EXEC: Rossignol Group Posts Solid Growth for Year Despite Weather Challenges
Rossignol Group posted €346 million ($381 M) revenue for the year to March 31, a 4.3% YoY increase on a like‑for‑like basis, while EBITDAR surged more than 50% despite a soft U.S. winter market. Strong snow conditions in Europe and a growing focus on year‑round mountain activities drove growth, and the company highlighted 50 Olympic medals won on its gear. Apparel and footwear now represent a quarter of sales, with a $110 M target in three years, supported by a expanding DTC network. Trail footwear sales exploded 63% after the Vercors launch, underscoring the shift toward summer‑mountain and trail‑running segments.
EXEC: Lululemon’s Shares Slide as CEO Pick Gets Mixed Reviews
Lululemon’s stock plunged about 13% after the board announced former Nike executive Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO, with a start date of September 8 due to a non‑compete clause. O’Neill, who spent 27 years at Nike and most recently...
EXEC: Oakley, Supreme and Ray-Ban Parent Posts Double-Digit Q1 Growth in North America
EssilorLuxottica posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue up 10.8% YoY (4.1% at constant exchange), with Professional Solutions and Direct‑to‑Consumer each contributing roughly 10% growth. North America led the surge, generating €3.125 bn (≈$3.41 bn) revenue, up 12.5% YoY, while the group’s total Professional Solutions...
Dead Air Silencers Hires Senior Product Manager for Accessories
Dead Air Silencers announced the hiring of Cris McRae, a veteran from Magpul Industries, as senior product manager for accessories. McRae brings over a decade of firearms‑industry experience in product development, commercialization, and market analysis. In his new role, he will...
Firearms Maker Zev Technologies Relocates HQ and Manufacturing Operations to Utah
Firearms manufacturer Zev Technologies announced it will relocate its headquarters and manufacturing from Centralia, Washington to Riverton, Utah. The company cited Washington’s evolving political climate and restrictive gun laws as reasons, preferring a state that “respects Second Amendment rights.” The...
EXEC: Apparel, Footwear and Accessories M&A Retracted DD in 2025 Due to Tariff Impact
M&A activity in the Apparel, Footwear & Accessories sector fell 13.6% in 2025, dropping to 152 deals – the first year‑over‑year decline since 2022. The slowdown was driven by lingering tariff uncertainty, especially on China and Southeast Asia, which caused...
Sierra to Open Store in Lynnwood, Washington
Sierra, the off‑price active‑wear retailer owned by TJX, will open its fifth Washington store in Lynnwood on May 9. The 22,000‑square‑foot location at 18600‑B 33rd Avenue sits beside Big 5 Sporting Goods and Albert Lee Major Appliances. The launch brings Sierra’s total...
Australia’s White Room International Acquires The Critical Slide Society
White Room International, an Australian action‑sports conglomerate, has acquired surf‑lifestyle brand The Critical Slide Society. The deal brings Critical Slide’s t‑shirts and board shorts, sold through over 300 global retailers, under White Room’s expanding portfolio. Former Knockaround and Rusty executive...
German Bike Maker Riese & Müller to Exit U.S. Market
German e‑bike specialist Riese & Müller announced it will cease all U.S. business activities by July 31, 2026, shifting its focus to the European market. The company cited volatile market conditions, pricing pressure and a fragmented dealer network as primary reasons...
The Next Wave of Wellness: Fashion & Fabric
The activewear market is pivoting toward natural fabrics as wellness‑focused consumers scrutinize what touches their skin. Cotton‑based materials now dominate preferences, with 75% favoring cotton or blends for light workouts and 66% for intense sessions, according to Cotton Incorporated’s 2025...
Herschel Supply Enters Golf Bag Category
Herschel Supply, the Vancouver‑based maker of backpacks and travel accessories, has launched a new golf line called Herschel Supply Golf. The collection includes three on‑course bags, travel wheelie bags, shoe bags, and complementary accessories, all designed for lightweight, organized, and...
Adidas Renews Contract with East Carolina Athletics In New Partnership with BSN Sports
Adidas has signed a multi‑year extension with East Carolina University, keeping the brand as the official provider of footwear, apparel and equipment for all 18 Pirate varsity teams. The renewal deepens a partnership that began in 2016 and adds BSN...
