SGB Update Apparel
Lululemon Appoints Former Unilever Exec to Board
Lululemon Athletica Inc. appointed Esi Eggleston Bracey, a former marketing executive at Unilever PLC, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. With Bracey joining the Board, the company will have appointed six new independent directors in the last five years as part of the Board’s “commitment to continued refreshment.”
REI Workers in San Diego File to Unionize
Employees at San Diego’s REI store have filed to unionize, REI Union announced Monday, April 27, with the aim of joining United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 135, the largest private-sector union in the region.
Resale Platform Vinted Earns $8 Billion Valuation in Funding Round
Lithuanian secondhand marketplace Vinted hit an €8 billion valuation on Monday following a secondary sale worth €880 million, led by EQT, alongside Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG) and Schroders Capital. Vinted became Lithuania’s first unicorn (a company worth more than $1 billion).
New Era Cap Shuffles Leadership Roles as Jim Patterson and Steve Gallo Depart
New Era Cap LLC promoted Bruce Popko, SVP global licensing & business development at New Era, to president and Lorenz Gan, chief digital & information officer, to chief operating officer. Jim Patterson, president, and Steve Gallo, GM of North America, have departed, effective April 27.
Univ of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Drops to Record Low in April
U.S. consumer sentiment fell to a record low in April due to inflationary concerns tied to the Middle East conflict, according to the latest University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey.
Rural King Celebrates Grand Opening of 150th Store
In addition to farm, ranch and home provisions, the stores also boast a wide range of outdoor lifestyle and work brands, including Ariat, Browning, Carhartt, Columbia, Dickies, Henry Rifles, Hornady, Huk Apparel, Igloo, Intex, Plano, Realtree, Remington, Smith & Wesson, and Wrangler.
U.S. Trade Rep to Hold Section 301 Tariff Hearings This Week
The hearings on April 28 and April 29 will take place in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, at 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC, starting at 10:00 am ET.
New Era to Open New York City Flagship
Located at the corner of Houston and Lafayette Streets in New York City’s SoHo shopping district, the flagship is set to open on April 27. This will be New Era’s only standalone store in the U.S., aside from one connected to the company’s global headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y.
Nike Inc. Plans 1,400 Layoffs in Latest Round of Cuts
Chief Operating Officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy said the cuts will primarily affect Nike’s technology division and span North America, Asia and Europe, representing just under 2 percent of the company’s global workforce.
L Catterton and Patricof Co Form “Champ” — New Athlete Ownership Model
CHAMP is an athlete ownership model in which athletes participate directly alongside L Catterton and Patricof Co as co-owners of portfolio companies.
Lululemon Taps Former Nike Senior Exec Heidi O’Neill as New CEO
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear, and sport, “with a strong track record of driving disruptive change and growth at scale through product innovation, digital transformation, and powerful brand connection,” according to Lululemon.
Piper Sandler’s Taking Stock With Teens Becomes an Annual Event
Piper Sandler’s semi-annual Taking Stock with Teens Survey, which marked its 25th year in 2025, is shifting to a once-a-year format.
Report: BSN Sports-Parent Varsity Brands to Acquire Soccer.com and Lax.com
Varsity Brands, Inc., the parent of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, is in talks to acquire Sports Endeavors, the operator of Soccer.com, and lacrosse retailer Lax.com in separate deals, sources told Sportico.
Report: March Retail Sales Grew 3.3 Percent as Easter Shift Aids Q1 Numbers
Circana said March retail results were influenced in part by calendar effects, as the Easter shopping period shifted into the first quarter this year, creating challenging year-over-year comparisons.
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Promotes Chelsea Flynn to Senior Director of Events
Flynn has worked at Grassroots Outdoor Alliance since May 2023, previously as director of events. Her promotion is said to acknowledge her continued growth and oversight of the organization’s events and event team.
