Faced with a 20,000-million square foot void in U.S. brick-and-mortar exposure due to the Chap. 11 demise of The Sports Authority last year, Nike and Under Amour are jockeying for added brand exposure within the leading, national mid-tier department store chains. Read more...
Luke's Locker, for years regarded as one of the best running stores in the U.S., says it is "temporarily" closing five of its eight stores in Texas. The store, founded with a single unit in Dallas in 1970, is shuttering locations in Plano, Southlake, Austin, Houston and The Woodlands, but will continue to operate its two stores in Dallas and one in Fort Worth. The company made the announcement on its Facebook page this past weekend. According to feedback on the page, the Lucas family told employees at those stores that they no longer had jobs, so it remains to be seen whether those locations will re-open in a few weeks as the company Facebook post indicated. Read More...
Several issues were top of mind at the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, where talk of new show dates, retail rationalization, the fate of trade agreements and environmental initiatives often over-shadowed conversation of new product and technology advances. News of the sudden resignation of Todd Spaletto, The North Face president, and the ongoing bankruptcy of Eastern Mountain Sports’ parent, also contributed to this year’s more muted Show vibe. Furthering the off-kilter feel of the January Salt Lake City event were changes in this year’s schedule – three days instead of the traditional four– and the fact that a handful of long-time exhibitors re-located to new and/or different places within the convention halls; halls that seemed less crowded both in the number of booths as well as attendee traffic in the aisles. (Official Show figures have yet to be released.) Read More...
Multiple sources out of Washington point to tax reform in the months ahead, including a lowering of the corporate rate from the current maximum of 35 percent to either 20 percent, pushed by many Republicans, or 15 percent as advocated by the new president. The likely resolution is a 25 percent ceiling on corporate taxes that would include S corporations, partnerships and those of the self-employed. Except for R&D credits and asset purchases, which could be expensed, many other business-specific tax breaks may face limitations or elimination.
Meanwhile, many in athletic shoe and apparel circles will keep an eye on Trump’s promises to crackdown on companies manufacturing products overseas and selling them in the U.S. Some economists have already criticized Trump’s intentions as having the firepower to initiate a trade war with the country’s largest trade partners, particularly China. Days before Inauguration Day, five Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would require the president to immediately notify the 11 other Trans-Pacific Partnership countries that the U.S. is withdrawing from the pending trade pact. The president does not need legislation to withdraw from TPP, and Trump has promised to withdraw from it. Also, the President is moving quickly to renegotiate the 20-year old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.
Adidas Group CEO Kasper Rorsted last week said the company’s U.S. objectives would not be squeezed by Trump’s protectionist positions.
Top of the World, LLC, the Norman, OK supplier of licensed collegiate headwear in the U.S., and J. America, Inc., a distributor of licensed and blank apparel based in Fowlerville, MI, have signed a definitive merger agreement with the deal slated to close by Jan. 31. The emerging entity, Top of the World Holdings, LLC, will have four distribution centers based in Oklahoma or Michigan, a Columbus, OH design center, a North Carolina sales office and a sourcing office in Hong Kong.
The senior management group of Top of the World Holdings includes Scott Shuler, who will serve as president of the licensed division. Jeff French, co-founder of J. America, will lead the firm’s wholesale blanks unit and Peter Ruhala, a J. America co-founder who will lead the sportswear business. Jeff Radway, another J. America co-founder, will retain a significant investment in the company and serve on the board as a strategic advisor.
In a separate deal, Elite Sportswear, the Reading, PA parent of the GK Cheer brand, is merging with Victory Team Apparel, the Grand Rapids, MI marketer of sideline cheerleading gear. VTA is expected to complement Elite’s current portfolio of GK Branded Gymnastics and All-Start cheer lines, Under Armour gymnastics, Sideline Cheer and the Dolfin swimwear brand. The two companies “will continue to work as separate entities” but will combine product, sales and marketing “through a strategic go-to-market plan,” Elite said in a statement.
The Toronto-based outwear company, majority-owned by Bain Capital and celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017, will reportedly aim to raise $200-300 million in a public offering in either February or March. The tender would represent about 10-15 per cent of the company targeting a $2 billion valuation.
Canada Goose has been a hot-ticket item recently in the outerwear category and as such has escalated the brand’s identity from hard-core expedition wear to high-end street fashion. However, innovation in synthetic insulation, an increase in awareness of ethical supply chains and price volatility in down, are market factors that could impact sales growth of Canada Goose going forward. At Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, a handful of new featherless insulations were introduced. These and other cold-weather textile developments may signal a shift to new looks in winter wear, not to mention the fickle nature of consumer fashion.
Superfeet Celebrates 40th Anniversary. The employee-owned company introduces footwear and rolls out a 3D printed insole program.
BOA introduces New Tech and Names New CEO. Nothing will constrict Boa Technology CEO Shawn Neville from helping the Denver company improve its customized fit solution.
