Nike Relaunches ACG with Focus on Outdoor Performance
After years of operating as a sub-brand within Nike’s broader apparel and footwear offerings, ACG is being positioned as a dedicated brand built for trail running, hiking and exploration. The relaunch will be supported by an expanded roster of outdoor ambassadors, new partnerships with trail races and the opening of the first ACG Base Camp in Beijing.
EXEC: Survey Finds the NFL Grades Worse than the USPS in Customer Satisfaction
According to a recent survey conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), NFL fan satisfaction scores came in at 66 on a scale of 0 to 100, finishing lower than every industry in ACSI’s syndicated study, including the U.S. Postal Service (72).
Athleta Digital Chief Joins Claire’s
Claire’s, the U.S. retailer of accessories, jewelry, and toys primarily aimed at tween and teen girls and young women, has hired Michelle Goad, most recently the chief digital officer of Athleta, as its chief brand officer.
Alabama’s Mac Sporting Goods to Close
MAC Sporting Goods (McLendon Athletic Center) in Montgomery, AL, is closing after 57 years. A Facebook post indicated that owners, Billy and Margie McLendon, are retiring. The closing was also confirmed in a post by WSFA 12.
EXEC: Golf Participation Achieves Another Record High in 2025
The National Golf Foundation (NGF) found that on-course participation in 2025 reached its highest level since the Tiger Woods–aided peak era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Overall participation again surpassed record highs, driven by the popularity of tech-driven off-course options.
Skechers to Premiere New Sofia Vergara Commercial Before Super Bowl Kick Off
Skechers has been a perennial advertiser during the Big Game. The brand’s first appearance featured Joe Montana in 2010, and last year it featured Andy Reid, who was also coaching the game.
Blackout BMX Distribution Appoints Sales Manager
Blackout BMX, the parent of Kink Bikes and Cinema and Mission parts brands, has hired industry veteran Scott Towne as sales manager. Blackout BMX also serves as a distributor of Fiend and ProTec.
EXEC: Puma Establishes Separate Business Unit for Training
Puma has created a separate Business Unit for Training at its global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, to sharpen focus on the “important growth category.” The newly created Business Unit Training will be headed by Marwin Hoffmann, who most recently served as the VP of Global Marketing Outdoor at Adidas.
Next Level Apparel’s Debt Downgraded by S&P
S&P Global Ratings lowered the debt ratings of YS Garments, LLC, doing business as Next Level Apparel, after the family-founded blank apparel specialist amended its credit agreement to extend the maturities of its capital structure. The rating agency said there is a “realistic possibility Next Level would experience a default over the near term.”
Adidas Opens First U.S. Soccer-Themed Store
Adidas has opened its first soccer-focused flagship store in the U.S. at American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. The timing aligns with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled for this summer at nearby MetLife Stadium.
Peloton Cuts 11 Percent of Workforce
Peloton Interactive, Inc. has laid off 11 percent of its workforce amid cost-cutting measures, with most of the cuts coming from its engineering teams. Last August, Peloton laid off six percent of its workforce and told investors it would continue layoffs globally in 2026, aiming to cut at least $100 million in annual spending by the end of the fiscal year.
EXEC: KeyBanc Downgrades Crocs, Lowers Price Targets On Nike and On Holding
In an update to its Softlines & Internet Retail stock coverage, KeyBanc Capital Markets downgraded its rating on Crocs due to weaker demand and heightened competition, while trimming its price targets on Nike and On Holdings, largely due to each stock’s recent underperformance.
Valparaiso University Extends Deal with Nike and BSN Sport
Indiana’s Valparaiso University has extended its partnership with Nike through a multi-year agreement, with BSN Sports continuing to serve as the exclusive supplier of Nike uniforms, footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories.
Basketball System Start-Up Secures Investment from UConn’s Geno Auriemma
360 Hoops, a Sanford, FL-based company developing a patented three-in-one basketball system with circular-court gameplay, reported that UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma has become an investor and will serve as a strategic advisor to the company.
Bike Helmet Supplier to Walmart Declines Calls for Recall
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning to consumers to stop using BeePrincess adult bike helmets sold at Walmart, noting that the China-based manufacturer has not agreed to recall the helmets or offer a remedy to consumers.
