SGB Update Footwear

NSGA Announces 2025 Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Honorees
John Cardinal, Cardinal’s Sporting Goods; Chris Considine, Wilson Sporting Goods; and E.J. “Ned” Hamilton, Peter Glenn Ski & Sports will join 185 retailers, team dealers, manufacturers, and industry influencers who have received the NSGA award in the past since the organization founded it in 1955.

Academy Sports + Outdoors Opening Nine Stores This Fall
Academy has opened three of the new stores this year and plans to open 15-to-17 more in fiscal year 2024.

That’s a Wrap. What Was the Most Read News This Summer?
From the long Independence Day holiday weekend to the just-completed Labor Day weekend that signaled the end of another summer, SGB Media readers focused on reading about a wide variety of issues and opportunities that affected their businesses each day.

Under Armour Appoints VP Commercial for EMEA
Franck Denglos brings 25 years of experience in the sports, lifestyle and fashion industries to his role at UA as vice president of commercial for EMEA. He joined the company September 1 from Adidas, where, most recently, he was the president of Adidas Italy.

SGB Media Closed for Labor Day Holiday
SGB Media will not publish the SGB Evening Newsletter on Friday, August 30, and the SGB Morning and Evening Newsletters on Monday, September 2. SGB Media will return to the office and resume newsletter publication on Tuesday, September 3.

Kizik Expands Distributor Network Across Italy, Taiwan and SE Asia
Kizik has now partnered with Wellforce Sports in Taiwan, Artcrafts in Italy, and Nyne Ventures in Southeast Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Duluth Trading Returns to Top-Line Growth in Q2 Despite Store Decline
Direct-to-consumer net sales increased by 5.6 percent to $91.7 million and Retail store net sales decreased 4.4 percent to $49.9 million, reportedly due to slower store traffic, partially offset by strong conversion rates.

Walmart Building More Than A Marketplace for Sellers
Company leaders outlined category expansions, multichannel fulfillment and new features that Walmart believes will simplify selling across markets to the thousands of sellers attending its “Let’s Grow” 2024 Marketplace Summit on August 27.

Apparel Group Continues Expansion, Opens 100 New Stores in First Half
Representing globally recognized brands, including Steve Madden, Skechers, Asics, and Levi’s, to name a few, Apparel Group has a strong footprint in key markets, including India, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

Oboz Mourns the Passing of Founder John Connelly
On August 22, Oboz Footwear Founder and outdoor industry luminary John Connelly passed away following a long battle with various cancers.

Kohl’s Corporation Ups Full Year Earnings Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat
The retailer saw net sales decrease 4.2 percent year-over-year, with comparable sales down 5.1 percent year-over-year, but it also posted a 13 percent increase in earnings driven by GM expansion and strong inventory and expense management.

EXEC: Foot Locker Exiting New York for Sunnier Environs; Shakes Up Europe and Asia Model
Foot Locker Inc. is pulling up stakes in New York City and moving to St. Petersburg, FL in 2025. The company plans to maintain only a limited presence in New York City going forward.

Foot Locker Inc. Sees Core Foot Locker Banner Comps Grow 5.2 Percent in Q2
Comparable sales increased by 2.6 percent for the quarter, led by 5.2 percent growth in global Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker comparable sales. The second-quarter net loss was $12 million, compared to a $5 million net loss in Q2 last year.

Puma Promotes Indy Sen to SVP Puma Group Sourcing
Sen assumes the operational responsibilities of the chief sourcing officer, replacing Anne-Laure Descours, who is not extending her board contract and will instead support Puma as an external sustainability advisor.

Nordstrom, Inc. Gets Lift from A-Sale Timing and Active in Second Quarter
Nordstrom said active, women’s apparel, beauty and kids had the strongest growth versus 2023. During the Anniversary Sale, the top growing categories were beauty, active and home.