No strings attached. The married Argentinean couple has raised nearly $20 million for Hickies, a Brooklyn company addressing how athletic shoes are closed around the foot two eyelets at a time.
The Co-founder and Managing Partner of Partners Growth, which brings premium brands into the U.S. market, talks Finnish children’s wear brand Reima.
Six-year old Altra is teaming with Utah State University to develop outdoor design talent.
Let's Go Hyperwear: Former Equinox personal trainer merges the innovative, functional fitness gear from Austin, TX company with programming for schools, camps and institutions.
Sly and Simple. BlueFox.io and its technology enable a retailer to interact with customers in store and track traffic. No beacon required. The CMO explains the benefits of the platform.
The CEO of Xenio Systems talks about the company’s new platform that tracks where shoppers spend time in physical stores and its patented hyper-positioning technology.
The director of export promotion for Mexico’s Guanajuato State government agency addresses the proposed impact of the Border Adjustment Tax by the U.S. and the possibility of a renegotiated NAFTA free trade agreement.
The founder and CEO of EyeFitU, a former investment banker, talks ‘glocal’ assortments, shoppers’ personal sizing and global web payment options.
The president and CEO of the SFIA addresses the most serious threat the industry has faced in the past half-century and the expected re-introduction of the PHIT Act by Congress.
The Italian global trade expert in footwear talks about the present and future of TheMicam trade show and the potential impact of a Border Adjustment Tax in the U.S. on imported shoes.
Dr. James Eakin, chief marketing officer and director of U.S. operations for Xenoma, discusses the Japan company’s e-skin shirt and entire wearable category.
Industry senior statesman Rusty Saunders dishes on industry leadership, pressing issues and the inactivity pandemic.
Expert Barbara Barclay, president of RightEye, talks eye-tracking technology and her company’s recent alliance with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball.
Julie Sylvester, Executive Producer at Living in Digital Times, talks trends likely to emerge at Sports and FitnessTech Summit at CES in Las Vegas.
Chris Palmer, Founder and CEO of BoxFox, talks excess inventory and solutions for vendors, retailers and distributors.
Susie McCabe, SVP of global retail for Under Armour who previously spent 16 years at The Ralph Lauren Corp., dishes on UA’s retail strategy and new Brand House in Boston.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
On the eve of Election Day, we talk to three leading industry lobbyists on how the results may impact trade in the sporting goods, outdoor and apparel and footwear industries.
The president of Reebok Future discusses the intent of the unit and the brand’s plans to develop footwear in a new way.
TREW CEO Paul Schille dishes on the eight-year old company in the process of completing its Series A round of funding and his dual career.
Milestone Sports CEO Jason Kaplan dishes on the company’s low-cost, wearable pod and how it will help specialty retailers connect.
OOFOS marketing executive talks about the recovery footwear brand and candidly about her courageous personal health journey.
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America President Matt Priest the likelihood of the Trans-Pacific Partnership being passed soon.
ING Source executives dish about compression technology and the Hickory, NC company’s breakthrough OS1st Brace Layer System.
Jones & Vining’s Charles Liberge addresses strategies and directions for the iconic brand.
Rockport Group senior executives talk about the brand’s fresh start under new ownership that has a major emphasis on versatility.
Mission Athletecare CEO Josh Shaw says thermoregulation is the New York company’s singular focus.
Tim Porth of Octane Fitness talks trends, Zero Runner and the company’s January acquisition by Nautilus Inc.
The principal and founder of Rising Tide Associates talks about industry advocate lobbying for the domestic textile and footwear industries.
The ‘47 brand executive dishes on the Boston company and long-time MLB licensee founded by his father Arthur and his late Uncle Henry.
Pam Gelsomini, president, and CB Tuite, VP–sales, discuss the company’s products, partnerships and what’s new for the season ahead.
The tradeshowdirector for the American Sportfishing Association casts comments on the activity’s popularity, and trends in fishing.
The principal and founder of Rising Tide Associates talks about industry advocate lobbying for the domestic textile.
The VP of sales and sponsorships for Spalding, Dave Coradini talks Shot Tracker and basketball.
The executive brand and product innovation leader dishes to F4M’s Emily Walzer on an array of topics.
Snow Sports Industries of America’s Kelly Davis talks weather, participation trends and how to handle the psyche.
Gene McCarthy, president of Asics America, speaks to Jen Ernst Beaudry on specialty run and more in the second part of the podcast.
Gene McCarthy, new president of Asics Americas, dishes to F4M’s Jen Ernst Beaudry in the first of a two-part podcast.
Saucony’s Richie Woodworth offers his views on brand’s running business and what it takes to manage through change.
Bruce Cazenave, CEO of Nautilus Inc., recently ranked 23rd on Fortune’s “Fastest Growing Companies” list.
Gary Smith has been at the helm of the Lawrence, MA firm for three years, and his 2016 strategies will broaden Polartec’s scope.
Wilson Sporting Goods, one year removed from its 100th anniversary and a major restructuring, has a renewed focus and strategy.
