Why Nike's New CEO's Lack of Apparel Experience Should Concern Investors - Motley Fool

Why Nike's New CEO's Lack of Apparel Experience Should Concern Investors - Motley Fool

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• Why Nike's New CEO's Lack of Apparel Experience Should Concern Investors - Motley Fool
• Arrive Expands Into Snow Apparel Rentals - Shop-Eat-Surf.com
• Kali Apparel opens in DeMotte | Lifestyle - Newsbug.info
• Kawhi Leonard Files to Trademark Phrases for Footwear & Apparel - Yahoo Sports

Why Nike's New CEO's Lack of Apparel Experience Should Concern Investors - Motley Fool Posted: 29 Oct 2019 02:52 AM PDT The timing is curious, to say the least. Less than a day after Under Armour (NYSE:UA) (NYSE:UAA) founder Kevin Plank resigned as CEO, the top executive at Nike (NYSE:NKE), Mark Parker, announced he'd be stepping down in January. Even more curious is his replacement. Whereas Under Armour named apparel veteran and current company president Patrik Frisk as its next CEO, Nike went outside the company, and even outside the industry, selecting ServiceNow CEO John Donahoe for the position. Prior to taking the helm at ServiceNow, Donahoe was the chief of eBay. It's not a completely outrageous idea. All companies are to some extent "tech" companies these days, and perhaps Nike more so than most. It's focusing in a big way on its online-selling efforts and is using technology in innovative ways to streamline inventory management. A tech veteran brings value to the table. It would be premature to suggest, however, that design and style no longer matter in the industry. Consumers are fickle about footwear If you think an athletic apparel company's sheer size can dictate to consumers what's hot and what's not, think again. No amount of marketing firepower or clout -- or even availability -- ensures sales. And sometimes demand takes shape almost by accident. Image source: Getty Images. One only has to look at one of this summer's hottest teen footwear trends to see the connection. Crocs shoes were all the rage, not despite their "ugly" look but likely because of it. The brand was ranked as the 13th most popular among teen girls in a Piper Jaffray survey, up from 30th in 2017. Many teens acknowledged the trend caught on simply because everybody was wearing them.  Second-quarter earnings of $0.59 per share trounced estimates of $0.46, with CEO Andrew Rees crediting a modern revival of the mania that first thrust the company's light, clunky foam clogs into the spotlight in the 90's and early 2000's. Also this summer, Nike's Air Max 270 React became a surprisingly big hit. The athletic shoe is a nod to the company's past, but doesn't differ remarkably in looks or performance from other footwear in Nike's present portfolio. Buyers appear to love the intense color combinations and options more than they love the 270 React's underlying construction and function; from a design perspective, the company could have made that move at any time. Meanwhile, despite their connection to basketball star Steph Curry, Under Armour's Curry 2 and Curry 3 shoes were relative flops despite their functional design. Name-dropping doesn't always work. There's a clear common thread to all the anecdotes: technology was irrelevant. A powerful endorsement was no guarantee of success, and buyers fell in love with the right look even in the absence of a celebrity nod. And it's not a reality limited to footwear. Don't neglect design for technology That's not to suggest Donahoe won't be able to build on the work that Nike has already done. Though the company has offered direct-to-consumer shopping for years, it escalated its technology efforts in 2017 with a tech overhaul initiative called the Consumer Direct Offense. More recently, it acquired a pair of technology start-ups and turned them into a tool called Nike Fit. The feature is now part of Nike's mobile app, allowing consumers to scan their feet to ensure they're buying the perfectly sized shoe -- online or in a store. The data is then stored in the customer's Nike+ profile. It's a business model Donahoe understands, with his background in catering to millions of customers, each with a unique history and digital habits. Managing a mountain of data and turning it into something useful is no easy task. Neither is gaining or keeping a feel for the ever-changing pulse of the shoe-buying marketplace, though, and that matters just as much. Just ask Under Armour, which is learning the cost of neglecting design the hard way. As B. Riley FBR analyst Susan Anderson told Retail Dive last month, Under Armour is "very performance-focused right now, which is great if you want to go buy performance wear." She argues that the company is missing out on other trends: "But, the consumer, the whole streetwear trend, more fashion-infused athleticwear, athleisure, the retro '90s -- which Under Armour doesn't really have any retro '90s -- that's a problem. All of those things are really just not playing in their favor." Nike can't afford to slip deeper into a technology-focused mindset now the way Under Armour slipped into a performance-focused mindset with Plank at the helm. It's still ultimately about providing the look that consumers want. Sometimes though, it's difficult for an executive to shake off old habits... even with a new employer. Too soon to draw concrete conclusions Fortunately, Donahoe will be surrounded by plenty of industry veterans, many of whom have been with Nike for a while. He'd be wise to accept their counsel on matters of design, style, and consumer preferences. If he's headstrong and somewhat controlling, though this may ultimately turn out to be a mismatch. Only time will really tell how the new corporate chemistry will work out. But if there's turbulence, odds are good that subtle signs of it will be noticeable before it's fully revealed in the numbers. Investors will need to keep a close eye.

