JD Sports Lands on the Vegas Strip with New Flagship Store
The opening of a new flagship on Las Vegas Boulevard is said to mark JD’s third in the U.S. and its continued “connection to global youth culture in the most influential cities across the U.S.” As of 3 May 2025, there were 339 JD stores across North America (including Canada).
Faxon Firearms Rounds Out National Sales Coverage with Donaldson & Associates
Donaldson & Associates will serve dealers and distributors in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and the MINK states, joining six other agencies to provide national U.S. coverage for Faxon Firearms for the first time since its founding.
Caleres’ Principal Accounting Officer to Retire
Todd Hasty, SVP and chief accounting officer, plans to retire, effective October 17, 2025, after nearly 22 years of service with the company.
Sturm, Ruger to Absorb Restructuring Costs to Clear Inventories, Realign Organization
In an internal memo marking his 100th day as Sturm, Ruger & Co.’s CEO, Todd Seyfert said he expects the firearms maker to incur $15 million to $20 million in expenses over the remainder of the year to clear obsolete inventories, reset its leadership structure and cover severance as part of an organizational realignment.
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Jumps as Inflation Expectations Improve
Consumer sentiment increased in June for the first time in six months, the latest sign that Americans’ views of the economy have improved as inflation has stayed tame and tariff concerns lessen.
Survey: Retailers Passing Along 51 Percent of Tariff Costs
A survey of 500 U.S. e-commerce executives found that 76 percent had increased the price of goods to mitigate the cost of the new and expected tariffs. On average, retailers are passing along 51 percent of the cost of President Trump’s import taxes on to consumers.
Strava Nets $2.2 Billion Valuation in Funding Round
The funding follows the acquisitions earlier this year of AI-driven training apps Runna and The Breakaway, as well as the continued growth of the platform, which now has over 150 million reported global users.
CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Notes Robust Sporting Goods Sector Continued into May
Growth in the Clothing, Footwear and Accessories store sector decelerated from the April trend. The category that includes Sporting Goods stores was up 8.2 percent y/y unadjusted in May after a robust 9.2 percent y/y gain in March.
Study Shows Strong but Conditional Public Support for Hunting and Sport Shooting
Americans understand the value of ethical hunting and shooting sports, but the results from the survey inform that intention matters and that maintaining public trust requires continuous outreach and education.
PlayMetrics Merges with Stack Sports
Michael Doernberg, CEO of PlayMetrics, will lead the combined organization as CEO, and Jeff Young, CEO of Stack Sports, will transition to a strategic role as advisor to the board of directors.
Roots Sees Sales Climb 6 Percent in Q1
The Toronto-based retailer slightly narrowed its loss in the first quarter ended May 3 as sales grew 6.7 percent, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth. Founded in 1973, the retailer is known for its apparel, leather goods, footwear, and home furnishings.
FishUSA Hires Kirk Guthrie to Lead New Wholesale Operation
Kirk Guthrie joins FishUSA after 30 years in the fishing tackle industry, where he has focused on driving growth, optimizing dealer programs and building sales teams. Most recently, he was the national accounts manager at Big Rock Sports.
Topgolf to Open in Panama City Beach
The venue, the first for Topgolf on Florida’s Emerald Coast in Panama City Beach, will open on June 27, the company’s 10th in the state.
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Names Top Retailer Members and Vendor Partners for 2025
The retailer-owned network of 105 independent outdoor retailers and 67 vendor partners, working together to grow the specialty outdoor retail network, named Trail Creek Outfitters Retailer of the Year and Patagonia Vendor of the Year for 2025.
Peloton Appoints Chief Marketing Officer; Creates Chief Technology Officer Role
Megan Imbres, formerly at Apple, becomes Chief Marketing Officer. The company has also created a chief technology officer role with a focus on AI, promoting Francis Shanahan, its SVP of Connected Fitness Software, to the position.
