SGB Update Apparel

Nike Ends Sponsorship of Hockey Canada

Nike ended its sponsorship of Hockey Canada. Last year, Nike was one of several major partners that paused its sponsorship deal with Canada’s governing hockey body amid heavy criticism of the organization’s handling of sexual assault allegations involving members of its 2018 World Junior team and settlement payouts.

Ross Stores Opens 27 New Stores in July

Ross Stores opened 18 Ross Dress for Less and nine DD’s Discounts stores across 14 states in June and July as part of the company’s plan to add approximately 100 new stores—75 Ross and 25 DD’s Discounts—during fiscal 2023.

Journeys Launches Second-Hand Resale Program

Journeys launched Journeys Second-Hand, an apparel resale program where customers can shop secondhand apparel through the company’s website and resell their worn clothing for a Journeys shopping credit.

Canada Ports Strike to End After Tentative Deal Is Reached

A 13-day-old strike that disrupted shipments at Canada’s western ports, including the Port of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, is scheduled to end after the dockworkers’ union and a group of employers agree on a tentative deal.

Report: Footwear Retailers Top Retail Foot Traffic Gains Since 2020

Shoe store visits quickly bounced back following the first days of the pandemic when restrictions all but sidelined retail foot traffic and Nike, WSS and Boot Barn look to be well positioned for continued growth for back-to-school based on a report from Placer.ai.

REI Honors Vendor Partner of the Year, Gives Divisional Awards to Four Brands

REI Co-op honored On with its 2023 Vendor Partner of the Year award. The retailer said, “that by marrying style, comfort and functional performance, On continues to bring compelling, functional innovation to REI and attracts customers of all ages and backgrounds to running and hiking season after season.”

FESI Responds to European Parliament Proposal on Sustainable Product Regulation

The Federation of European Sporting Goods Industry said this week that it commends the Parliament’s efforts in recognizing the trade-offs involved in establishing eco-design requirements, a crucial step toward advancing sustainability and environmental responsibility within the sporting goods industry.

British Sneaker Brand Arne Expands to U.S.

Arne, the sneaker and casual apparel brand based in the U.K., announced its expansion into the U.S. market. Plans include flagship stores in New York and Los Angeles and pop-up shops in to-be-announced locations.

NRF: Back-To-School Shopping Expected to Reach Record Levels

Back-to-school spending is expected to climb 12.4 percent while back-to-college shopping will increase about 27 percent this year as both tiers reach recording spending levels, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Authentic Brands Group Names Chief Financial Officer

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) named Kevin Wills as chief financial officer. Wills is based in the company’s New York headquarters and reports to Founder, Chairman and CEO Jamie Salter.