Daily News Feed 01/26/2023 Foot Locker Will Wind Down Sidestep, Cut Costs
The fashion-forward footwear banner had been underperforming, and FL was reviewing strategic options for Sidestep, which operated 86 doors in Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland at the end of last fiscal year.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed rules this month for the 117th Congress that revived a prior bid from 2017 to deem any transfer of federal lands to state, local or tribal governments as neutral to the federal budget. Vista Outdoor Names McGuane Action Sports Chief
VSTO made several moves to integrate Fox Racing, combining it with Bell, Giro, Blackburn, Copilot, Krash and Raskullz into a restructured Action Sports division under Fox president, Jeff McGuane.
The global golf equipment and apparel market tallied $19,961 million in 2022, ticking down 2% from the prior year’s record $20,451 million in sales due to supply chain constraints and economic woes, according to the latest World Golf Report from Golf Datatech and Yano Research. Nike Sues Bape over Air Force 1, Air Jordan, Dunk Copies
Nike is suing the Japanese streetwear brand in So. NY federal court, accusing it of selling “near verbatim” copies of the Eager Beavertons’ iconic sneaker designs. Beyond Yoga’s Q4 Sales Were $27 Million
Levi-Strauss’ yoga brand’s revenues were $27 million in the final quarter, compared to approximately $15 million in revenues from two months of LEVI ownership last year. Report: Kohl’s Nears CEO Decision
Tom Kingsbury, who succeeded former CEO Michelle Gass in Dec. on an interim basis, is the top candidate for the job permanently, the New York Times reported, citing inside sources. Pacsun Gets New Co-CEO as Chang Steps Down
The Golden Gate Capital-owned teen retailer will be led by current co-CEO, Mike Relich , and Pacsun’s president Brie Olson, who will add the co-CEO title, effective on Mar 8. Sapphire Sport Raises Additional Funding
Sapphire Sport, an investment platform, secured an additional $181 million funding round from a group of investors that include Adidas, Pentland, MSG Sports, and other sports and media companies, bringing its total funding to date to $300 million. Natchez Shooters Supplies Expands into Outdoor
The e-tailer has changed its name to Natchez Shooting & Outdoors to better reflect the expanded products available, which include hunting, shooting, fishing, hiking, camping, and other outdoor sports. Deckers Files Suits over Knockoffs
DECK filed two separate suits in Cen. CA district court accusing Walmart and Next Step Group of infringing on its trade dress with various boots, flip flops, and sandals.
Yeti is suing Love Deals Inc. and Endliss Technology Inc. in West TX district court for selling 20 oz. and 30 oz. tumblers that it says infringe on the Rambler Tumbler trade dress.
01/25/2023 Sustainable Sneaker Maker Opens U.S. Factory
Psudo Sneakers, founded by footwear industry veteran Michael Rich in 2020, has now opened a production facility in Los Angeles after closing a $3 million seed financing round last May through SternAegis Ventures. Matt Powell is Leaving NPD Group
The long time sporting goods industry analyst is departing NPD to start his own consulting and advisory firm, called Spurwink River, focused on merchandising and marketing. Gymshark Downsizes U.S. Headquarters
The U.K.-based activewear brand, which has appointed four new senior executives in recent weeks, is shuttering a “substantial portion” of its U.S. headquarters in Denver, CO. Coats Group Will Exit Operations in Mauritius and Madagascar
Coats inked a definitive agreement to sell its business operations in Mauritius and Madagascar to textile manufacturer and supplier Hardy Henry Textiles Ltée for undisclosed terms. L.L. Bean Plans Flagship Renovations
L.L. Bean announced a $50-plus million investment into its Freeport, ME, flagship store and retail campus to tie in with the municipality’s Freeport Downtown Vision project. Firefly Recovery Closes $1 Million Investment Round
The portable athletic recovery tech company has raised a $1 million investment round led by current and former players including Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings and the NFL’s Shaq Thompson and Darren Waller. Nike Called Out in Oregon Kangaroo Leather Ban Bill
Oregon legislators are targeting kangaroo leather in athletic footwear, namely high end soccer cleats, with a bill that would outlaw buying, receiving, selling, or commercially exchanging “any product containing a part of a dead kangaroo.” Golf Simulator Software Company Faces Lawsuit
GSPro, which just inked a partnership with Vista Outdoor’s Foresight Sports launch tracker brand, is being accused of copying TrackMan’s competing software in a suit filed in So. NY federal court. Etcetera: Solo Brands, On Running, Fanatics, Nike
01/24/2023 Strava Acquires FATMAP
The exercise tracking app and social network has acquired high-resolution 3D mapping technology platform Fatmap for planning outdoor adventures, with users in over 100 countries. Report: Hanesbrands Lays Off Headquarters Staff
The Champion brand owner has cut an unspecified number or positions at its corporate headquarters, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. More Hires at Elevate Outdoor Collective
Following last month's hire of Jon Roy as its new CMO, the parent of over a dozen outdoor and winter sports brands has now appointed Amer Sports veteran, Susanne von Hoermann as commercial director of EOC Outdoor Brands. Rumpl Adds Creative Director, Staffs Up for Growth
Rumpl hired former Smartwool creative director, Kris Fry in the same role for the outdoor blanket maker, and made several promotions to bolster its marketing and operations teams. IFit Hit with another Class Action Suit over Software
Five plaintiffs who own iFit-enabled fitness equipment are suing iFit Health & Fitness in a proposed class action filed in DE district court, claiming that a forced software upgrade bricked their consoles, rendering the machines totally inoperable.
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