SGB Update Footwear
Fleet Feet Franchise Opens Third Store in Central Texas
The store located in Leander marks the third store in Central Texas operated by franchise owner Mark King. He also operates stores in Georgetown and Round Rock, TX, respectively.
Switchback Spring Posts Healthy Debut; Heads to New Orleans in 2026
Switchback Spring, the nascent outdoor show’s first standalone event, was held this week in Nashville, TN, from June 16 to 18, drawing 194 brands, 290 retailers, and 1,286 attendees. For 2026, show organizers announced that the event will be held in New Orleans.
Hibbett Launches Back-to-School App Tailored to Kids
Owned by parent company JD Sports, the retailer announced the launch of a new kids e-commerce site, kidshibbett.com, and an app dedicated to selling kids’ product carried by the retailer.
Denver’s Freebird Closing 14+ Stores; Shutters Headquarters
Freebird, a boot retailer based in Denver, has exited its corporate headquarters in Cherry Creek, laid off staff and is closing at least 14 of its 20 stores as it seeks a buyer. Freebird would close another four stores on Monday, June 23, failing to find a buyer.
Report: Lululemon Laying Off 150 Support Center Jobs
The job cuts come as Lululemon on June 6 reported first-quarter earnings that topped guidance but trimmed its earnings guidance for the year as proposed tariffs threaten the company’s supply chain.
Survey: Golf Getaways and Digital Engagement Key Focus for the Average U.S. Golfer
Over half of U.S. players (approximately 23 million in total) take at least one golf trip per year, with 31 percent taking two or more trips. With an average length of 3.33 days, these trips are common to either Florida and California or to overseas destinations such as Scotland, Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula.
Under Armour Prices Senior Notes
The company has priced the $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.250 percent senior notes due 2030. It will will use the proceeds to pay down debt due in 2026.
Survey: 84 Percent of U.S. Consumers Plan to Shop Amazon Prime Day in 2025
A consumer survey from RetailMeNot found that 84 percent of U.S. adults plan to participate in Prime Day this year, up from 81 percent in 2024. That number rises to 92 percent among those aged 45 to 60, while 88 percent of Millennials plan on shopping during the sales event.
VF Corp’s Debt Ratings Downgraded by Moody’s on Vans’ Turnaround Challenges
Moody’s downgraded V.F. Corp due to its need for significant continued operational initiatives to support the turnaround of its Vans business to profitable growth.
Skechers’ New Secured Notes Offering Earns BB- Rating from S&P
S&P Global Ratings assigned a ‘BB-’ issue-level rating to Skechers’ proposed $2.1 billion term loan B due in 2032 and $1.8 billion of senior secured notes due in 2032 that’s supporting its acquisition by 3G Capital.
Authentic Secures Sperry Brand Distributor for UK and Ireland
Authentic Brands Group has established a new partnership with Gardiner Bros for the Sperry brand across the UK and Ireland. Gardiners is reportedly one of the UK’s leading distributors of global footwear and apparel brands and will serve as the official distributor for the footwear brand, catering to both men and women.
Authentic Brands Group Appoints Global Head, Marketplaces
Tim Derner, formerly of Amazon, was appointed global head of Marketplaces, effective June 2. Derner worked at Amazon for over a decade, most recently as director of Amazon Fashion and Luxury Stores.
May Retail Sales Grow 3.0 Percent Year-Over-Year; SG Sector Grows 1.8 Percent
Total sales for the March 2025 through May 2025 period were up 4.5 percent (±0.4 percent) y/y. The March 2025 to April 2025 percent change was revised from up 0.1 percent (±0.5 percent) to down 0.1 percent (±0.2 percent).
Dôen Secures Equity Investment
The company currently operates seven brick-and-mortar stores, including recent openings in Marin, CA and Nantucket, MA. Retail sales, in aggregate, are reported to have “grown 80 percent year-over-year, while comp store sales are up 46 percent, with 65 percent growth at its Bleecker Street store in New York City.”
Study Highlights Opportunities for Brands Supporting Women’s Sports
A new study by women’s sports agency Parity finds that 68 percent of U.S. sports fans trust that female athletes believe in the products they are promoting. Of the respondents, 43 percent of female sports fans and 67 percent of those who frequently watch female sports said that a brand’s partnership with a female athlete makes them more likely to make a purchase.
