Wendy Yang

Great post Matt- good to see numbers for Run! The price issue is not all brand margin related, new polymers and processes are really expensive and factories are mostly left to do all development and pre-production as brands lack qualified talent and are mostly staffed by those looking to avoid adding risk or attachable decisions to their daily- to try and keep the desk! Nike’s well chronicled layoffs (also your posts!) have further spooked the industry creative/engineering and Production players! I do not see prices coming down any time soon, due to China avoidance and Vietnam capacity tightening ( plus the political footballs in Cambodia/Myanmar) - so those walls will need to be climbed to grow the category and capture market share from the big brands! Well spotted on womens as the fastest growth market - which will hopefully drive investment capital and we continue to see better technical/well fitting products come to the segment! #mattpowell #runningshoes #femalerunners

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More on the big news of the day. Season? Big news of the year.

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Welcome to My Weekly 1-Minute Read: Top 3 Positive Stories in Retail! The Reinvention of an Iconic Brand:  Abercrombie & Fitch has pulled off an incredible transformation! Under CEO Fran Horowitz's leadership, this once struggling mall brand has become a Wall Street darling, boasting a 104% YTD increase. The secret sauce? Revamping products, modernizing stores, and rebranding as an inclusive and equitable retailer. Their journey shows that with dedication, patience, and a bit of bold change, anything is possible. Can't wait to see what's next for this iconic brand! #RetailReinvention #Leadership #InclusiveBranding The Merging of Digital and Physical JD.com, China's e-commerce giant, has partnered with Inditex, the Spanish fashion group. They launched a new Massimo Dutti flagship store on JD.com, featuring nearly 1,000 products, including exclusive items for JD customers. This collaboration highlights JD's role in connecting international brands with Chinese consumers and Inditex's commitment to digital transformation in China. #RetailPartnership #Ecommerce #FashionInnovation The Value of Community  REI Co-op has given back nearly $270 million to its community, supporting employees, nonprofits, and the planet. CEO Eric Artz emphasized their commitment to making a positive impact. Despite a slight sales dip to $3.8 billion, they returned over $200 million to 24 million co-op members. #CommunityImpact #REICoop #GivingBack Stay tuned for more positive stories in the retail world!

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Had an insightful conversation with Shoshy Ciment of Footwear News on the topic of loyalty, resulting in a highly informative article by her. Grateful to have been a small part of this key discussion. Check out the article below to learn more about loyalty programs from Foot Locker, UA, Kith, Naturalizer and more. Link: https://lnkd.in/eXSNTr_K

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Ideally, I would start with “Outdoor Retailer is dead, long live [Powerful brand name for this new show]!”  My time in SLC was not what I expected—both in positive and negative ways. As I already alluded to, Emerald should strongly consider changing the name. The event that wraps up today in the Salt Palace is not recognizable as the heritage OR.  It’s not the same brands, the same feel, the same buyers, or even the same smell.  It’s something else: smaller, younger, rougher around the edges.  Anyone who came to the show thinking they would get the old show was disappointed, which I think is a huge issue.  Because the event itself wasn’t disappointing if you had different (or in my case, lower) expectations - it was pretty energetic, relatively well-attended, and to my eye, full of potential if a couple of other changes happened. Second, there is no way that this show should be in the middle of June.  I’ll say it again:  June is full, please come back again next month.  The reps and retailers have spent the last 4 weeks looking at lines, and now we need to write orders with our major brands.  OR isn’t about big brands anymore - it’s more of a show for peripheral brands.  And while I did find four small companies to buy from, I did that at the expense of being back in my office.  Meanwhile, I saw very few independent buyers from other states (because they are all in the same spot in the buying process).  I did see a fair number of buyers from two other silos.  There were badges from local Utah shops, and then there were the huge corporations.  Most of the retailer badges I saw were from Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Urban Outfitters, TJX, Academy, and the like. Most of the attendees were people not directly involved in the buy/sell process.  Tons of media, many service providers, and people just walking the show made it a little tough to get into booths in the afternoon. But the Emerald team that put this show together should feel great about the progress that they have made.  It’s a way better scene than had been described by people who had gone to recent iterations.  And you can see how this thing could work. Will I go back to OR?  If it continues in its current timeframe,  I don’t know that I would.  Now that I am at home, looking at a pile of order forms I am already behind on, I am very stressed.  Would I go to that show in July (or January for the winter season)?  Yeah, I think that I would.  My big orders would be done, and I would be looking to gamble a little with my remaining open-to-buy. It was fun, the vibe was good, and it felt like a place where I might find smaller brands that I could sell.  Plus, I would suspect that a later-in-the-season show might attract other people to whom I am connected. Just don’t call it Outdoor Retailer. #outdoorindustry #outdoorretailer #specialtyretail

