RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Pacific Glory, owned by Taiwan’s Ideal Bike, is establishing a new US distribution arm to handle sales and support for its Fuji, SE and Tuesday brands, shifting to a retailer-first model while current distributor BikeCo winds down inventory and ships select orders in early 2026
+++ Hervis expanded its presence in Tyrol, Austria, by opening a new 550-sqm store with integrated ski rental in Kirchberg on Dec. 20, 2025, offering winter sports equipment, service and in-store consultation
+++ New York City-based O5 Group has expanded its licensing portfolio by becoming the North American licensee for Dickies men’s and for Eddie Bauer men’s and women’s wholesale and e-commerce, adding to its existing Quiksilver and Billabong business
+++ La Sportiva will open its second North American retail store in February in Salt Lake City, featuring a full product range, community programming and the brand’s first US ReSoul Lab for climbing-shoe resoling +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ BenQ Materials has received the Family-Friendly Workplace Award from CommonWealth Parenting for its paid parental leave, childcare subsidies, caregiver support and inclusive DEI policies that strengthen work–life balance and employee well-being
+++ Spinnova has added Tommy Hilfiger, owned by PVH Corp., to its Fashion for Good–endorsed consortium to secure access to Spinnova fiber and expand sustainable textile applications across the brand’s product categories +++
E-COMMERCE & DTC
+++ Amazon has launched Alexa.com, a dedicated website for its generative AI–powered Alexa+ assistant that syncs with users’ devices to research topics, take actions and continue conversations across platforms +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Outnorth has become the new title sponsor of Sweden’s largest trail running series, renaming it the Outnorth Trailtour and reinforcing running as a fast-growing core business area for the outdoor retailer
+++ Scott announced that its DH Factory Team has added downhill riders Dakotah Norton and Jess Blewitt for the upcoming season +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Marseille-based outerwear brand Jott (Just over the top), owned by L Catterton and known for its down jackets, has filed for bankruptcy after failed recapitalization efforts and is now looking for a buyer
+++ Industry veteran Rick Blackshaw, formerly with HeyDude, Keds, Newell Brands and others, has launched a new casual-lifestyle shoe brand called Stoke Footwear, aimed at everyday American men underserved by traditional athletic footwear, with a nationwide retail rollout starting March 1
+++ Velo-ce has acquired the titanium bicycle brand Van Nicholas from Accell to expand into the premium adventure and touring segment, with plans to strengthen the brand’s European presence and dealer support +++
FINANCIAL REPORTING
+++ S&P Global removed Compass Diversified from CreditWatch and affirmed its ratings but maintained a negative outlook as the group works to reduce leverage following the Lugano bankruptcy and considers asset sales to meet lender covenants +++
OBIT
+++ Joe Montgomery, the bicycle design pioneer who founded Cannondale and helped usher in lightweight bike innovation, has passed at age 86 +++
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