SGB Update Footwear
Former NSGA Board Chairman Craig Koenig Passes Away
Koenig served on the NSGA Board of Directors from 1985 to 1992 and was Chairman from 1990 to 1991. As the Chairman and CEO of the Cleveland, OH-based family business Koenig Sporting Goods, Koenig oversaw the company’s growth from two stores in the late 1960s to an independent retail chain of 40 stores in the 1990s.
Swiftwick Hires Nike Vet as Sales Manager, Run Specialty
James Osborne, who has worked as a sales and community consultant for the company since earlier this summer, was hired full-time as sales manager for run specialty. He will remain a Co-owner of The Exchange Running Collective.
Hartford Sales Group Celebrates 40 Years as Indie Sales Agency
The company, founded in October 1984 by Larry Hartford, cut its teeth on new brands launching in the market. Hartford started his footwear and apparel sales career ten years prior, representing Tred2, Brooks, Court Casuals and many others in the active outdoor space.
Report: Private Golf Clubs are Vital Contributors to National and Local Economies
The study found that private clubs provided a total payroll of $17.4 billion in 2023, with $14.6 billion in wages and $2.8 billion in payroll taxes and benefits, surpassing large corporations.
Survey: Consumers Expected to Spend $125 Billion Over Thanksgiving Weekend 2024
ICSC said 90 percent of consumers – or 236 million people – plan to shop based on the results from the 2024 Thanksgiving Weekend Intentions survey.
Ugg Celebrates the Holiday Season with “Corner” Pop-Up in Nordstrom NYC
“Ugg at The Corner” features a curated selection of Ugg-branded footwear, outerwear, sportswear, socks, robes, and cold-weather accessories for men, women and kids.
EXEC: Fila USA Continues Downward Spiral as Q3 Revenues Fall 57 Percent Over Two Years
The company said the decline in Q3 was mainly due to the competitive market environment in the sports fashion category caused by “excessive discounting.” The company is now focusing on margin improvement and brand-centric strategies to enhance brand equity.
Dillard’s, Inc. Net Income Falls 21 Percent Year-Over-Year as Sales Dip 4 Percent
The retailer reported that Cosmetics was its strongest-performing merchandise category, with the weakest performances noted in juniors’ and children’s apparel and men’s apparel and accessories.
Nordstrom Rack to Open New Idaho Location in Fall 2025
The 25,000-square-foot store will be located in The Village at Meridian, a shopping center that includes Lego, Evereve, Warby Parker, and Brandy Melville. The Village at Meridian is owned and managed by CenterCal Properties, LLC.
Report: Christmas Gifting Trends and Consumer Insights from YouGov Survey
YouGov data suggests word of mouth remains the best way for companies to make their products the hottest Christmas gift of 2024, with 18- to 34-year-olds twice as likely to get their gift ideas that way versus social media.
REI Co-op Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
The specialty retailer said Abigail Jacobs brings an “impressive background leading marketing for major consumer retailers including Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, and the Pottery Barn brands.”
Caleres Hires Nancy Bitetto as SVP of New York Brands
The parent of Famous Footwear and a portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands said Nancy Bitetto has joined the company as senior vice president of New York brands, which include Franco Sarto, Vince, Veronica Beard and private brand offerings.
Capri Holdings and Tapestry Terminate Merger Agreement
The companies mutually agreed that terminating the merger agreement was in the best interests of both companies as the required closing condition of receiving necessary U.S. regulatory approvals was unlikely to be met by the merger agreement’s outside date of February 10, 2025.
Wolverine Worldwide Opens Boston Innovation Hub for Product and Design Teams
The 11,000-square-foot facility will accommodate employees from the company’s design and product teams, including Saucony product team members in design, development, product management and merchandising.
S&P: Holiday 2024 Sales Growth Will Fall Short of 2023
S&P Global Ratings is forecasting that holiday sales growth will slow to about 3 percent in 2024 from 4.7 percent last year, remaining below the 10-year average of 5.3 percent. The firm said its outlook is influenced by waning, but persistent, inflation that has pressured household budgets.