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Today’s results from Peloton bear all the hallmarks of a company that is still trying to adjust to a market that is shifting against its favor. Despite various restructuring efforts over the past couple of years, Peloton is still deeply loss making and its business model is still broken. This quarter’s $167.3 million net loss, which is admittedly better than last year’s $275.9 million loss, is one of the reasons why Peloton is taking further action to slash its costs by $200 million annually. This includes cutting up to 400 staff, or 15% of the workforce. This is effectively an admission that the business is still too large to sustain itself and that vanity projects such as retail showrooms are still not delivering financially. It was great to chat with CNBC about today's numbers... #retail #retailnews #Peloton #sportinggoods #fitness https://lnkd.in/eyDvYKwr

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Monday, May 6: 👟 Outdoor retailer REI is betting big on running. After pulling back on its own branded footwear, which the retailer will no longer make, REI is now expanding its footwear offerings with new partnerships with brands like On Running. 👗 Luxury ecommerce platform Mytheresa says it will be one of the few winners following the implosion of competitors including Farfetch and Matchesfashion. The company’s share price has gained c30% so far this year. 💰 After years of price increases, food companies say more consumers are pulling back and big brands are losing out. Fast food chains and snack makers plan new deals and flavors to compensate. 👕 Ralph Lauren has launched his Fall/Holiday 2024 collection in a minimal and intimate fashion show. The collection features designs in soothing neutral tones, Western accents, and occasional cowboy hats. 🏃🏽‍♂️ Dan Sheridan, the CEO of Brooks Running, the running shoe maker owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has said he views China and Europe as strong growth areas for the business. 🤖 AI will manage all Sam's Club exit checks by end of 2024 in an effort to slash bottlenecks at the door. The new tech has been rolled out at 20% of Sam's Club stores so far. 🥫 There’s a new retailer getting into the private-label food business, and it isn’t your local Walmart or Target. It’s Ace Hardware Corporation. The chain has debuted a line of own-brand barbecue sauces and seasonings. 🛍️ Retailers are feeling jittery. Consumers aren’t shopping like they used to. In a game of chicken between stores and shoppers, it’s the stores that appear to be yielding first, by dropping prices on thousands of products. 🎒Beach bag brand ALOHA Collection is riding the retail store wave. The company, which sells splash-proof travel bags and pouches, opened its fifth retail location in the US on Saturday. ☕️ Former Starbucks boss Howard Schultz said the coffee giant needs to renew its focus and own its shortcomings, especially in the US, after the chain delivered disappointing earnings results last week. 💪🏼 More than 80% of business leaders believe the U.S. economy is strong compared to just 40% of American consumers, according to a report from the Milken Institute and Harris Poll. 🚬 The Wall Street Journal suggests that many US cannabis companies could become profitable if the Biden administration follows through on its place to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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"...The other good news is that there will always be a market for new, innovative and high performance product. Just look at the continued success of On, Arc'teryx and Vuori or the emergence of newer brands like Wild Rye, Gnara and LIVSN." This synopsis on the saga that has been the outdoor industry since I entered it, which recognizes that what we are doing at Gnara with our GoFly Technology is both important and working (from a PE-backed retail CEO with successful exits to Walmart and Dicks Sporting Goods, who also happens to be a personal mentor I look up to in this industry, no less) means a lot. #femalefounder #outdoorindustry #patentedtechnology #inclusivedesign #innovation #entrepreneurship #startup

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I've been working at Nike for sixteen years. This summer, I am reflecting back on what I have learned and sharing in the hope that it helps you on your path. Learning One: You will miss the people deeply when they are no longer around. When you begin your career it is easy to see those around you as fixed, static, ones who will always be there. Yet that’s not how it will be. There will come a time when you will change jobs, leave, move, or retire. And so will they. What seems normal now, saying hi as you walk in the building, past a desk, or on the Zoom will be a distant memory. You will both evolve, and their influence on you will help you as you experience something similar ahead… or when you see someone who has. But that isn’t fully the point. As Andy Barnard from the Office put it, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” I miss so many of my former teammates, and I am so grateful for the way they have collectively shaped who I am today. If I could go back, what would I do? I’d keep a journal. In that journal I would reflect on the people who made a difference in my journey, while it was happening. I’d use that as a reason to keep in touch better, even when they weren’t on my team, in my city, or at my company. What about you? How do you keep in touch with incredible people you meet on tbe way? #careers #thoughtleadership #learning