Arrive Expands Into Snow Apparel Rentals - Shop-Eat-Surf.com Posted: 29 Oct 2019 01:53 PM PDT SPONSOR Arrive today announced that they've expanded their outdoor gear rentals to include premium snow apparel and accessories for kids, women and men. Offerings include soft goods like pants, jackets, goggles, and gloves – all of which can be delivered to your home or directly to a mountain resort. All snow rentals start at 10% of the retail price and include a free return label, making it easy to equip the entire family for your upcoming ski trip. Arrive's expansion into snow comes at a time when mountains are tasked with attracting a new generation of visitors – many of whom aren't interested in paying $1,000 or more on apparel and accessories that will only be used a couple times a year in addition to the cost of lift tickets, resort stays and travel fees. While adults can celebrate their ability to rent top gear, parents in particular can breathe a sigh of relief as they no longer have to shell out hundreds of dollars on snow apparel that kids will out-grow year after year. Arrive's service provides a simple solution to ensuring everyone stay warm and dry on the mountain. "People are simplifying their physical spaces and limiting what they buy so they can have more, unique experiences throughout the year," says Rachelle Snyder, Arrive CEO and Co-Founder. "We're seeing an increase in casual outdoor participation. And as an outdoor experience company, Arrive is here to help everyone engage in the outdoors – not just the hardcore enthusiasts." The company, which launched national operations earlier this year with camping and backpacking rentals, captured the attention of the industry and was awarded 2019 Outdoor Retailer of the Year by the Outdoor Retailer Association. The online rental platform requires reservations be made at least 7 days in advance of the first day of your trip. Arrive knows that many people only venture onto the slopes a few times a year, so their customer service team is available to build confidence and answer any questions that you may have regarding topics like brand recommendations, sizing or trip planning. Arrive is proving itself to be a driving force in the outdoor industry by providing an access model that fits the experience-driven consumers' lifestyle and invites a new wave of visitors to the mountain. About Arrive: Arrive is an outdoor experience company with a mission to create a world where you can experience the outdoors sustainably and without the need to own outdoor gear. Arrive is transforming the outdoor gear and services market by partnering with premium outdoor brands to provide gear for rent with delivery available anywhere in the contiguous United States. To learn more about Arrive or to rent gear for your next outdoor experience, visit arriveoutdoors.com. Industry News Industry Insight Industry Releases

Kali Apparel opens in DeMotte | Lifestyle - Newsbug.info Posted: 29 Oct 2019 08:23 AM PDT DEMOTTE – The anticipated opening of Kali Apparel was met with flair at their opening day celebration on Friday, Oct. 25. The owners, Kaelyn Fischer and Alisa Sutton, said they had a line at the door waiting for them to open Friday morning. The former Thread's store has been transformed and offers clothing and accessories for women, children and men, much in the tradition of the former shop. The ladies have added their own special touches to the space, including a chandelier lit dressing room with barn doors closing the private dressing room for women. The store is now open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday. With the help of the DeMotte Chamber of Commerce, the employees and owners of the store cut the ribbon to celebrate their opening. More from this section Kali Apparel has a page on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the store, call 219-987-2416 or stop in. The store is located in the DeMotte Plaza behind Dairy Queen and next to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on Halleck St.

Kawhi Leonard Files to Trademark Phrases for Footwear & Apparel - Yahoo Sports Posted: 28 Oct 2019 01:13 PM PDT Click here to read the full article. Kawhi Leonard filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark two phrases for use on clothing and footwear last week. As first revealed via Twitter by trademark attorney Josh Gerben and confirmed by FN, the Los Angeles Clipper filed Oct. 23 to trademark the phrases "City Views Over Interviews" and "What It Do Baby." More from Footwear News If approved, the trademarks would apply to footwear and apparel, including socks, coats, sleepwear, swimwear, headwear, dresses, pants, scarves and undergarments. While it's unclear where the "City Views Over Interviews" phrase comes from, "What It Do Baby" is a reference to a meme that came about after Leonard, then a Toronto Raptor, won the 2018-2019 NBA Championship. (In a short viral clip that made the rounds on social media, Leonard exclaims "What it do baby" in a video posted by Toronto Raptors teammate Serge Ibaka.) Also uncertain is whether Leonard has plans in the works to use the words he's attempting to trademark, or if he's simply being proactive in the wake of an ongoing lawsuit against his former sponsor, Nike. Leonard, who presently works with New Balance, filed a suit against Nike in June over a claw logo he claims to have created and to which Nike owns the copyright. In the filing, Leonard said he had plans to use the logo for multiple things such as apparel, footwear, sports camps and charity functions, but Nike objected to the uses. In response, Nike filed a countersuit in July — accusing Leonard of copyright infringement, fraud within his initial copyright filing and breach of contract. The suit remains ongoing; it will be tried in Oregon, where Nike headquarters are located. Want more? VP Mike Pence Criticizes NBA, Nike Over China Controversy When Being Woke Is Bad for Business: What Nike, LeBron & the NBA Have To Do Now Marketing Plays: New Balance Celebrates NBA Season Opener With Kawhi Leonard Video + More Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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