SGB Update Apparel
Nike, Inc. Nominates Former Lego CEO for Board Seat
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, former president and chief executive officer of the Lego Group from 2004 to 2016 and current deputy chair of the Lego Foundation, is expected to replace Cathleen Benko, a former Deloitte executive who is retiring from the board.
U.S. Consumer Confidence Worsens in June
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly declined in June, underscoring anxiety about the potential impacts on the economy and job market from higher U.S. import duties. The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 5.4 points to 93.
Wolverine Worldwide Appoints Sales Leader, Work Group
Jim O’Connor previously held executive roles at Timberland Pro, Shoes for Crews and Lands’ End. Wolverine’s Work Group includes Bates, Cat Footwear, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Hytest, Wolverine Boots & Apparel.
VF Corp. Appoints President of Napapijri
Valentina Visconti Prasca, formerly at Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, was appointed president of Napapijri, the Italian brand known for its travel bags and outdoor apparel. VF has owned Napapijri since 2004.
Amazon Expands Same-Store Day Delivery to More Rural Markets
The rural push comes as Amazon’s delivery speed hit record levels in 2023 and 2024, and the number of items Amazon delivered the same or the next day in the U.S. increased over 30 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year.
GSM Outdoors, Pelican Products and Momentec Brands Owner Adds Solo Group to Stable
Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity reached an agreement to acquire Solo Group, a European maker of business-to-business personalized products including apparel, drinkware, bags and luggage, stationery and tech accessories.
Swany America Appoints Director of Marketing and Creative
Adam Weitzel brings nearly a decade of experience in the outdoor industry. He has held key in-house marketing positions at Smartwool and Exxel Outdoors while also creating content campaigns in the agency world
Mechanix Wear Protective Apparel Acquires Kinco to Broaden Portfolio
Kinco manufactures and distributes gloves for farm, outdoor, and industrial use, with an enthusiast following in the ski and snowboard industry. This transaction represents the second add-on acquisition for the Mechanix Wear platform, which previously acquired Chicago Protective Apparel.
Report: Dick’s SG Seeking Orland Park Financial Support for New House of Sports Project
The sporting goods retailer is looking to convert a 200,000-square-foot former Sears anchor space at the Orland Square shopping center, in a Chicago suburb, which has been empty since 2018.
Eastside Golf Expands Into Australia and New Zealand with New Distribution Deal
The brand’s regional debut includes a soft launch of its Core collection. TheFall 2025 collection will be its first full seasonal prebook in the market, supported by a curated group of golf, streetwear and lifestyle retailers.
JD Sports Opens First Canadian Flagship
The Robson Street store is JD’s first exterior street-front location in Canada and features the largest LED display in JD’s Canadian footprint, a DJ booth, and shop-in-shops for Nike, New Balance and Adidas brands.
Dick’s SG Sees Strong Response to Foot Locker Debt Exchange Offer
The retailer reported that 92.5 percent of Foot Locker’s note holders have agreed to exchange their debt for Dick’s notes as part of an early tender offer. The debt swap supports the retailer’s acquisition of Foot Locker.
Nike Board Member Plans to Retire from Board
Cathleen Benko, a former leader in Deloitte’s “Digital Giants” practice, plans to retire as a member of Nike’s Board of Directors, effective as of the company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders.
Fanatics Establishes Operations in the Middle East
The Middle East office in Doha, Qatar will serve as a hub for operations across the Fanatics enterprise and host members from various departments.
Orvis Cites Tariffs in Latest Layoff Talk
The company plans to lay off 4 percent of its workforce, or at least 50 employees, by the end of the year due to the impact of tariffs. Orvis President Simon Perkins said the “Tariffs disrupted our business model in ways we haven’t faced before and have exposed a clear path to solidifying our long-term future.”
