
AKU Hires New PNW Sales Agency for Outdoor Category
Based in Seattle, The Alta Group will manage specific outdoor accounts for AKU in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Golftec Opens Location in Orlando
Golftec announced it opened an instruction and club fitting center in Orlando, its 14th location in Florida.

Oofos President To Depart, New COO Named
Oofos said Steve Gallo, the recovery footwear’s president since January 2018, will be stepping away from Oofos to take on a new opportunity. At the same time, Dave Mischler was promoted to the role of chief operating officer.

Gregory, High Sierra Parent Company Surges in Q2 as Travel Returns Across Globe
Samsonite International S.A., parent to the Gregory, High Sierra, Tumi, Kamiliant, ebags, Lipault, and Hartmann brands, among others, reported that net sales for the three months ended June 30 were $924.1 million, an increase of 36.1 percent in constant-currency terms when compared to the second quarter of 2022.

DBI Adds Le Tigre Footwear to Owned Brands Portfolio at DSW
The company, which owns retailers DSW Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company, said the addition of Le Tigre, along with the recent acquisitions of Keds and Topo Athletic, enables it to grow its brand portfolio in the important athletic and athleisure space.

StockX Report Calls Out On, Salomon and Asics as Top YTD Trading Gainers
Success on the secondary market can be a barometer for consumer demand, and Stockx’s report suggests that, despite a more challenging retail environment, brands continue to break through and demonstrate growth.

Logo Brands Inks Licensing Deal with Mississippi State
Beginning January 1, 2024, Logo Brands and Mississippi State University will enter into a ten-year exclusive agreement in the tailgate and inflatables categories.
OrthoLite Names Cirql VP/GM
OrthoLite hired Matt Thwaites as vice president and general manager of OrthoLite Cirql. He was formerly global sales and marketing director of the Footwear Division for Coats, the industrial thread company.

Sole Technology Adds Familiar Face as ThirtyTwo Design Chief
Will Keegan has re-joined Sole Technology after 12 years as boot designer/merchandiser for the ThirtyTwo brand. Moving forward, he will oversee all design and merchandising for ThirtyTwo boots and all-terrain footwear.

TJX Lifts Outlook As Q2 Earnings Fly Past Expectations
The TJX Companies, Inc. increased its guidance for sales and earnings for the year after reporting second-quarter results that easily exceeded the off-pricer’s guidance. Same-store sales grew 6 percent.

Target Slashes Guidance After Q2 Sales Shortfall
Target, Inc. reduced its full-year profit outlook on “continued near-term challenges on the topline” The readjustment came despite the discounter reporting second-quarter earnings that handily topped Wall Street as tight inventory controls offset lower-than-expected sales.
Macy’s Hires Chief Customer and Digital Officer
Macy’s Inc. named Massimo Magni chief customer and digital officer, effective August 21. He was a more than 20-year veteran of McKinsey & Company.

EoS Fitness Opens New Center in Miami-Dade County
The new 40,000-plus square foot gym in Kendall, FL adds to the company’s eight locations across the state, keeping EoS on track to reach its goal of 10 gyms statewide by the end of 2023.
Lippert Acquires Marine Trailer Performance
Lippert Components, Inc., a components supplier supporting the recreation and transportation industries, acquired substantially all of the business assets of Marine Trailer Performance, a marine axle manufacturer based in Houston, TX.

Puffin Drinkwear Names New CEO
Puffin Drinkwear hired Tory Upham as CEO, succeeding the company’s interim CEO Scott Allan