notification and report form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act as part of its plans to acquire Foot Locker. The withdrawal, made on July 23, is intended to provide the Federal Trade Commission with additional time to review the proposed transaction.
NRF Sees Resiliency in 2025 BTS Shoppers; Will Spend More on Footwear and Apparel
Katherine Cullen, the National Retail Federation’s VP of industry and consumer insights, and Mark Mathews, its chief economist and executive director of research, who identified that this year’s back-to-school (BTS) consumers are shopping earlier and with discounters to save money due to ongoing tariff and inflationary discussions.
Dick’s House of Sport to Open First Store in California in Fall 2025
With a scheduled opening on October 17, the Glendale, CA store will reportedly feature a rock wall, golf hitting bays and cages for practicing baseball, softball and other sports, as well as an outdoor field and track.
Conquer Padel Inks First Official Padel Franchise Deal in the U.S.
The franchise agreement with the Baker family, who previously operated 24 Planet Fitness locations across the Midwest, includes plans to open 50 Conquer Padel clubs nationwide. The first four locations are slated for the Northeast, with site selection underway by Conquer Padel’s real estate team.
PGA Tour Superstore To Open First St. Louis Location
The new store in Manchester, a suburb of St. Louis, will open on September. The 35,000-square-foot retail location is the company’s first in Missouri.
Astral Expands U.S. Regional Indie Sales Team
“As Astral continues to expand into the broader outdoor market, it becomes more and more crucial to invest in the strength and reach of our on-the-ground sales team,” —Christian Mason, Director, B2B Sales, Astral
ICSC’s Survey Finds Back-To-School Shoppers Seeking Promotions
The 2025 ICSC Back-to-School Consumer Survey found that nine in ten respondents said promotions influence their purchases throughout the season, with 46 percent stating they plan their shopping around specific promotional events, such as Target Circle Week, Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals, or Labor Day sales.
Gymshark Opens Store in Manchester, England
The company opened a store in Manchester, marking its first standalone UK store outside of London. The activewear brand now has five stores with plans to open a store in New York City later this year.
EXEC: Moody’s Sees Tariffs Weighing On Apparel Retail Through First Half Of 2026
Moody’s Ratings, in an update, said that while a pause in some tariffs lessens the profitability hit, it’s maintaining a negative outlook on the Global Retail and Apparel sector, as tariffs are expected to “materially” impact earnings through the first quarter of 2026, with apparel and footwear sellers particularly vulnerable.
EXEC: OrthoLite Founder Glenn Barrett Talks Fresh Opportunities via Coats Group Merger
SGB Executive spoke with Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of insole maker OrthoLite, about the opportunities created for its flagship brand, Ortholite, and Cirql, its upstart featuring biodegradable foam, following its pending merger with London-based Coats Group Plc.
Echelon Fitness Acquires B2B Fitness Streaming Platform
The manufacturer of connected fitness products, has acquired Fortë, a B2B fitness streaming platform that enables gyms, boutique studios, influencers, and sports organizations to launch live and on-demand fitness programs. Fortë will be rebranded to “Elevate by Echelon”.
Vuori Accelerates Global Expansion with New Stores in Asia
Vuori announced an acceleration of its global expansion in Asia with the opening of its first stores in Seoul, Korea, this September under a franchise partnership, followed by another in Beijing, China in October. The California activewear brand has also expanded its digital reach with its e-commerce platform now live in 11 additional countries.
