Report: U.S. Discretionary Retail Spending Dips In 2022
The NPD Group is reporting that total unit sales of U.S. discretionary general merchandise in 2022 were 7 percent lower than the prior year, and sales revenue fell 2 percent.
Hodgdon Powder Company Adds R&D Chief
Hodgdon Powder Company tapped Steve Faintich as VP, research and development.
High Speed Gear Acquires BlackPoint Tactical
High Speed Gear reported it acquired BlackPoint Tactical, the manufacturer of custom, hand-crafted holsters headquartered in Alpharetta, GA.
Galway Bay Enters Retail Space Through Repspark
Galway Bay, the manufacturer of rainwear for the golf industry, has entered the retail market through the digital commerce platform RepSpark.
Neiman Marcus Names Two C-Level Execs
Neiman Marcus Group (NMG) hired Nabil Aliffi as chief brand officer. Stefanie Tsen Ward received a promotion to chief retail officer. Both are newly created positions reporting to Ryan Ross, president, Neiman Marcus Brand.
Report: Tennis Participation Adds One Million To Roster
The USTA reported that U.S. tennis participation grew by one million players in 2022, with more than 23.6 million playing the sport for the third consecutive year that the sport has seen an increase.
361 Degrees Sees Flat Growth In Fourth Quarter
361 Degrees International, Ltd. reported retail sales of 361º core-branded product for the fourth quarter of 2022 with roughly flat growth compared to the same period of 2021.
Lululemon Hires Chief Merchandising Officer
Lululemon named Elizabeth Binder as chief merchandising officer, reporting to Sun Choe, chief product officer.
NRF Adds Six Members To Board
The National Retail Federation (NRF) added six new members to its board of directors during its annual winter board meeting.
Retail’s Big Show Expanding To Asia Pacific In 2024
Retail’s Big Show is expanding to the Asia Pacific in 2024 with its annual conference and exhibition. Organizers expect it will draw thousands of retailers and business partners from across the region.
QVC Parent’s Debt Ratings Lowered
S&P Global Ratings lowered the debt ratings on Qurate Retail Inc., the parent of QVC and HSN, due to weaker-than-expected results as profitability and cash flow generation continued to be pressured in the latest third quarter ended September 30.
USA Pickleball CEO Steps Down
USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport, reported that Stu Upson will step down as chief executive officer and leave the organization following a transition period.
GT Golf Holdings Acquired by Private Equity Firm
Kinzie Capital Partners LP, a Chicago-based private equity firm, has acquired GT Golf Holdings, Inc., the golf accessories provider based in Vista, CA. The transaction was completed in partnership with the company’s management.
Ski Haus Opens In Woburn
Ski Haus opened its third store in Woburn, MA. The ski retailer also operates locations in Salem, NH and Framingham, MA.
Whole Foods Now Accepting Zappos Returns
Zappos reached an agreement for customers to make returns at Whole Foods. Amazon owns both retailers.