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One of the most rewarding things I get to do professionally is this presentation - a session aimed at helping brands and their sales teams understand how most independent retailers formulate their buying plans, and how that understanding can lead to more long-term sales. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to present this to dozens of brands. I’ve been in front of the sales team for the biggest brand in the outdoor industry, and startups that have one employee. The consistently surprising thing that I observe is this - most people responsible for selling to wholesale have at best a fuzzy understanding of the math that buyers use to spend their open-to-buy, and it’s a huge unlock for their success when they learn it. Knowing how and why a wholesale account spends money with you - beyond “because we make cool stuff” - gives you the opportunity to be an exceptional brand partner. Plus, it can make everyone more money. If you’re interested in learning more about how to bring this session to your team, please reach out. One other thing. This was my first time back to Outdoor Retailer in years. It’s a completely different show than what it once was . The thing that inspired me to accept this gig was that it’s mostly now made up of small brands. Some of those brands are very small businesses- just like Sunlight Sports. I hope that something that we talked about in my session helps one of those people who have risked so much on their new startup brand be successful. If so, what a great feeling. More thoughts on OR overall to come. Katie Soule thanks for the post! #outdoorretailer #outdoorindustry #independentlyowned

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“Our new store concept cements Foot Locker’s position as the leader in sneaker culture by offering an engaging, cutting-edge shopping experience for the sneaker passionate,” Foot Locker’s president and CEO Mary Dillon stated in a press release.  I spoke with Inside Retail US and Nicole Kirichanskaya and what this all means for the 👟 retailer. Some of my insights: Foot Locker is headed in the right direction with their ’store of the future’ strategy. In fact, it is long overdue. This strategy will put a spotlight on product obsessed sales associates, hyper-localized assortments as well as curated experiences. Rethinking the physical store will get Footlocker to take customer insights and inform product and store decisions based on location and community. This will make every store different and get customers excited about visiting the retailer. The sneaker industry has lost a lot of its luster. Brands like Nike and Under Armour are overstocked with SKUs, and adidas would have had a rough year if it wasn’t for the Samba. Additionally, there are more brands competing for market share. On and HOKA have taken the running community by storm. Brooks Running is focused on innovation and wholesale while PUMA Group and Reebok are relying on celebrities as creative directors to capture a new customer base. The hype around exclusivity and limited editions is not as exciting for consumers, and it will take a lot more than just the product to persuade shoppers to buy. Retailers like Footlocker have the upper hand if they reimagine the physical store as a destination for innovative and exciting experiences vs. focussing on pushing a handful of brands. It’s all about the customer and getting them to spend time in your store. Find the entire article here --> https://lnkd.in/ebzaEUam Shoutout to Neil Saunders and Marie Driscoll, CFA 🙌🏽 #retail #retailnews #footlocker #footwearnews #stores #cx #merchandising

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DICK'S Sporting Goods Quarter 1 Results: ⚽ Delivers Net Sales of $3.02 Billion, Up 6.2% Versus the Prior Year ⚾ Delivers Double-Digit EBT Margin of 11.3% 🏀 Delivered 5.3% comparable sales growth, driven by growth in transactions and average ticket 🏈 Reported earnings per diluted share of $3.30 with 4% EBT growth 🎾 Raises full year 2024 guidance for comparable sales growth to a range of 2.0% to 3.0%, up from 1.0% to 2.0% previously 🏐 Raises full year 2024 earnings per diluted share guidance to a range of $13.35 to 13.75, up from $12.85 to 13.25 previously #dsglife #dickssportinggoods #results

