SGB Update Apparel
Lululemon and Fabletics Sued by Customers Seeking Refunds of Tariff Costs
Lululemon Athletica and Fabletics are facing proposed class action lawsuits from consumers demanding the company refund them for tariff costs they say it passed on to them. The activewear retailers join FedEx, Costco, and several others so far as targets of proposed class actions calling for tariff refunds for consumers.
Amazon to Add Fulfillment Surcharge to Third-Party Sellers as Fuel Costs Surge
Amazon is adding a 3.5 percent fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers in the U.S. and Canada amid a spike in energy prices due to the war in Iran. Amazon said it will “continue to evaluate this surcharge as conditions evolve.”
Saks Global Secures Funding to Emerge from Bankruptcy This Summer
Saks Global entered into a restructuring support agreement with bondholders who will provide $500 million in exit financing to support plans to exit bankruptcy proceedings this summer. The luxury retailer’s announcement also said its inventory has improved after more than 650 of its brand partners resumed shipping, which has helped lift customer engagement.
Report: March Economic Activity in U.S. Manufacturing Sector Expands for Third Consecutive Month
The Manufacturing PMI registered 52.7 percent in March, a 30 basis-point increase compared to the reading of 52.4 percent in February, according to the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee that produces the monthly ISM Manufacturing PMI Report.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Inches Up Again in March
The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index improved slightly for the second straight month, with an improved outlook on the present outweighing consumers’ pessimism about the near future. The weight of rising costs due to tariff passthrough and spiking oil prices was evident in other survey measures, such as inflation expectations.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Hires Sam’s Club Exec as Chief Merchant
BJ’s Wholesale Club named Stephanie Reibling, formerly SVP, general merchandise manager at Sam’s Club, as EVP, chief merchandising officer, reporting to Paul Cichocki, the EVP and chief commercial officer.
Canadian Outdoor Retailer Sail Acquired in Management-Led Buyout
Canadian outdoor retailer Sail announced that it has been acquired by three members of its leadership team: Isabelle Lemay, president and chief executive officer; Stefania Cella, vice president and chief financial officer; and Catherine Venne, vice president of marketing.
Lands’ End Completes Formation of Joint Venture with WHP Global
Lands’ End, Inc. and WHP Global, a brand management firm, have created a joint venture. Pursuant to the transaction agreement, Lands’ End contributed all of its intellectual property and related assets to the joint venture and received $300 million in cash from WHP Global in exchange for a 50 percent controlling interest in the JV.
Wacoal Acquires Plus-Size Bra Specialist Glamorise
Wacoal International Corporation, the parent of the CW-X performance apparel brand, agreed to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Glamorise Foundations, Inc., a maker of plus-size bras and lingerie.
Reju Secures €135 million in Funding
French materials recycling company Reju, led by former Under Armour CEO Patrik Frisk, has been awarded €135 million ($156mm) in funding under the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) program.
Hilfiger and Calvin Klein Parent PVH Corp. Beats Q4 Guidance on Non-GAAP Basis
In the fourth quarter, PVH beat its guidance across revenue, operating margin and EPS on a non-GAAP basis. For the full year, in the context of a challenging global macro-economic environment, the company reportedly “returned to modest revenue growth, in line with guidance, and delivered non-GAAP operating margins above guidance.”
Nike’s Q3 EPS Tops Analyst Targets, NA Region Delivers 3 Percent Growth
The company reported earnings declined 35 percent in the fiscal third quarter ended February 28, but topped analyst targets. Sales were down 3 percent on a currency-neutral basis, as declines of 7 percent in EMEA and 10 percent in China offset a 3 percent gain in North America. Converse sales slumped 35 percent.
Sportsman’s Warehouse Logs Q4 Loss, Sales Slide 1.6 Percent
The retailers reported a loss in the fourth quarter due to an impairment charge to close stores and lower operating earnings excluding the charge. Sales in the quarter declined 1.6 percent, as gains in the hunt and fish categories offset declines in other categories, driven, in part, by the promotional climate.
SFIA Report: U.S. Sporting Goods Wholesale Sales Reach $130BN Milestone
The U.S. sporting goods industry reached a new milestone in 2025, with wholesale sales totaling $130 billion, a 3.7 percent year-over-year increase, according to the 2026 Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). Since 2020, wholesale sales have grown 34.7 percent.
Goat Group Launches Sneakers.com
Goat Group, Inc. launched a new platform, Sneakers.com, to “mark a strategic expansion beyond its re-seller platforms, focusing on collectors and premium consumers.”