PGA Tour Superstore to Open in St. Petersburg
PGA Tour Superstore announced a new 29,600‑square‑foot location in St. Petersburg, opening on June 13. The store occupies the former Bealls space at Crosswinds Shopping Center, marking the retailer’s 12th outlet in Florida and its 77th nationwide. It will serve Pinellas...
Report: Lululemon Founder Chip Wilson Starting Athletic-Brand Venture
Chip Wilson, founder and major shareholder of Lululemon Athletica, announced a new venture to invest in and support small, founder‑led athletic apparel brands. The initiative, backed by an operating partner, will target both existing niche labels and brand‑new technical‑wear startups....
EXEC: Talking Socks with Darn Tough’s Parent President, Angelica Taylor
Angelica Taylor, the first non‑family president of Cabot Hosiery Mills, discussed Darn Tough Vermont’s evolution from a struggling Vermont mill to a premium, U.S.-made sock brand with a lifetime guarantee. The company now employs over 450 people, runs hundreds of...
Birkenstock Opens First Swiss Store
Birkenstock opened its first Swiss store on Zurich's Storchengasse, marking the brand’s 30th European location. The 70‑square‑metre shop blends modern retail with alpine‑inspired design, featuring end‑grain wood tiles, pine displays and stone‑carpet sand flooring. Interior elements reference historic Swiss motifs,...
EXEC: Karsten Hagen Named U.S. Sales Manager for Decathlon’s Van Rysel Bike Brand
Decathlon’s performance bike brand Van Rysel has appointed Karsten Hagen as its U.S. sales manager. Hagen, who spent 14 years leading Giant Bicycles USA’s Western region, brings over two decades of experience in cycling and endurance sports. His mandate is to...
Canyon Bicycles Appoints Matthias Meier As CEO
Canyon Bicycles named former DT Swiss co‑CEO Matthias Meier as its new chief executive, effective May 1, succeeding founder Roman Arnold who remains executive chairman. Meier arrives after a three‑year loss streak and a recent restructuring that cut 320 jobs and cost...
Asics Brand Joins a Plethora of Active Lifestyle Retail Stores on Boston’s Marathon Weekend
Asics America and Marathon Sports have launched the Asics Run Shop on Boston’s iconic Newbury Street, opening during the city’s marathon weekend. The concept store combines Asics footwear and apparel with a curated selection of nutrition, insoles, wearables and eyewear...
EXEC: Former Exec Sues Adidas Over Alleged Gender Discrimination
Lindsay Gregg, former head of Adidas women’s basketball sports marketing, filed a lawsuit alleging she was terminated for exposing gender discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. She claims she built the program by signing top WNBA talent such as Olivia Miles and...
Science in Sport Retains Coast 2 Coast Distribution as U.S. Cycling Distributor
Coast 2 Coast Distribution (C2C) has been appointed the exclusive U.S. distributor for Science in Sport (SiS), the UK‑based maker of cycling nutrition products. The deal gives C2C sole rights to sell SiS formulas to bike shops and cycling‑focused e‑commerce sites across the United...
New Balance Promotes Tracy Knauer to SVP, North America Marketing & E-Commerce
New Balance Athletics, Inc. promoted Tracy Knauer to senior vice president of North America, elevating her from the VP role that managed marketing, e‑commerce and consumer analytics. Knauer has spent more than 20 years at the company across marketing, product, sales...
EXEC: European Soccer E-Tailer Unisport Enters U.S. with WeGotSoccer Acquisition
European online football retailer Unisport Group has acquired Arocam, the U.S. parent of WeGotSoccer and TUDN Fan Shop, adding six physical stores to its portfolio. The acquisition positions Unisport for a rapid expansion in the United States ahead of the...
EXEC: MTB Components Brand Pembree Expands U.S. Distributor Deal with BTI
Pembree, the UK‑based mountain‑bike components brand acquired by Look Cycle in November 2024, announced an expanded U.S. distribution agreement with Bicycle Technologies International (BTI). The partnership deepens Pembree’s presence across BTI’s extensive network of independent bike dealers, leveraging BTI’s catalog of...
