SGB Update Footwear
Report: Nordstrom Sees Interest from Sycamore Partners in Take Private Effort
Nordstrom, Inc., in its efforts to take the company private, reportedly received interest from buyout equity firm Sycamore Partners, according to early reporting from Reuters, citing “people familiar with the matter.”
Brooks Running Posts Record First Quarter as Global E-Comm Jumps 22 Percent
In Q1, the brand launched six new footwear styles contributing to 10 percent growth in footwear sales year-over-year in what the company said would be a record year for product introductions.
Columbia Sportswear Appoints VP Brand for Sorel
Michael Minter joined the company on April 29 with nearly 20 years of experience working in creative and marketing leadership roles for Sanuk, Billabong, Keen, DC, and Reef.
Banana Republic CEO Departs
Sandra Strangl mutally agreed to leave the company after four years at the helm as parent company, Gap, Inc., transitions to new leadership.
OrthoLite Adds Two Key Hires to Global Foam Innovation Team
Leading the charge on the expansion of OrthoLite’s Global Foam Innovation team is Shaw Kiat Phua who was hired as global operations chemical director. Ha Pham, a seasoned polyurethane specialist also joins the Global Foam Innovation team.
REI Co-op to Open Store in College Station, TX
The new store will be the outdoor retailer’s 11th in the state of Texas.
RIA Inducts 2024 Run Specialty Hall of Fame Members
The 2024 inductees are Jim Weber, Brooks Running; Colin Peddie, Marathon Sports; and Duncan Finigan, who was an Oofos executive, who passed away on May 26, 2019, from breast cancer.
Pentland Brands Names New President of Americas as Matt Rock Steps Down
Spies, formerly the senior vice president of sales for Pentland Brands North America, brings over 17 years of experience from his tenure at Converse, including his last role as vice president of its wholesale business for North America.
Under Armour Taps Yuron White as SVP, Sportswear, Run, Basketball/Curry & Collabs
White joins Under Armour from New Balance, where he was the VP of Global Lifestyle, Basketball and Innovation. Before that, he worked at Nike where, most recently, he was the VP of Performance Sports and Cross Category Concepts.
Wolverine Worldwide Enters Licensing Agreements for Merrell and Saucony Brands
WWW entered two new global licensing agreements as part of its ongoing “strategic transformation” into a brand-led growth company for Merrell and Saucony kids footwear and Merrell apparel and accessories.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Falls to Q1 Loss as Comps Fall 13.5 Percent
The company said the calendar shift of the Easter holiday, during which the company’s stores were closed, from Q2 2023 to Q1 2024, negatively impacted sales comparisons by approximately 100 basis points.
Rocky Brands Swings to Q1 Profit as Organic Sales Grow 7.6 Percent
The owner of the Rocky, Georgia Boot, Durango, Lehigh, The Original Muck Boot Company, Xtratuf, and Ranger brands divested the Servus brand in the year-ago period, which boosted sales and margins on an organic basis.
Rocky Brands Inks Comprehensive Debt Refinancing Deal
The debt refinance agreement includes a $175 million revolving credit facility and a $50 million term facility, amending and restating the company’s existing $175 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America.
Wolverine Worldwide Appoints Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Dave Latchana was promoted to chief legal officer and corporate secretary, overseeing the company’s legal, compliance, corporate communications, risk management, ESG, security, and loss prevention functions.
Sal Barbier Returns to Etnies as Creative Director for SLB Line
Barbier starts his role with the relaunch of the Sal 23 for Holiday 2024. He is “designing an SLB by Etnies collection that will launch in Spring 2026.
