SGB Update Footwear

Deloitte Sees 2023 Holiday Spending Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Deloitte is forecasting that holiday spending this year will surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Consumers surveyed for the report plan to spend an average of $1,652 during the shopping season—a 14 percent year-over-year increase, though a modest four-year CAGR of 2.5 percent reflecting a normalization of trends.
Play It Again Sports Parent Posts Q3 Earnings Growth
Winmark Corp., the parent of Play It Again Sports, reported earnings improved 7.5 percent in the third quarter ended September 30, to $11.1 million, or $3.05 a share, from $10.4 million, or $2.93, a year ago.

Retail Sales Grew 3.8 Percent in September; Sporting Goods Trailing Market
The U.S. Census Bureau said overall retail sales in September were up 0.7 percent from August and up 3.8 percent year-over-year. The National Retail Federation (NRF) said the gains have moderated as consumers face continued pressures from the slowed economy.

Academy Sports to Open in Jefferson City
Academy Sports + Outdoors opened a store in Jefferson City, its eleventh location in Missouri, at 739 Stoneridge Parkway.

VF Appoints VP Supply Chain Operations, EMEA
VF Corp. named An Claes as VP of supply chain operations, EMEA. She replaces Stuart Pond, who is now VP of global supply chain platforms.

Signa Sports’ Largest Shareholder Terminates Equity Commitment Letter
Signa Sports United N.V., which in early October announced plans to delist its shares from the NYSE, said it had received a termination notice concerning the unconditional Equity Commitment Letter from Signa Holding GmbH, an affiliate of the company’s largest shareholder Signa International Sports Holding GmbH.
SFIA Launches Super Regionals Series
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association is launching a Super Regional Series in November, offering members, partners and industry leaders the opportunity to come together to discuss business insights and topics driving today’s sporting goods and fitness environment.

Lululemon Athletica to Join S&P 500 Index
Lululemon Athletica will join the S&P 500 index before the stock market opens on October 18.

Asics Names New President and CEO for North America
Koichiro Kodama will return to Asics North America as president and CEO, effective immediately. He was CEO of Asics North America from February 2019 until December 2020. He replaces Richard Sullivan, president and CEO of the North American business since January 2022.

REI Lays Off Nearly 275 Retail Employees
REI Co-op is laying off about 275 retail employees, roughly 2 percent of its in-store workforce, as the retailer implements updates to its store operations system and labor structure.

Consumer Sentiment Slides in October
The University of Michigan’s preliminary Index of Consumer Sentiment for October declined 7.5 percent from month-over-month in September to 63 from 68.1 and below the 67.4 reading that analysts had expected.

Under Armour Hires Gap Inc. Vet as Chief Supply Chain Officer
The company hired retail industry veteran Shawn Curran as chief supply chain officer, reporting to President and CEO Stephanie Linnartz. After three decades working at Gap, Inc., Curran will join Under Armour on October 16.

Decathlon to Open First Store in British Columbia
Decathlon plans to open a flagship store in spring 2024 at Metropolis at Metrotown, marking its first store in British Columbia and its 19th in Canada.

REI To Open Huntington Station Store
The 21,000-square-foot store in the Huntington Shopping Center in Huntington Station, NY will host a grand opening November 3-5. It is REI’s seventh store in the Tri-State area.

Sorel to Open Pop-Up in Brooklyn
The 900-square-foot space is opening from October 13 to 22 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY and will be Sorel’s signature orange color.