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One of my most memorable moments is golfing as a family for the first time. 4 hours of quality outdoor time and exercise together. No phones, no interruptions, just talking and laughing together. Golf is our favorite family sport that we all love! It’s nice to start reading about it in the retail industry and see the evolution of indoor golf like Topgolf (rainy day and winter strategy). The brands should listen to me when I tell them to do golf capsules😊. Its a big business opportunity…not one existing brand does it completely! 4 golfers in our family and the guys are estatic with the gear and garb. Women unfortunately have to shop ten different brands (sometimes mens only brands) to put an outfit and equipment together. Men’s needs an updqte and stronger white assortment that isn’t sheer 🙄. Not fun to see boobs and chest hair on the course (imagine when it rains 🤦🏻‍♀️). Kudos to Sunday Golf (made my favorite bag) and G/FORE (pops up at our course)and REDVANLY for (bright colors, matching sets and pull on yet very cool shorts for men, Yes they have belt loops) If you want to grab your market share of the golf apparel industry, reach out to me and let’s collaborate now on design, fit, assortment and marketing approach. Golf is an all year, global, multigenerational BUSINESS with massive reach, buying power and growth potential. Tinag@tgretailconsulting.com. Huge revenue and client acquisition opportunity 🙌🏻 PS the image with the golfer in short shorts is misleading Great share Tim Boerkoel

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Nike has continued its shift from direct-to-consumer (D2C) to wholesale channels over the past three months. Matthew Friend John Donahoe #Retail #TextileRetail #ApparelRetail #RetailNews #DailyNews #USA #footwear #RetailIndustry #ApparelResources #ApparelIndustry #FashionBrand

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"It’s about extending our ability to find incredible brands we believe our customers will love and introducing them to those brands at a bigger scale, without the cost of a #wholesale model.” A lot to applaud in Nordstrom's #marketplace launch (#TLDR their vision is to become "The Spotify of #Fashion") ... enabling broader, deeper assortments; building out extended sizes; making marketplace items accessible to in-store #stylists; offering tailoring and alterations; and perhaps most importantly, allowing in-store #returns for marketplace purchases. In addition, I think they should use this as an opportunity to extend beyond "#gifting, #home, and #outdoor" and build share of wallet across a broader range of products and services. For some retailers, a marketplace is a chance to try and become #TheEverythingStore. For most, however, it's an opportunity to curate a range of goods and services that are tailored to your target customer(s), without the requisite costs of setting up #fullstack teams., processes, and #OTB to support. https://lnkd.in/g9aR6sjE

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Footwear leading the way in female senior appointments, with females also leading the way in discretionary purchases across apparel and footwear, according to recent research #DE&I

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Retail Today / Retail Renaissance: This morning we are sticking with Specialty Retail, the amazing story of Abercrombie! 🔥🔥🔥 Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Under the leadership of CEO Fran Harowitz since 2017, she has recreated this brand that is setting customers, vendors and investors on fire. #customers #aspirationalshoppers Just a few crazy facts, their stock was up 390% last year! This year it’s up 100%! 💵💵💵 #investors #wallstreet Sales last year +16% , but first-quarter results this year +22%; a record breaking quarter. #sales Two fantastic brands: Abercrombie - focused on millennials. Hollister - appealing to GenZ. #abercrombiefitch #millennials #hollister #genz #brands How did they do it? “PRODUCT”! They listen to their customers and provided classic colors and styles. They aren’t afraid of SOCIAL MEDIA, working with both influencers and creators on TikTok. Joanna Williams #product #merchandising #fashion #style #design #socialmedia #tiktok Can they keep up this pace? Can Richard Dickson find a path forward for Gap? #gap #retail #retailtrends #retailindustry #shoppingexperience #brandexperience #apparelindustry #TopRetailExpert

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Consumer insight and data is crucial for all of us as it helps us understand which brands mean the most (or least) to the consumer and how your brand stacks up with the competition. Anyone who is curious about which athletic, outdoor, casual and dress footwear brands are resonating with the consumer, read on...

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In 2013, Nate Checketts and I were friends emerging from painful entrepreneurial speedbumps. We both dreamed of launching our own outdoor/athletic apparel brands (Cotopaxi and Rhone). We could have seen each other as competitors, but we instead invested a few thousand dollars in each other’s businesses in a show of solidarity (and when I say a few thousand dollars, it was an embarrassingly small number because neither of us had money). We ended up launching within weeks of each other. Nate gave me valuable feedback on early Cotopaxi logo concepts, we shared supplier contacts, media leads, and investor intros. For the last decade, we’ve been each other’s biggest cheerleaders. As both brands were getting started, Peter Lane Taylor from Forbes wrote an article about each of us (an intro from Nate). Peter has covered dozens of startup brands over the years - many are no longer around or are shadows of their original vision. A few of them, however, scaled remarkably fast. This is an article highlighting five standout brands and what set them apart. I want to give Nate a huge high five and hug for the incredible job he’s done as a founder/CEO and for his sincere friendship over the years. Your friendship and support has meant the world to me, Nate.

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