SGB Update Footwear
The North Face Opens Location at Woodlands Mall
The North Face opened a new store at The Woodlands Mall, marking its eighth store in Texas.
BodyArmor Founder Acquires Majority Stake in Nobull
Mike Repole, the founder of Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, acquired a majority stake in Nobull, the training footwear and apparel brand. Terms were not disclosed.
The Running Event Partners with NSRA to Open TRE to Indie Shoe Retailers
The Running Event (TRE) has partnered with the National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA) to grow TRE’s support of the specialty retail industry.
UPS Returns to Negotiating Table with Union
United Parcel Service said it would return to the bargaining table with a better offer for roughly 340,000 Teamsters-represented U.S. workers before their contract expired on July 31.
SFIA and Running USA Announce Strategic Partnership
The two active lifestyle industry research companies will offer their members reciprocal discounts on reports and collaborate on upcoming new research.
Hotter Shoes Sold to WoolOvers Group in Pre-Packaged Deal
The future of footwear retailer Hotter Shoes is secure, for now, following a sale of the business to the WoolOvers Group.
Canada Ports’ Wage Agreement Rejected, Strike Threat Continues
Canada’s west coast ports’ dockworkers’ union voted against the federal mediator’s “recommended terms of settlement” for the contested collective bargaining agreement, threatening to again shut down British Columbia’s ports.
VF Corp. Names New VP/GM For Vans EMEA Region
VF Corp. promoted Andreas Olsson to VP/GM of Vans EMEA, effective July 17. Olsson had been the VP of sales at Vans for the EMEA region.
Carbitex Founder Returns as President; Outsources Manufacturing to Asia
In a strategic shift in manufacturing operations, Carbitex Founder Junus Khan is stepping back into the role of company president, and the company hired Patrick Sinner to lead brand product development.
Zamberlan USA Hires Director of Operations
Zamberlan USA hired Chris Rischke as director of operations. Most recently, Rischke was VP of operations and wholesale at Erem, the sustainable footwear brand.
Play It Again Sports’ Parent Sees Q2 Profits Improve Sharply
Winmark Corp., the parent of Play It Again Sports, reported earnings improved 14.9 percent in the second quarter ended July 1.
Birkenstock’s Debt Ratings Upgraded on Strong Operating Performance
S&P Global Ratings raised its debt ratings on Birkenstock as the German-based footwear brand’s sales growth of close to 29 percent and S&P Global Ratings-adjusted EBITDA margin of 29 percent in fiscal 2022 outperformed the rating agency’s expectations.
U.S. Trade Activity Rebounds But Global Trend Continues to Weaken
Volume of new orders and invoices exchanged between U.S. buyers and their suppliers grew at 3 points above its expected range in Q2, recovering from a level 6 points below the baseline in the previous two quarters.
Fashion Brand Styched Acquires India Sneaker Startup Flatheads
Styched, an online apparel brand based in India and founded in 2019, acquired Flatheads, a direct-to-customer (DTC) online casual sneaker start-up that gained attention after appearing in season two of Shark Tank India.
South Korean Fashion E-tailer Musinsa Nets $190 Million Funding Round
Musinsa, an online fashion platform in South Korea, raised a $190 million round of Series C funding led by KKR, with participation from Wellington Management.
