SGB Update Footwear
Tilly’s Inc. Names Nate Smith as New President and CEO
Smith has served as CEO of Marolina Outdoor, Inc. since September 2024. Previously, he was at Boardriders, Inc. as president, Americas. Prior to Boardriders, Smith served as VP/GM, North American Wholesale at Oakley, Inc. and as VP, Oakley Defense. He has also served in executive roles at Ipath Footwear, MV Transportation, Inc. and Patagonia, Inc., following his eight years of service in the United States Navy.
Columbia Sportswear Sues Columbia University
The University and the sportswear company tackled the problem in 2023, Columbia Sportswear said, when it signed an agreement that allowed the University to sell Columbia-emblazoned gear, as long as it also featured some of the University’s indicia (symbols that indicate the school alone), which include a shield, a crown, a “C” design, or Columbia’s lion mascot.
Parent of Oboz and Rip Curl Appoints CFO
KMD Brands, Ltd. appointed Carla Webb-Sear as chief financial officer. She joins the company from Qantas, where she served as chief financial and strategy officer of its Loyalty Division. Webb-Sear will be based at the Group’s global headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.
Polygiene’s Loss Widens in Q2, Blames U.S. Tariffs
Sales in the quarter ended June 30 amounted to SEK 31.9 million ($3.4 mm), down 12.2 percent from SEK 36.4 million a year ago. The loss was SEK 3.13 million, compared to a loss of SEK 1.37 million a year ago.
Scheels to Open Location in Blaine, Minnesota
Scheels announced plans to open a 250,000-square-foot store in Blaine, MN, in spring 2028. The location will be the company’s second location in the Twin Cities metro, joining Eden Prairie, and sixth in the state.
Rouvy Acquires Bkrool Indoor Cycling Platform
Czech-based indoor cycling platform Rouvy reached an agreement to acquire Spain-based competitor Bkrool. The acquisition will support Rouvy’s expansion with Bkrool having a strong presence in Spain (and Spanish-speaking countries), France and Denmark. Bkrool will continue as a standalone brand within The Rouvy Group.
Deckers Brands Nominates Former Starbucks and Hyatt CFO to Board
Grismer brings over 35 years of financial leadership experience at major global consumer companies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Krispy Kreme and has recently served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Panera Brands.
Arc’teryx to Open New Vancouver Flagship Store
Spanning 6,430 square feet, the new store is situated at 1001 Robson Street, previously occupied by a Roots store at the corner of Burrard and Robson streets. The store will open on July 26, replacing Arc’teryx’s flagship at 813 Burrard Street.
Amazon Warehouse Employee Charged with Stealing $225K Worth of Workboots and Sneakers
Between November 12, 2022 and June 9, 2023, Asraf Mohamed allegedly created 1,838 unique accounts with Zappos.com, an Amazon subsidiary, using the information of new workers through an Amazon program called Zappos at Work. The program was designed to provide employees with a free pair of work boots or sneakers to be worn on the job. The footwear brands stolen included Timberland, Dr. Martens, Wolverine, Carhartt, New Balance, and Brooks.
World Surf League Appoints New Chief Revenue Officer
Nicole Metzger most recently served as the chief sales and partnerships officer for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Before that she served as the chief revenue officer at JMI Sports/Clemson University, where she expanded multimedia rights and launched the Clemson Campus Digital Network.
Consumer Sentiment Inches Up in July; Low Levels of Optimism Persist
The University of Michigan’s preliminary index of consumer sentiment edged up to 61.8 in July from 60.7 in June; however, consumer sentiment has declined by 6.9 percent (4.6 points) compared to the same time last year and is down 16 percent from December.
Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods Extend Antitrust Review Period for Merger
Foot Locker Inc. announced in a regulatory filing that Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. has voluntarily withdrawn its pre-merger notification and report form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act as part of its plans to acquire Foot Locker. The withdrawal, made on July 23, is intended to provide the Federal Trade Commission with additional time to review the proposed transaction.
REI Sets Opening for Durango, Colorado Store
The 22,000-square-foot space will be the retail chain’s 11th store in Colorado. The store will open on July 25 for a soft opening, with an official opening on August 22.
Dick’s House of Sport to Open First Store in California in Fall 2025
With a scheduled opening on October 17, the Glendale, CA store will reportedly feature a rock wall, golf hitting bays and cages for practicing baseball, softball and other sports, as well as an outdoor field and track.
Nordstrom Rack to Open Five New Stores Across Five States in 2026
Nordstrom plans to open five Nordstrom Rack locations in 2026 in Mansfield, MA; Canton, OH; Williamsburg, VA; Elmwood, LA; and Deptford, NJ.
