The U.S. Northeast, mostly in New England, will lose another 1.16 million square feet of specialty retail space by June 21 when 21 Bob’s and 27 Eastern Mountain Sports stores shutter for good following liquidations by Gordon Bros./Hilco. Sales commence April 12. The locations designated for closure, as part of bankrupt Eastern Outfitter’s private sale to UK-based Sportsdirect.com, will slash the brick-and-mortar presence of both banners by more than 50 percent.
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Eighteen China- or Taiwan-based footwear suppliers are owed nearly $138 million in aggregate by bankrupt shoe retailer Payless ShoeSource, which filed for Chap. 11 protection, along with 28 affiliates, last week and promptly announced it would shutter nearly 400 stores as part of its re-organization. Additionally, Payless, which has secured $385 million in debtor-in-possession financing, intends to slash its debt in half and make new investments in inventory and online expansion. Read More...
The growing dominance of Jacksonville, FL-based Fanatics, controlled by Michael Rubin, continued last week with its purchase of VF Corp.’s Licensed Sports Group business, which includes the Majestic Athletic domestic manufacturing operation in Easton, PA. The move presumably saves the jobs of staffers there who produce Major League Baseball jerseys, and will apparently continue to do so beyond 2019 when Under Armour will be the league’s on-diamond brand in partnership with Fanatics.
Approximately 380 workers at JanSport’s Collegiate Licensed Division in Appleton, WI, which at one time decorated licensed apparel for more than 3,000 colleges, do not face the same employment future. In a matter of months, parent VF will wind down its licensed ops there to focus on growing its Vans, The North Face and Timberland brands.
Elsewhere in licensed, Major League Baseball is touting a new partner this season in SustainU. The Morgantown, WV company, headed by CEO and former Notre Dame football player Chris Yura, is producing and marketing U.S.-produced T-shirts constructed with recycled fabrics, postconsumer polyester and postindustrial cottons.
New Era Cap, meanwhile, last week teamed with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers and REPREVE on the league first licensed hat made with four recycled plastic bottles. The recycled fiber made from the bottle is produced by Unifi.
The national co-operative is stepping forward with a comprehensive program to advance gender equity in the outdoors. Components of the program, which includes the launch of 1,000+ events designed for women starting May 6, include a $1 million donation to support nonprofits that create opportunities for women in the outdoors and an increased focus on developing technical gear and apparel for women.
REI, where women hold more than 40 percent of the senior executive posts, is wrapping its women’s message around the tag “Force of Nature.”
The co-op will put women first and foremost in all digital marketing, social media content and media partnerships for the remainder of 2017. Last month, REI teamed with Outdoor magazine on the publication’s first all-women’s issue, and this fall, it will host a film festival focused on women in the outdoors.
Approximately half of the $1 million investment in nonprofits will go to organizations such as Camber Outdoors, GirlTrek and the YMCA’s BOLD/GOLD initiative. Additionally, a new half-million-dollar fund is being earmarked for additional organizations that create opportunities for women and girls in the outdoors. At least 60 percent of the fund will be generated by a custom-designed bandana, an artist collaborative T-shirt and member-exclusive REI Flash pack.
A couple of notable sneaker re-sale platforms were in the news last week. StockX, the Detroit-based company that bills itself as the first online consumer “stock market of things” for high-demand, limited-edition kicks, is launching a video series, StockX TV, for the web and television that will focus on the resale sneaker market and will tie together data and celebrities. It will be presented by Hypebeast, hosted by StockX CEO Josh Luber and feature guest appearances from sports, music and culture celebrities. The first 10-minute episode, shot in downtown Detroit, debuted on April 5. It is available for streaming on StockX.com, Hypebeast.com, SkeeTV and the Monumental Sports Network in the Washington, DC.. area.
Meanwhile, according to Glossy.com, sneaker resale app GOAT, launched 18 months ago, has raised $37.6 million in capital to date, including $25 million in February. The app, whose name comes from the “Greatest of All Time,” reportedly has 1.5 million users and an average order value of $330. However, one challenge facing the Los Angeles company, which says it has a waitlist of over 60,000 resellers that want to be approved to do business on GOAT, is its 7- to 10-day business shipping process for all orders outside of Southern California. Delivery time may improve to as few as two business days when GOAT opens a DC on the East Coast.
Brooks Sports, after three years, is shuttering its throwback lifestyle Heritage Collection, the Seattle-based running brand announced last week. Among the nine styles revived were the 1976 Vanguard, 1982’s Chariot and 1993’s Regent. The brand showcased special packs as well as collaborations with sneaker heavies including BAIT, Atmos, Barney’s New York and Concepts. The final collection, Gelateria, inspired by the flavors of the Italian frozen treat, will release May 1. Zappos arrived in Nashville last week to commence its summer retail marketing program called “Friends with Benefits Road Show.” The initiative, which will move to Madison, WI, Portland, OR and other cities, features a Zappos retail experience for locales to see, try on and buy apparel onsite while asking Zappos employees for advice. Fun elements include a live band, sponsored pet adoptions and free local food and beer. PF Flyers is introducing the All American, based on a 1960s best seller, in five color ways, with a premium New Balance footbed and vintage detailing. The $65/70 retail styles will be in select retailers and on pfflyers.com. New Balance owns the brand.
Academy Sports + Outdoors hires Sam Johnson, the former Chief Retail Officer for hhgregg and a former 20+ year executive for Sears, as EVP of Retail Operations where he’ll oversee the day-to-day business of the 225-door chain.
Athletic apparel brands were named the preferred label of 41 percent of surveyed teens in Piper Jaffray’s Spring study on the set, up 15 percent year-over-year. Nike was the top apparel and footwear brand among the 5,500 surveyed. Adidas, the “top new brand by males,” moved up to the fifth most popular brand from 10th last year. Lululemon was fourth and Patagonia was the fifth most most-desired brand among teens.
Under Armour, which rolled out is first shopping app (UA Shop) last June, is laying off two dozen staffers from Connected Fitness unit. Most are from the segment’s Endomondo app based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Samonsite International, which acquired premium luggage retailer Tumi for $1.8 billion in March 2016, has acquired web-only travel bag retailer eBags for $105 million in cash. Launched in 1999, eBags generated a 24 percent increase in FY16 revenues to $158.5 million. The acquisition is expected to help Samsonite expand its e-commerce presence.
Retail jobs lost in February-March timeframe surpassed 60,000. The segment now accounts for 10.9 percent of the U.S. workforce versus 11.6 percent in 2000.
Hyperlocal, bringing the speed and convenience of online delivery to small businesses and their customers will be one of the biggest trends in payment technology this year, according to Retail Touchpoints.
Avery Dennison has struck a global Radio Frequency Identification partnership with Target Corp. to deploy the technology in more than 1,600 stores to maximize inventory availability and prevent stock outs in key segments such as apparel and home products.
Dick’s is closing in on 700 U.S. stores with six openings this month, including at a former Sports Authority in Colorado Mills, Colorado on April 19, to bring its door count to 692.
Speedo USA, a division of PVH Corp., will be the exclusive provider of aquatic uniforms and teaching aids to all 150+ Streamline Brands schools. The Denver-based swim school franchisor operates SafeSplash, Swimtastic and SwimLabs and hopes to have 400 locations open by 2020.
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.
