CORPORATE AND M&S
+++ Helly Hansen has opened a new regional headquarters in Barcelona to centralize operations across Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Andorra, aiming to improve efficiency, strengthen coordination and support continued growth in Southern Europe
+++ eBay is closing its San Francisco office without layoffs as part of a broader strategic shift toward cost efficiency and growth areas such as fashion, peer-to-peer sales and resale, following earlier global job cuts and its acquisition of Depop
+++ Pelican has reintroduced the Hardigg name under its Pelican-Hardigg Technical Solutions division to brand its highest-tier custom protective packaging business while expanding manufacturing capacity in the US and Germany amid rising demand for mission-critical equipment cases +++
FINANCIAL REPORTING
+++ Etsy reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $651.2 million, up 0.8 percent year over year, while consolidated gross merchandise sales declined 6.5 percent to $2.8 billion, reflecting continued marketplace demand pressure alongside a focus on profitability and strategic growth initiatives
+++ eBay reported a strong first quarter of 2026 with revenue rising 19 percent to $3.1 billion, gross merchandise volume increasing 18 percent to $22.2 billion, and GAAP earnings per share reaching $1.12, while returning $639 million to shareholders
+++ Amazon topped Q1 expectations with revenue up 17 percent to $181.5 billion, net profit surging to $30.3 billion from $17.1 billion, and AWS sales rising 28 percent to $37.6 billion, while forecasting second-quarter revenue of $194 billion to $199 billion
+++ Meta beat first-quarter estimates with revenue up 33 percent to $56.3 billion and net income rising 61 percent to $26.8 billion, but shares fell after hours after the company raised 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $125 billion-$145 billion from $115 billion-$135 billion +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ Salomon has launched a repair service for apparel and bags in France, in partnership with United Repair Centre, with plans to expand across Europe in 2026 as part of its strategy to extend product lifespan and support circularity
+++ Vermont-based Renoun Skis has achieved Climate Label certification, reinforcing its commitment to verified climate accountability through transparent carbon measurement and reduction across its supply chain while continuing to position itself as a performance-driven, sustainability-focused ski brand
+++ British Cycling and Lloyds have launched the Lloyds ReCycle Hubs initiative across the UK to improve access to bicycles by refurbishing unused bikes and supporting community-led programs that address affordability and social inequality +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Craft Sportswear has welcomed four new trail athletes to its run team: Matt Daniels (US), Geneviève Asselin-Demers (Canada), Wang Liping (China) and Yin Wenjing (China)
+++ Gretel Planner, a race strategy tool for mountain and trail runners, is partnering with the Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival (MMTF) to bring its race planning technology to Southeast Asia
+++ British outdoor brand Rab, part of Equip Outdoor Technologies, is launching an updated first layer collection for spring/summer 2026, designed for mountain people in warm conditions
+++ Craft Sportswear has added Matt Daniels (USA), Geneviève Asselin-Demers (Canada), Wang Liping and Yin Wenjing (both China) to its Elite Run Team, strengthening its global athlete roster and supporting product development through high-level performance testing
+++ Spanish brand Joma is introducing a men’s trail running rain jacket made from ultra-resistant (ripstop) fabric, which is said to offer superior waterproof protection (10,000mm)
+++ Chaco, owned by Wolverine Worldwide, and Kontoor Brands’ Wrangler have partnered on an eight-piece unisex apparel and footwear capsule for outdoor-minded Gen Z and Millennial consumers, available exclusively through the brands’ websites
+++ Cotopaxi has entered the US hard-sided luggage market with its new Coraza 4-Wheel Roller line in carry-on and checked sizes, featuring recycled materials, replaceable wheels and repair-focused design as part of its broader travel growth strategy
+++ Dahon will debut the new Lunden GR at Eurobike 2026, a 20-inch tri-fold bike featuring its proprietary Dahon-V Tech platform, Shimano 8-speed hub gearing and suspension technology aimed at urban and mixed-terrain riding +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ Grassroots Outdoor Alliance reports strong and slightly increasing attendance for its 2026 Connect Show, with record participation at the Discovery Marketplace and growing engagement from both retailers and brands ahead of the June event in Reno, Nevada
+++ The Blue Earth Summit 2026 has announced its first wave of speakers and will take place Oct. 13–16 in London, bringing together founders, investors and leaders to foster collaboration and action around sustainability and the global transition +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Nemo Equipment has partnered with Storm Care Solutions as its exclusive US distributor, expanding access to PFAS-free cleaning and waterproofing products designed to extend gear lifespan and support more sustainable outdoor use
+++ Japanese outdoor brand Snow Peak has launched its third US store in Seattle, located at 3524 Stone Way
+++ According to a LinkedIn post, RevolutionRace has opened its third retail store (and its northernmost location) in Haparanda, Sweden, marking a further step in the brand’s physical retail expansion
+++ Asolo has appointed Chris Davison Agencies Ltd as its new sales partner for the UK and Ireland from May 1, 2026, as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in key international markets
+++ Polygon Bikes is launching its Canada retail network with an omnichannel distribution model, operating from a new Canadian headquarters and warehouse in Delta, British Columbia, and partnering with independent retailers across the country
+++ Klättermusen will open its first store in Gothenburg this September while also planning to expand its South Korean retail network from seven to 17 flagship stores within five years following the acquisition of distributor AYL
+++ Chinese sportswear group Anta is reportedly preparing to re-enter the Indian market, seeking to capitalize on improving bilateral relations and renewed growth opportunities after previous geopolitical tensions disrupted its earlier expansion plans
+++ Decathlon has opened a 470-sqm City-format store in central Córdoba, raising its Andalusia network to 24 locations as it continues its urban proximity expansion strategy in Spain
+++ Austrian children’s bike specialist Woom has launched direct operations in the UK with a local subsidiary, a new country manager and a planned nationwide retail rollout after UK sales surged 121 percent during a record 2025 in which the company generated €149 million in revenue +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Lenzing Group has announced the re-election of Patrick Lackenbucher as Chairman of the Supervisory Board
+++ The British Footwear Association has appointed Ian Cartwright, currently COO of Mahabis, as its new CEO, effective May 6, 2026, succeeding Richard Shetliffe and signaling a stronger focus on industry engagement and practical support for members
+++ ANWR Schuh has appointed internal candidate Melina Gerstand as head of its Product Business Unit effective May 1, tasking the former senior product manager with advancing the division’s strategic growth, sourcing profitability and supplier partnerships
+++ The German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Association (bevh) has unanimously appointed current Public Affairs executive Alien Mulyk as its new chief executive effective July 1, succeeding long-serving leader Christoph Wenk-Fischer, who will retire in January 2027 +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ Workers at REI’s San Diego store have filed to unionize with UFCW Local 135, potentially making it the 12th unionized REI location nationwide amid ongoing labor disputes and stalled contract negotiations at previously organized stores
+++ US President Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Scott Socha to lead the National Park Service after Socha cited personal reasons, ending a controversial appointment process that had drawn criticism over his hospitality-sector background amid ongoing staffing cuts at the agency +++
E-COMMERCE & DTC
+++ Alibaba International said its AI business platform Accio Work is now used by more than 230,000 online stores globally and is expanding with new Alibaba.com store management tools and a merchandise production program for non-product-focused businesses +++
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