SGB Update Footwear
Fleet Feet Appoints Jason Jabaut President, Expands Exec Team
Fleet Feet officially named Jason Jabaut, a 20-year veteran of the running store franchisor, as president while also announcing several promotions and new hires within tech areas to build out its leadership team. As president, Jabaut will lead marketing & digital, vendor management and franchise operations.
ICSC Survey Sees Consumers Focusing on Value and Experiences this Holiday Season
The trade association human experience remains a core part of holiday shopping, and retailers that transform a simple errand into an outing or a memory are most likely to capture consumer dollars this season and beyond. Growth in sales is forecast between 4.3 percent and 4.9 percent this year.
Nike Canada GM Takes Japan VP/GM Role
Nike Inc. has appointed Michael Hunter, former general manager (GM) of Nike Canada, as VP and GM, Nike Japan
Delaware’s Al’s Sporting Goods to Close
Al’s Sporting Goods in downtown Wilmington, DE, will close in December after 91 years in business. Owner Bob Hart is retiring.
Stoke Shoes Taps Former Deckers Brands CEO as Advisor and Investor
Dave Powers, former president and CEO of Deckers Brands, has joined the company as an advisor and investor. Stoke Shoes was launched this past spring by footwear industry veterans Rick Blackshaw and Ian Stewart.
L.L.Bean to Open Ann Arbor Store in Mid-October
L.L.Bean is scheduled to open a new 20,000-square-foot store at the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor on October 16. The location is the second L.L.Bean physical retail location in Michigan, following the store at The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township.
Nike’s Debt Ratings Downgrades on “Protracted” Turnaround, Cash Flow Declines
S&P Global Ratings lowered its debt ratings on Nike because its business turnaround is now expected to take “significantly longer” than the rating agency’s forecast, resulting in “sharply lower” revenue, profit, and cash flows over the next 24 months than previously assumed.
Nike’s Fiscal Q1 Sales Miss Street Targets; Guidance is Well Below Expectations
Earnings topped analysts’ expectations in the fiscal first quarter ended August 31, but sales missed and the company provided earnings and sales guidance for the year that were significantly below analyst targets.
Running Lab Eyes Farmington, Michigan for Second Store
Running Lab, which operates a running store in Brighton, Michigan, plans to open its second location nearby in downtown Farmington in February 2027.
Nike Appoints Director, EMEA Marketplace Strategy
Nike Inc. promoted Alika Nileshwar to director, EMEA marketplace strategy, unifying the strategic direction for both direct-to-consumer operations and wholesale partner sales under one position. She will focus on long-term planning, channel distinction and growth opportunities across the region.
Skechers’ Long-Time CFO John Vandemore Joins Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. appointed John Vandemore, who has served as chief financial officer for the past nine years at Skechers U.S.A., Inc., as EVP and CFO, effective November 1.
MEC Testing New Retail Format this Fall with New Whistler Village Location
The new store in Whistler Village is set to open this fall. The store is said to represent the retailer’s 25th location in its home country of Canada and its first in the Sea to Sky corridor. The company said the opening builds on a year of continued investment and innovation across the business.
Rothy’s Names Jenna Renfrew as Chief Product and Merchandising Officer
The San Francisco-based sustainable footwear brand appointed Jenna Renfrew, most recently VP of women’s apparel merchandising and design collaborations at Target, as chief product and merchandising officer.
Tracksmith Taps Converse Vet as Chief Product and Merchandising Officer
The Boston-based running brand named Jon Tappan, formerly at Converse, as chief product and merchandising officer to particularly advance its footwear offerings.
Salomon Appoints Two Field Sales Managers to Expand U.S. Coverage
Jason Lewis is covering accounts in the West with Snowden & Co., Yukon Trading Co., Cordillera, and KSI, and Bertrand is covering accounts in the East with High Plains Outdoor Group, TJM, Podium, USA, and Vert Outdoors.
