Academy Sports’ Former President Lands at Groundworks
Groundworks, the foundation and water management solutions company, hired Michael Mullican as CFO. Last October, Mullican stepped down from Academy Sports as president and CFO to pursue personal and professional opportunities.

Digital Brands Group Lays Out Initial 2024 Guidance
In a release, the company said it expects first-quarter 2024 revenues to approximate $6 million, based on $4.5 million in confirmed wholesale bookings.

Chums Expands Marketing Team
Chums hired Grace Overby as its new marketing coordinator, enabling Maddy Morton to transition to the newly created role of creative brand manager.

UK’s SportsShoes.com Inks Global Marketing Partnership with Parkrun
The UK-based online running shoe, clothing and outdoor gear retailer said in a release it is now exclusively Parkrun’s official retail partner in the UK, while also supporting the global Parkrun community with procurement and distribution of its range of merchandise.

Haro Bikes Hires Chief Marketing Officer
Haro Bikes, based in Vista, CA, hired Megan Tompkins as chief marketing officer. Haro reported that she has “lengthy experience in international marketing and sales for cycling brands, including Crankbrothers, Specialized and Shimano.

K-Swiss Appoints VP of Lifestyle
K-Swiss hired athletics footwear veteran Andrew Richard as VP of lifestyle, responsible for leading lifestyle sales for the Americas region, including the wholesale sales team and K-Swiss distributors.

Hyperice Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Therabody
Hyperice filed a lawsuit in federal court against Therabody, the maker of the Theragun line of percussive massage guns, alleging infringement of the company’s patented percussion massage technology.

Costco Store in Virginia to Unionize
At the Costco store in Norfolk, VA, employees voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters, the largest union in America, marking the first “victory” for workers at a Costco location in two decades.

A Range of Business Issues, Brands and Retailers Top SGB Media’s Most Read for December
December 2023 featured many of the annual recaps and look aheads inherent in end-of-year business reporting; however, traffic and readership also rewarded a piece on Macy’s $5.8 billion buyout offer with the Most Read Article nod for the month.

Aspen Skiing Co. Sues U.K. Skiwear Brand Over Influencer Photos
Aspen Skiing Co. filed a lawsuit against Perfect Moment, the U.K.-based skiwear brand, for sending influencers to its four resorts to “falsely associate” themselves with the brand to “gain reputation” without permission.

Survey: Building Muscle Again Cited as Top Fitness Goal for 2024
Life Time reported its 2024 annual consumer health and wellness survey results. The company surveyed 3,000 people who participated in the survey, up from 1,000 respondents for its year-ago survey.

Skechers Opens Distribution Facility In India
Skechers opened a 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Mumbai, India, to support the company’s expansion into the country. The building in the Lodha Industrial and Logistics Park in Kalyan is designed to streamline supply chain operations and can ship up to 60,000 SKUs daily.

Fairmonde Golf Secures Investment LPGA Tour Pro
Fairmont Golf, based in Sheridan, WY, reported that Angel Yin, the American professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour, had invested and is a shareholder in its women’s apparel golf brand.

Rapala VMC Sells Injection Molding Business
The group’s entire injection molding business was sold to Finnish mold and injection molded parts manufacturer Muottituote Group Oy, with an agreement signed on December 22, 2023. Approximately 20 employees are expected to transfer to Muottituote in the deal.

Forward Outdoor Apparel Hires Global Brand Director and Head of Product
Forward Outdoor Apparel, the freeskiing and snowboarding apparel brand, appointed Tony McWilliam as global brand director and Lionnel Ducruet as head of product.