Digital Brands Group Switches Gears, Plans to Open 5 Retail Stores
The curator of “digital first” luxury lifestyle brands plans to open 50 retail stores over the next several years, funded by its internal free cash flow.
Alpha Silencer Hires Digital Marketing Specialist
Dylan Rice is expected to help grow Alpha Silencer’s market share through social media, influencer, and website initiatives for the company that makes the lightest, quietest, user-serviceable titanium suppressors on the market.
JD Sports Fashion Completes Acquisition of Polish Partner
In the financial year to January 2023, Poland-based Marketing Investment Group generated approximately £270 million in revenue. As of December 30, 2023, MIG operated 403 stores across 13 countries, including 23 JD stores.
Allbirds Makes Two Senior Leadership Appointments
Kelly Olmstead was promoted to chief marketing officer and footwear industry veteran Adrian Nyman was hired to the newly created role of chief design officer. Both were effective in December.
Target Shuffles the Executive Deck in Legal, Operations and Merchandising
Michael Fiddelke has been named chief operating officer, effective February 4 and Rick Gomez and Jill Sando will split categories on the merchant side. Additionally, Target announced the upcoming retirement of chief legal and compliance officer Don Liu.
Birkenstock Posts Strong FY 2023 But Shares Down in Pre-Market
Birkenstock said it anticipates sustaining its profitable growth trajectory across its products and regions in fiscal year 2024, but it expects sales growth to moderate slightly from the trend in fiscal 2023.
PE Firm Makes First Move to Consolidate Pickleball Brands
Thirty-5 Capital, LLC created and launched United Pickleball Paddles, a subsidiary of its global pickleball investment sleeve, United Pickleball Properties, LLC, and rolled up three brands into the new company.
Asics and Ugg Top Key Movers in StockX Annual Report
Fueled by consumer’s growing obsession with mesh runners, StockX said Asics saw hockey stick growth in 2023, with trades increasing 239 percent and the brand moving from the #10 top-traded sneaker brand in 2022 to #5 in one year.
Jam Collective Adds Three to PR Team
Heather Villanueva is the new PR director, Logan Waddell joins the company as a PR account manager and Cassidy Oonk as the agency’s executive operations manager.
Dead Air Silencers Hires Senior Director of Product Development
Benjamin Bachmeier, a firearms industry veteran and former captain in the U.S. Army National Guard, has close to two decades of experience in the firearms, defense and aerospace industries in engineering, management, and leadership positions.
American Baitworks Co. Acquires Freedom Tackle Corp.
American Baitworks Co. has acquired Freedom Tackle Corp. from co-owners Michael and Nick Tamburro. The brothers founded the company in 2012.
Megabass of America Promotes Buttermore to VP Sales & Marketing
The North American arm of Japan’s builder of fishing tackle promoted Ryan Buttermore to VP of sales and marketing, effective January 2024.
Lazydays Rebrands, Changes Stock Symbol
“We are the portal for our customers to experience that feeling of adventure, and our goal is to provide products and services to make adventure accessible for everyone.” —John North, CEO, Lazydays
Original Penguin Parent hires Michael Miille as Creative Director
Michael Miille will reportedly spearhead the design and creative vision for the company’s fashion brands, Perry Ellis and Original Penguin by Munsingwear.
Census Bureau Sees Core 2023 Holiday Retail Sales Growth in Line with Inflation
Core retail sales during the 2023 holiday season, November and December combined, reportedly grew 3.8 percent versus the corresponding period in 2022, supported by continued inflation and despite high-interest rates.