SGB Update Footwear

Pure Hockey to Open Store in Laguna Hills, CA
This will be the retailer’s fourth store in California, which also has locations in Anaheim, San Jose and San Marcos.

Vista Outdoor Confirms Receipt of Revised Indication of Interest from MNC Capital
Vista Outdoor’s Board still needs to determine the revised MNC Indication within the framework contemplated by the existing merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group a.s.

Academy Sports + Outdoors Begins 2024 Store Expansion in Raleigh and Indy
The full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer will open 15 to 17 new stores in its fiscal 2024 year, starting with two new stores in the first quarter in Knightdale, NC and Greenwood, IN.

Nike Names Minimalist Designer Tim Hamilton as Global VP of Design
Hamilton brings over 26 years of design experience to the role including working on large-scale collabs, and has reportedly built a reputation in the industry for “technical craftsmanship and modern minimalism while reflecting subtle shifts in youth culture.”

Capstone Partners Releases Annual Consumer M&A Report
Personal consumption spending on services increased 7.4 percent YoY, over double the growth experienced by goods spending, the widest differential of services spending growth versus goods spending growth since 2009.

The Buckle Sees Chief Merchant for Women’s Business Depart Company
Kelli Molczyk stepped down as SVP of women’s merchandising and left the company to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately.

Topgolf Callaway Completes Debt Repricing
The company said it lowered its annual interest expense while maintaining the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to fund the continued growth of the business.

Nike Inc. Gets Wholesale Lift in Fiscal Q3 to Post Earnings Beat
Revenues for the Nike Brand were $11.9 billion, up 2 percent on a reported and currency-neutral basis, as currency-neutral growth in North America, Greater China and APLA was said to be offset by declines in EMEA.

Lululemon Posted Strong Q4 Results but Guides to Slower Q1 Growth
The company’s net revenue increased 16 percent to $3.2 billion in Q4 and grew 12 percent in comparable sales terms. Diluted earnings per share were $5.29 in Q4 2023 compared to 94 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Nike Becomes Kit Supplier for German Football Association in 2027
Adidas has been supplying German soccer with its gear since 1954, and last week it presented the new jerseys for the upcoming European Championship, which Germany is hosting this summer.

Allbirds Inc. Inks Two More International Distributor Deals
Alyasra Fashion will be the exclusive Allbirds distributor in the Gulf Countries territory, and Primer Group will distribute Allbirds products across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Sees Positive Change in Q4 Sales Trend
The retailer reported that it did not meet its own expectations for Fiscal 2023 but a trajectory change in the fourth quarter turned the frown upside down. Fourth quarter net sales were up 2.8 percent to $1.79 billion while comp store sales declined 3.6 percent for the period.

Golf Industry Veterans to Rep Sun Mountain Sports
Chivonne Wilson will represent Sun Mountain in the North Florida market. Tom Funderburk will represent Sun Mountain in the Oklahoma/Arkansas market.

DSW Parent Designer Brands Sees Shares Slide on Miss Against Street Estimates
The parent company to the DSW, Topo, Keds, Hush Puppies and other footwear brands, saw net sales decrease 0.8 percent to $754.3 million in the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter. Total comparable sales decreased by 7.3 percent for the quarter.

NRF Sees Retail Growth Slowing in 2024 as Economy Slows
The National Retail Federation forecasted 2024 retail sales would increase between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent year-over-year to come in at $5.23 trillion to $5.28 trillion, a moderation from the 3.6 percent growth in 2023.