SGB Update Footwear
Oboz and Rip Curl Parent KMD Hires Finance VP for North America
Heather Sweeny, a former Adidas executive, was appointed as VP of Finance across all KMD Brands in North America, including Oboz, Rip Curl and Kathmandu.
Running USA Executive Director Departs for Leadership Role at USA Track & Field
Jay Holder will support Running USA’s transition efforts until a new executive director is named. Kathleen Titus, president of the Board of Directors, will assume the role of interim executive director role.
Varsity Brands’ Debt Ratings Upgraded by S&P
S&P Global Ratings stated the debt ratings upgrade for Varsity Brands, the parent of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, reflects “solid demand in both segments, management’s effective execution in expanding the businesses, and the wind-down of significant legal and restructuring cash expenses.”
CNBC/NRF Report Sees June Retail Sales Trends Moderate; Sporting Goods Sector Accelerates
Growth in the Clothing, Footwear and Accessories store sector decelerated from the prior-month trend. The category that includes Sporting Goods stores was up 8.5 percent y/y unadjusted in June after an 8.2 percent y/y gain in May.
Bass Pro to Host Grand Opening for Clifton Park Store
A highlight of the store is its 12,000-gallon aquarium featuring freshwater fish native to the region. The store has also tailored its inventory to serve the freshwater fishermen in the area.
Survey: Americans Changing Purchasing Decisions on Potential Impact of Tariffs
Nearly eight in ten (77 percent) respondents believe tariffs will impact their household finances, with 41 percent noting it has already hurt their wallets, according to a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by the market research firm Savanta.
Adobe: Amazon Prime Day Drives 30.3 percent Rise in U.S. Online Spending
The Prime Day sale that ran for four days from Tuesday, July 8 to Friday, July 11 helped boost online spending sales across all Uretailers in the U.S. by 30.3 percent to $24.1 billion, according to Adobe, Inc., which tracked the activity, topping its estimate for 28.4 percent growth for the period ending July 11.
Padel Haus Raises $7M In Funding Round
The Brooklyn-based padel club operator, has raised $7 million in a Series B funding round to accelerate the company’s expansion. By year’s end, it aims to operate 40 courts and reach 120 courts and more than 20 wholly owned locations by 2027.
Nike, Inc. Appoints New Converse CEO
Aaron Cain, a 21-year company veteran, was named the new CEO of Converse. He replaces Jared Carver, who is stepping down after serving as CEO for two years.
MeatEater to Open Store in Wisconsin
MeatEater, the hunt & fish specialty retailer, announced plans to open a store at The Corners of Brookfield in Wisconsin, representing its second store. MeatEater’s flagship store opened in April 2024 near its headquarters in downtown Bozeman, MT.
Costco’s June Comps Get 11.2 Percent Growth from E-Commerce
Excluding gas, Costco’s same-store sales in the U.S. were up 5.5 percent in the U.S. and 6.2 percent overall. U.S. sales were up 7.4 percent year-to-date.
FDRA Urges Trump Administration to Halt New Tariffs on Footwear Ahead of BTS Selling
On Wednesday, July 9, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that it not impose additional footwear tariffs on top of the existing ones ahead of the critical back-to-school selling season.
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Imperial Appoints National Sales Manager, Golf
Andrew Blatnik joins industry veteran John Anderson, VP of Sales for Golf, in his new role. Currently he serves as the VP of Peter Millar licensing for Imperial.
Dr. Martens Seeing Positive Growth In Americas DTC Channel
Dr. Martens issued a trading update ahead of its annual meeting, indicating that sales are progressing as expected with positive growth in its direct-to-consumer business in the Americas region and strength in the APAC region helping offset some weakness in Europe.
Deloitte Sees Flat Back-To-School Spending
Deloitte’s 18th Annual Back-to-School Survey finds that spending for K-12 students will remain flat at $30.9 billion this year. Parents surveyed expect to spend $570 per student in grades K-12, down just $16 year-over-year. Overall, parents will spend on essentials, trading down on brands and retailers, and spreading out purchases over time.