EXEC: BRP, Inc. Suspends Fiscal 2027 Guidance Based on U.S. Tariff Impact
BRP Inc., the maker of Ski‑Doo, Sea‑Doo and Lynx, has halted its fiscal 2027 outlook after the U.S. Section 232 amendment imposed a 25% tariff on the total value of imported snowmobiles and most off‑road vehicles. The company estimates the change...
Walmart Joins U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol in Sustainability Push
Walmart has become a member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary, science‑based program that tracks sustainability and traceability for American cotton. The protocol aggregates field‑level data across six metrics—land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse‑gas emissions, energy use...
Colt Appoints President and CEO
Prague‑based Colt CZ Group has promoted Jillair Kubish from interim chief executive to President and CEO of the Colt Manufacturing Group. Kubish, who has served as EVP of Military and Law Enforcement, brings more than two decades of firearms industry experience,...
EXEC: Amazfit Parent Zepp Health Corp. Narrows Q4 Net Loss as Revenues Surge
Zepp Health Corp., the Dutch parent of Amazfit, posted Q4 2025 revenue of $85.2 million, a 43 % year‑over‑year increase that hit the top of its guidance range. Gross margin rose to a record 40.4 %, driven by a premium‑focused product mix and...
EXEC: Nike and Apple CEOs Snatch Up Nike Stock Following Sell-Off
Nike’s shares jumped 3% to $44.20 after CEO Elliott Hill and Apple CEO Tim Cook each bought roughly 24,000 Class B shares at about $42.40 per share. The purchases follow a sharp sell‑off triggered by Nike’s fiscal Q3 results, which warned...
Vuori Hires Chief Product Officer
Vuori, the California‑based active‑lifestyle brand, has appointed Heather Archibald as its first Chief Product Officer. In the newly created role she will oversee the entire product lifecycle—from design and raw‑material planning to merchandising and sourcing strategy—driving the company’s global product...
Report: Western Winter Resorts Weakness Continued in March; Summer Bookings Up
The March market brief from DestiMetrics shows western ski resorts battling a warm, dry season, with overall occupancy down 12% year‑over‑year and winter revenue falling 13.9%. Colorado and Utah lagged behind the Rest of the West, but even the latter...
EXEC: Academy’s Chief Merchant Talks ‘Better, Best’ Push, Commitment to Newness
Academy Sports + Outdoors is accelerating a "good, better, best" merchandising strategy to capture customers throughout their activity lifecycle, adding premium brands like Jordan and exclusive fitness line Hyrox. The retailer aims for 5% annual sales growth and high‑single‑digit earnings...
GoPro Tests Defense and Aerospace Market Opportunities
GoPro announced a strategic push into the defense and aerospace sectors, hiring consulting firm Oliver Wyman to evaluate market potential. The engagement will chart addressable segments, product synergies and go‑to‑market strategies while liaising with government and aerospace stakeholders. GoPro highlighted existing...
Nordstrom Debt Ratings Outlook Revised to Positive
S&P Global Ratings changed Nordstrom’s credit outlook to positive after the department store exceeded its 2025 operating targets. Same‑store sales grew 5% at the Nordstrom banner and 8.5% at Nordstrom Rack, while the company fully repaid the incremental debt taken...
Wilson Golf Launches Brand Awareness Campaign in Times Square
Wilson Golf debuted its Play Original brand campaign on the iconic 20 Times Square LED façade, a nine‑story, 17,000‑square‑foot 8K curved screen that draws roughly 360,000 pedestrians daily. The campaign runs through April, promoting the company’s 2026 product line—including Staff Model...
Mervin Manufacturing Acquired by Spring Capital Group
Mervin Manufacturing, the parent of Libtech, Bent Metal and Gnu action‑sports brands, has been acquired by Oregon‑based private investment firm Spring Capital Group. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal underscores a commitment to U.S. manufacturing, with the new owner...
EXEC: Puma SE Appoints New SVP for Creative Direction
Puma SE announced the appointment of James Carnes as Senior Vice President for Creative Direction, a newly created role that reports to Chief Brand Officer Maria Valdes. Carnes, who spent more than two decades at Adidas and most recently worked as an...
