SGB Update Footwear
Study: June Mall Index Finds Mall Visits on the Rise Again in the U.S.
After four straight months of year-over-year visit declines, indoor malls, open-air lifestyle centers and outlet malls saw YoY visits rebound significantly in June 2023.
Dick’s SG Tops Active Lifestyle Chains on 2023 NRF Top 100 Retailers List
Dick’s Sporting Goods, once again, is the largest U.S. retailer with prominent active lifestyle offerings on the National Retail Federation’s annual list of the Top 100 Retailers. Among active lifestyle chains, Dick’s was followed in the top five by Bass Pro, Camping World, Academy Sports, and Foot Locker.
Designer Brands’ Dutch Auction Tender Offer Priced At $10 A Share
Designer Brands, Inc.’s Dutch auction tender offer, which expired on July 7, was priced at $10.00 a share, the upper end of its raised $8.75 to $10.00 range.
DBI Names New President of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse
Designer Brands, Inc. named Laura Denk, president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and EVP of Designer Brands, effective July 24.
Skechers Partners with Pickleball England
Skechers continues to invest heavily in its sponsorship of pickleball events and was recently named the official footwear sponsor of the 2023 English Open and the English Nationals’ pickleball tournaments.
Nike Extends Contract with Inter Milan
Inter Milan announced it extended its contract with kit supplier Nike. The collaboration started in 1998. Nike will continue designing match and training kits for Inter Milan’s men’s, women’s and youth teams, including lifestyle collections.
June UK Indoor Retail Foot Traffic Down as Weather Pushes Shoppers Outside
The British Retail Consortium reported that June retail foot traffic (footfall) was down versus the comp period last year as the hot weather meant that people opted to enjoy the outdoors rather than spend time shopping inside.
Coats Launches New Footwear Division
Coats Group Plc created a new footwear division, Coats Footwear, after acquiring Texon and Rhenoflex in 2022.
NRF Sees Imports Building Toward August Peak Amid Labor Disruptions
The NRF said that despite a tentative contract agreement reached at West Coast ports, retailers are closely following labor disputes at the ports in Western Canada and a potential teamsters strike against United Parcel Service (UPS).
Crocs and Joybees Battle in Court Over Trade Secrets
Crocs filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against Joybees, accusing the company and its chief executive of unfair competition. The filing came a day after Joybees filed claims with the Colorado Court against Crocs.
DeFeet Moves Custom Sales to Inside Team
DeFeet reported that its custom sock sales process had returned to its inside sales team based in Hildebran, NC and that long-time sales reps Brad Mettee and Kerri Willerton were no longer with the company.
U.S. Jobs Growth Continues to Slow
The Labor Department reported Friday that U.S. employers added 209,000 jobs in June for the 30th consecutive month of job gains, but there was also a continued cooling in the labor market. The retail sector was the hardest hit, recording losses of about 11,000 jobs seasonally adjusted.
Lubbock Christian Partners with New Balance and BSN Sports
Lubbock Christian University, located in Lubbock, TX, entered into a partnership and product supply agreement with New Balance through BSN Sports to be the official apparel and uniform provider for its athletics department.
Tennis Racquet Sales at Specialty Stores Slow to Start 2023
Unit sales of tennis racquets in specialty tennis stores dropped by 7 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period a year ago, reported Sports Marketing Surveys USA (SMS). Despite this, the market remains strong compared to the pre-pandemic period.
USC Aiken Partners with Under Armour and BSN
The University of South Carolina Aiken reportedly partnered with Under Armour and BSN Sports to outfit its student-athletes beginning with the 2023/24 season.
