SGB Update Footwear
NRF Reports Thanksgiving Weekend Shopper Numbers Fell Short of 2023 Comp Period
The five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday saw an estimated 197.0 million shoppers, reportedly the second highest number in the NRF’s survey’s history after last year’s record of 200.4 million shoppers—exceeding its initial forecast of 183.4 million.
Thermore Appoints VP of Global Marketing and Communications
Laura Beachy has been appointed VP of global marketing and communications. She joins Thermore from Hyla Strategies, a NYC-based boutique marketing firm, where she served as a managing partner since 2014.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Opens Five New Stores to Finish Out 2024
New stores opened in Bradenton, FL; Yulee, FL; Searcy, AR; Meridian, MS; and Corsicana, TX. Overall, Academy continued its expansion in 2024 by opening 16 new stores during the year across ten states, including its first locations in Ohio.
Amer Sports Launches Public Share Offering of 34M Shares
The company said it intends to use the net proceeds it receives from the proposed offering to repay a portion of its outstanding borrowings under its term loan facilities.
Mastercard SpendingPulse: Black Friday Sales Grow 3.4 Percent; E-Commerce Up 15 Percent
The firm reported that their data indicated online retail (e-commerce) sales increased 14.6 percent, while In-store (brick & mortar) sales were up a more modest 0.7 percent, compared to Black Friday last year.
Collegiate Licensing Pioneer Bill Battle Passes
Battle helped the University of Alabama create a licensing department, which led to his founding of the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) and what became a multi-billion dollar industry for collegiate licensing.
Report: Black Friday In-Store Shopper Traffic Falls 8.2 Percent Year-over-Year
The brand’s ShopperTrak Analytics insights show that U.S. shopper visits were down 3.9 percent from November 24 through November 29, in line with the in-store traffic trends seen year-to-date (down 3.0 percent year-over-year).
Rally House Opens New Storefront in Minneapolis
Rally House Maple Grove Crossing opened on November 27. The retailer entered the Minnesota market this year with its first store in Tamarack Village in Woodbury. Today, it operates five stores in the state.
Cole Haan Inks China Partner for Retail and Brand Development
The company has inked an exclusive distribution agreement with China retail HiMaxx. In conjunction, HiMaxx is launching a new premium branded division, focused on Cole Haan, under Co-Founder and Board member Jason Hou.
Urban Outfitters Shares Jump on Strength of “Resilient” Consumer
Comparable retail segment net sales increased 5.8 percent at Anthropologie and 5.3 percent at Free People. Comps decreased 8.9 percent at Urban Outfitters. Nuuly segment net sales increased by 48.4 percent.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Promotes Tenured Company Leader to CFO
Robert Ball was promoted to chief financial officer, effective November 20, 2024, reporting to Scott Lipesky, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Burlington Stores, Inc. Appoints Former Staples CEO to Board
Shira Goodman, former CEO of Staples, Inc., will join Burlington Stores Board of Directors and Audit Committee effective January 1, 2025.
Rally House Opens New Stores in Indiana, Arkansas and Philadelphia
Rally House and Sampler Stores, Inc. the family-owned specialty retailer that represents local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams has opened three new stores in Noblesville, IN; Fort Smith, AK; and Philadelphia PA.
Nordstrom Beats Street Estimates for Q3 on DD Growth in Women’s Apparel and Active
In the third quarter, Nordstrom saw women’s apparel and active post double-digit growth, while shoes, men’s apparel and kids were up in the mid- to high-single-digits versus Q3 2023. Growth in women’s apparel, shoes and men’s apparel reportedly accelerated sequentially from the second quarter.
OrthoLite Expands India Facility; Opens New Sales Office in Chennai
The new building expands Ortholite India’s footprint “threefold and enables increased capacity to two million pairs of insoles per month.” The facility is also fully equipped to make leather footbeds.
