SGB Update Footwear

Foot Locker’s Q4 Tops Wall Street Targets, Sets Long-Term Growth Plan

Foot Locker, Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings below year-ago levels, but sales and earnings were ahead of Wall Street estimates. The sneaker retailing giant forecasted same-store sales would fall 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent; however, today, during its Investor Day conference, Foot Locker said it would outline a new long-term growth strategy that calls for same-store growth between 3 percent to 4 percent from fiscal years 2024 through 2026 and significantly higher EPS growth.

REI Names Chief Merchant, Chief People Officer, Co-Op Brands VP

REI Co-op hired Apple Musni as chief people officer, effective March 20. The company also promoted Chris Speyer to senior vice president and chief merchandising officer and Isabelle Portilla to vice president, Co-op Brands, effective immediately.

Start 2 Finish Acquires Fleet Feet Race Productions

Start 2 Finish Event Management, with offices in Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; and Memphis, TN, reported it had acquired the Race Productions division of Fleet Feet St. Louis to expand its reach in the Midwest and further establish itself in the event management industry.

Wolverine Worldwide Announces New Board Chairman And Directors

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. reported today that its Chairman and retired CEO, Blake Krueger, will retire from the Board on May 4. Tom Long, the Board’s lead independent director, will assume the role of Chairman on May 4. The company also elected three new board members—Stacia Andersen, Jodi Bricker and DeMonty Price.

Shoe Carnival Names New CFO

Shoe Carnival, Inc. hired Erik Gast as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective April 24. He replaces Kerry Jackson who is retiring after a 35-year career with the family footwear chain.

Academy Sports Q4 Earnings Fly Past Wall Street Targets

Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. reported earnings on an adjusted basis increased 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter ended January 28 as lower freight costs and overall operating expenses offset a 5.1 percent decline in same-store sales. EPS easily topped analysts’ consensus estimates while sales were below. 

DSW’s Parent Sees Q4 Comp Decline 5.5 Percent

Designer Brands, Inc., the parent of DSW, reported earnings on an adjusted basis declined 60 percent in the fourth quarter ended January 28 as same-store sales dropped 5.5 percent. Earnings still came ahead of analyst estimates and earnings and sales showed strong improvement overall in 2022.

Pou Sheng International Appoints CEO

The Pou Sheng International (Holdings) Limited board of directors re-designated Wang Jun, the acting CEO, as CEO effective March 15.

Marriott Appoints Dick’s CEO To Board Seat

Marriott International, Inc. elected Lauren Hobart, president and chief executive officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods and Grant F. Reid, former president and chief executive officer of Mars, as independent directors.

Sporting Goods Retail Industry Icon Jim Chick Passes Away

The National Sporting Goods Association shared that former NSGA board member and board chair, Jim Chick, passed away. Chick was president & CEO of Chick’s Sporting Goods, headquartered in Covina, CA, for nearly 40 years. He was a member of the NSGA board of directors from 1985 to 1994 and was the board chairman in 1992.