Univ of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Drops to All-Time Low on War Worries
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 47.6 in early April, an all‑time low and a 10.7‑point drop from March, far below analysts’ forecast of 52. The decline reflects heightened anxiety over the Iran conflict and rising energy...
EXEC: Resale Activity Continues to Boom
ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report shows the U.S. secondhand apparel market reached $56 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $78.8 billion by 2030, outpacing traditional retail. Gen Z and Millennials will generate 64 percent of incremental resale spend, with Gen Z alone driving 40 percent...
EXEC: Nike Makes Change at Innovation Chief, Suffers Another Stock Downgrade
Nike announced that chief innovation officer Tony Bignell will leave after less than a year, with VP and creative director Andy Caine slated to take over on April 12. The change marks the third innovation chief turnover in under three...
EXEC: Asia FW Factory Shipments Down in March 2026, Declines Mid- to High-Singles in Q1
Asian athletic footwear manufacturers saw shipment growth slow in March 2026 as tariff pressures intensified. Feng Tay Enterprises reported a 7.7% year‑over‑year revenue decline to NT$6.6 billion (≈US$206 million), while Yue Yuen Industrial posted an 11.5% shipment drop and March revenue of...
NAIA Renews Soccer Ball Partnership with Select Sport
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has renewed its sponsorship with Danish equipment maker Select Sport, extending the official soccer‑ball partnership through December 2030. Select Sport will continue supplying match balls for men’s and women’s regular‑season games and national championships,...
American Holoptics Acquires Armasight
American Holoptics announced the acquisition of the Armasight night‑vision and thermal‑optics brand from Ecentria Group, the parent of OpticsPlanet.com. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Holoptics, headquartered in Clawson, Michigan, said the purchase will diversify its product portfolio,...
UFC Gym to Open Seven Locations in Spain
UFC Gym announced entry into Spain with seven locations, converting six CR7 Fitness gyms and opening a new site. The chain will operate two formats—UFC Gym Signature, a full‑service facility, and UFC Gym Jiu Jitsu, a boutique MMA‑focused studio. At...
EXEC: Academy Sports Scores Stock Price Upgrades Following Analyst Day
Academy Sports + Outdoors unveiled a five‑year growth plan that projects 5% annual sales growth, 125 new stores and e‑commerce rising to 15% of revenue by 2030. The outlook prompted several analysts to lift price targets, with B. Riley moving...
EXEC: Birkenstock Opens New Store in Bordeaux, France
Birkenstock opened its 30th full‑price European store on Bordeaux’s Cours de l’Intendance, expanding beyond its two Paris locations. The boutique is situated in the city’s “Golden Triangle” and showcases local limestone, vintage regional furniture, and blue cork displays that echo...
Former Yeti CFO Lands at Jeweler Kendra Scott
Mike McMullen, who served as CFO of outdoor‑gear maker Yeti for three years, has been appointed chief financial officer of Austin‑based jeweler Kendra Scott Design. McMullen oversaw Yeti’s successful IPO and a rapid expansion of its international and direct‑to‑consumer operations before...
EoS Fitness Completes 14 Acquisitions and $10 Million in Reinvestment in Q1
EoS Fitness announced a rapid expansion in Q1 2026, completing 14 gym acquisitions, opening three new locations and signing 11 fresh leases. The company reinvested $10 million into existing clubs to upgrade layouts, technology and member experience. Acquired big‑box facilities in...
Under Armour, Dick’s SG Form Youth Sports Partnership with Unrivaled Sports
Under Armour and Dick’s Sporting Goods have teamed with Unrivaled Sports to launch a youth‑sports partnership. The collaboration will debut with the Ripken Nationals 12‑U baseball championship, featuring Under Armour apparel and Dick’s livestream coverage. Both brands will also support...
Survey: Consumers Favor Multi-Brand Retailing for Sporting Goods Purchases
A National Sporting Goods Association survey of 1,200 U.S. adults shows 79% of shoppers favor multi‑brand sporting‑goods stores, and nearly 70% prefer them for apparel and footwear. The top driver—seeing a variety of brands in one location—was cited by 59%...