SGB Update Footwear
Outdoor Gear Exchange to Open Second Vermont Store
Outdoor Gear Exchange, which operates one store in Burlington, VT, plans to open a second in Essex Junction, VT.
Nike Misses Revenue Estimates on Weak North America; Profits Beat
Nike, Inc. reported profits slipped 1 percent in the fiscal first quarter ended August 31. Sales grew 2 percent on a currency-neutral basis as double-digit gains in China helped offset a 1 percent decline in North America. Earnings came in well above analyst targets but sales were slightly below.
Salomon Hires President of Salomon Americas
Salomon hired Steve Doolan as president of Salomon Americas, effective October 23, leading the business from its regional headquarters in Ogden, UT.
EXEC: ASOS plc Warns on Fiscal Year Cashflow Issue Due to Timing Effects
The retailer typically receives cash from their sales gross of returns and sales tax immediately. However, the cash outflow from sales tax, returns and variable costs associated with those sales predominantly impacts the following two months. The impact will reverse during September and October.
Pitney Bowes Survey Sees Steady Online Growth This Holiday Season
Pitney Bowes’ BOXpoll survey found that despite conflicting economic indicators, 80 percent of consumers plan to buy online more or the same this coming holiday season as last year.
Lululemon and Peloton Ink Five-Year Strategic Global Partnership
As part of the partnership, Peloton will become the exclusive digital fitness content provider for Lululemon, and Lululemon will become the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton.
Report: Footwear Sales Decline 3 Percent Through August
Revenue from footwear sales in the U.S. declined 3 percent year-over-year from January through August 2023 (YTD), and units sold also decreased, according to Circana.
Liberated Adds Billabong, RVCA and Honolua to Licensee Portfolio
ABG entered into a new long-term agreement with Liberated Brands to be the retail and e-commerce operator for its newly acquired brands Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, Honolua and Boardriders in the U.S. and Canada.
Acushnet Holdings Corp. Earns BB Credit Rating On New Debt Offering
S&P Global Rating signed a BB’ issuer credit rating and stable outlook to Titleist’s parent Acushnet Holdings Corp.’s planned offering of $350 million of senior unsecured notes. The rating reflects S&P’s expectation that Acushnet’s sales and profits will remain steady over the next year as post-pandemic golf activity decelerates, albeit at levels above pre-pandemic levels.
Players World of Sports Gets New Owners
Players World of Sports, the retailer of tennis and pickleball products based in Hilton Head, SC, was acquired by Daryl and Kathy Daye of Bluffton, SC, and Jeff and Heather Yakes of Hardeeville, SC.
Amazon Faces Antitrust Lawsuit from FTC, U.S. States
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 17 state attorneys general sued Amazon over violations of anti-competitive behavior. The lawsuit alleges the e-commerce giant’s practices are anti-competitive in how it serves shoppers as well as third-party sellers on the site.
NRF Report Finds Crime Cost Retailers $112 Billion in 2022
According to the 2023 National Retail Security Survey* published by the National Retail Federation (NRF), retailers have seen a dramatic rise in theft-related financial losses, with shrink accounted for $112.1 billion in losses, up from $93.9 billion in 2021.
Costco’s Q4 Profits Climb 15 Percent
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported earnings rose 15.4 percent in its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 3 as sales gained 9.4 percent. Same-store sales in the U.S., excluding the impact of gas prices, were up 3.1 percent.
U.S. Consumer Confidence Slides to Four Month Low
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index dropped to a four-month low in September, weighed down by rising interest rates, still-high inflation and a stalemate over the federal budget in Washington.
Target Closing Nine Stores in Four Markets Due to Theft, Safety Concerns
Target said in a statement it is closing nine stores in four states, including one in East Harlem, NY, three in San Francisco, two in Portland, OR and two in Seattle, WA, suggesting that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its employees and customers.
