CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Etsy will lay off 220 employees (about 12% of its workforce) as part of an organizational restructuring, while reporting 6% revenue growth but a $46.7 million quarterly net loss and reaffirming AI as a tool to augment – not replace – its workforce
+++ Bloomberg Intelligence has valued Shein at $22 billion to $25 billion, below its reported $30 billion to $40 billion IPO target, as the fast-fashion company prepares for a potential Hong Kong listing as early as Aug. 19 +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Decathlon has opened its first store on Fuerteventura, expanding its presence in the Canary Islands to eight locations and its Spanish retail network to 176 stores
+++ JanSport has opened its first global flagship store in Seoul, expanding its retail presence in Asia while debuting its full lifestyle product range and immersive brand experience
+++ Hanwag has expanded its Munich presence with its first in-store Brand Space at Globetrotter and the launch of its Kaduro “Way Beyond” campaign at Sporthaus Schuster
+++ US outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has launched a free loyalty program offering purchase-based rewards, shipping and program benefits while allowing members and Mastercard holders to direct $250,000 in charitable donations among four outdoor, conservation and wellness organizations
+++ Decathlon has opened three new City-format stores totaling more than 1,800 sqm in the Barcelona area, bringing the French sporting goods retailer’s network to 20 stores in Barcelona province and 30 across Catalonia +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) have signed a strategic partnership that supports the Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB) multi-year initiative +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 will take place on August 25-27 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with a focus on four major themes: Fashion Forward, Performance Textiles, Sustainability, and Textile Future
+++ Exhibitor bookings have opened for Slide & OTS Winter 2027, taking place Jan. 12–14 in Liverpool, with 73 stands already confirmed, equivalent to 70% of the 2026 exhibitor total +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ USWE has renewed its partnership as the official hydration pack partner of the 2026 Red Bull Tennessee Knockout, where 63% of riders used its hydration packs in last year’s event
+++ Asics will launch the Nimbus Mirai 2 globally on Oct. 1, introducing a lighter second-generation circular running shoe with an expanded take-back program and a 20% lower carbon footprint than its predecessor
+++ Moncler is putting collaborations at the center of its Fall/Winter 2026 footwear strategy, partnering with Clarks Originals, Rick Owens and Moon Boot on styles combining its mountain-performance heritage with contemporary urban design
+++ Deuter has updated its Up Stockholm lifestyle backpack for Fall/Winter 2026/27 with a redesigned urban look, improved organization and carrying comfort, while retaining certified environmental and social standards including Bluepass and Green Button certification and production without intentionally added PFAS
+++ Deuter is returning as a partner of the Ötztaler Radmarathon for the third time in 2026, providing its Infiniti Roll Bag, made from production surplus materials, for the starter packages of 4,000 riders competing over 227 km and 5,500 vertical meters on Aug. 30
+++ Wild Country has introduced a new generation of its Friend climbing cams, adding the seamless extendable Flow Cord sling, a new 0.3 size and several engineering refinements while retaining core design features including the 13.75° camming angle and double-axle construction
+++ British outdoor leisure brand Olpro has signed a licensing agreement with Atari to develop sustainable Atari-branded outdoor products, with the first products due later in 2026 and a broader range planned for 2027 +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ JD Sports has appointed former IKEA CEO Peter Agnefjäll as chairman, effective Sept. 1, succeeding interim chair Darren Shapland, who will remain on the board as an independent director
+++ Mountain Warehouse founder Mark Neale will step down as CEO after nearly 30 years, handing the role to longtime COO and CFO Marcus Ward on Sept. 1 as the British outdoor retailer and brand reports record annual revenue of £509.2m and targets future sales of £1bn
+++ German department store chain Galeria has appointed former Best Secret executive Luis Paulo Pereira Lopes as head of Inventory Management & Buying Analytics, succeeding Alexander Rings, who will leave the company at the end of September
++ Kokatat has appointed Ted Keyes as Head of Sales and Marketing and is restructuring its Canadian sales organization under Nathan Rayment, Canadian Sales Director for sister company Mustang Survival, initially aligning representation for the two brands across Eastern Canada
+++ South Dakota-based children’s bike maker Strider Bikes has promoted longtime executive Dona Nesselhuf from COO to CEO, while founder Ryan McFarland remains president
+++ Norway-based Active Brands has appointed industry veteran Amber Nero as Canadian Sales Manager for Kari Traa and Dæhlie, tasked with expanding both brands’ retail presence and commercial development across Canada +++
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