SGB Update Footwear
Pickleball Kingdom to Open Club In Austell, GA
The Austell club, spanning approximately 25,000 square feet, will feature 10 professional-grade indoor courts, with a target opening of winter 2025. Nithi and Usha Anand, franchisees of Pickleball Kingdom, will manage the club.
NFIB: Small Business Optimism Rises For First Time This Year
A gauge of sentiment among small businesses, rose to 98.8 in May from 95.8 in April, bringing the Index back above its long-term average, represented by a reading of 98. The increase ends a four-month streak of weakening sentiment.
Authentic Brands Group Establishes APAC Headquarters in Shanghai
The Shanghai HQ will support Authentic’s growing brand portfolio, including Reebok, Champion, Quiksilver, Billabong, and Sperry, as well as its network of partners across the Greater China region and APAC market.
Yonex Appoints President Of North America Operations
LaNiece Douglas’ hire “will support Yonex’s stepped-up plans to expand in the U.S.” She was VP of and head of U.S. retail for Adidas since 2020.
Adidas, Shoe Palace and Skechers Stores Hit by LA Looters
An Adidas store in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway and Shoe Palace on Main Street, were hit by looters Monday night, June 9, as the civil unrest following days of anti-ICE protests continued overnight.
Orvis to Close Chicago Store
The storefront, located on the Magnificent Mile, will close on July 24, after two decades, “due to the changing retail landscape on the Magnificent Mile.”
Arc’teryx, Atomic, Keen, Vuori, and Gregory Top REI Vendor Partner of the Year Honors
Established in 1993, REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year awards program “honors brand partners that demonstrate remarkable philosophy and partnership with the co-op and that drive impact for the outdoor industry.
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Sees Profits Sink on Comp Sales Decline
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. reported first-quarter earnings and sales that came in below analyst targets. The sporting goods chain widened its guidance for the year to account for potential additional pressure on earnings in the second half tied to inflation.
NRF: Summer Import Cargo Forecast to Surge but Full Year is Expected Down
Ports have not yet reported numbers for May but Global Port Tracker projected the month at down 13.4 percent from April and down 8.1 percent year-over-year. Volume is expected to surge over the summer and then expected to drop sharply for the remainder of 2025, with large year-over-year declines seen partly because imports in late 2024.
Nordstrom Rack Plans to Open Locations in Texas and Georgia
Nordstrom announced plans to open two Nordstrom Rack locations in Flower Mound, TX (30,000 square feet) and Suwanee, GA (34,000 square feet) this fall. Nordstrom operates over 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations.
Dick’s SG Promotes Amanda Bonzo to VP Communications
Dick’s Sporting Goods promoted Amanda Bonzo to VP of communications. She joined Dick’s as senior director of communications in 2020 and took over as communications lead from former chief communications officer Peter Land in 2023.
Survey: What is the Price Increase Cutoff for Consumers to Drop a Purchase?
A recent survey conducted by ESW, compiled in “Impact of Tariffs on Purchasing Decisions,” reveals that 6 in 10 U.S. consumers will not absorb a 10 percent or greater increase in pricing at checkout due to tariffs.
Gearhead Outfitters Closes Store in Kansas
The closing of the Olathe store is part of a “broader strategic review” of the Arkansas-based, family-owned and operated retail company’s overall national footprint. The nearby Overland Park store will remain open.
Manchester United’s Commercial Revenues Expand 7 Percent In Fiscal Q3
The professional football club based in Manchester, England, reported commercial revenue for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31 was £74.7 million ($101 mm), an increase of 7.3 percent over the prior-year quarter.
Dick’s SG Seeks to Make Debt Exchange with Foot Locker as Part of Acquisition Deal
The U.S. retailer of sports equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories, is offering to exchange its debt for Foot Locker’s $400 million outstanding debt as part of its pending acquisition.
