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Catch all the latest news about footwear industry acquisitions, and licensing and distribution agreements here. Got a deal in the works? Tell us at web@footwearnews.com.<\/em><\/p>\n May 24, 2023:<\/strong> QVC and HSN parent company Qurate Retail Inc.<\/strong> has agreed to sell its Zulily<\/strong> business to Los Angeles-based investment firm Regent<\/strong>. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to Quarate, the divestiture of Zulily aligns with the company\u2019s Project Athens transformation strategy unveiled in June 2022 to optimize its brand portfolio. David Rawlinson, president and CEO of Qurate Retail, said in a statement that he is confident Regent is the right partner for Zulily to continue serving its customers. \u201cThis divestiture will allow our management team to better focus on our core video commerce assets, QVC and HSN, and the Cornerstone Brands, while preserving liquidity to further strengthen our balance sheet,\u201d Rawlinson said. \u201cI would like to thank Terry Boyle and the entire Zulily team for their continued hard work and commitment amidst a challenging retail environment.\u201d<\/p>\n May 11, 2023: The University of Cincinnati<\/strong> Athletics Department has signed an apparel deal with with BSN Sports<\/strong>, a distributor of team sports uniforms. Under the deal, the University will outfit its team in Nike Inc. products from Nike and Jordan brands. \u201cThis is a monumental moment for our more than 450 student-athletes and our entire athletic department. It was important for us to have stability in our apparel provider for years to come and to have a partner solidified as we joined the Big 12 this summer,\u201d Cincinnati director of athletics John Cunningham said in a statement. \u201cTo many of our fans, Jordan Brand represents the quintessential jersey of one of the top stretches in the history of Cincinnati basketball, while Nike has proved to be the driving force in athletics apparel innovation for decades. I can\u2019t wait to have the Swoosh and Jumpman logos join with our C-Paw marks once again.\u201d<\/p>\n May 11, 2023: Bluestar Alliance<\/strong> has announced an affiliate acquisition of the U.S.-based wholesale and retail business assets of Dutch fashion brand Scotch & Soda<\/strong>. The acquisition by an affiliate of the Bluestar Alliance company allows, among other things, for Scotch & Soda and its products to be sold across the USA in a fleet of retail stores. This acquisition follows the previously announced acquisition of the Scotch & Soda brand (including worldwide licensing and distribution rights) by a separate affiliate of Bluestar Alliance. As part of this move, Bluestar Alliance has tapped Anthony Lucia as global president of its Scotch & Soda USA and global business operations. Lucia brings over 25 years of expertise running both U.S. and global fashion brands including Hugo Boss, G-Star and Escada. \u201cI am proud to join the Bluestar Alliance executive team, and look forward to working on one of most recognized brands in contemporary fashion,\u201d Lucia said.<\/p>\n May 3, 2023:<\/strong> White Mountain<\/strong> and Cliffs<\/strong>, which were acquired in January by American Exchange Group, have signed multiple license agreements for new product categories, marking their first foray beyond women\u2019s footwear. The two brands have partnered with Iconic Footwear Inc.<\/strong> for the distribution of slippers, sandals, flip-flops, aqua socks and water shoes for women, men and kids. Those collections will retail for $10 to $60. Additionally, White Mountain and Cliffs also inked a deal with Legwear Concepts Inc.<\/strong> for the distribution of socks and hosiery for men, women and kids, priced at $10 to $40.\u00a0All the new offerings are set to launch in fall \u201923 and will be available at Nordstrom Rack, TJX, DSW, the brands\u2019 e-commerce site, as well as more specialty stores.<\/p>\n April 27, 2023: Skechers <\/strong>has signed a deal to acquire Sports Connection<\/strong> Holding ApS<\/strong>, its Scandinavian distributor whose business includes 58 Skechers retail stores, e-commerce and 1,600 wholesale customers. Sports Connection will become a subsidiary of Skechers and will oversee growth for the brand\u2019s presence in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. \u201cWith the planned acquisition of our long-serving and successful distributor in Scandinavia, we are welcoming the Sports Connection team more closely into the Skechers family,\u201d said David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers USA, Inc in a statement. \u201cWe are looking forward to further broadening our reach in Europe by combining the team\u2019s local expertise with our worldwide capabilities and financial resources.\u201d<\/p>\n April 24, 2023: Perry Ellis International<\/strong> has inked a new strategic partnership deal with Walkinshaw Sports<\/strong> to officially distribute Original Penguin<\/strong> golf and tennis clothing to the Australian and New Zealand wholesale and retail market. It comes as two of the brand\u2019s biggest globally recognized ambassadors, Cameron Smith and Ajla Tomljanovi\u0107, who compete professionally on the world stage within golf and tennis respectively, continue to grow and endorse the brand in their home market. Walkinshaw Sports will officially launch the brand into the market starting April 2023 and will be showcasing fall 2023 golf and spring 2024 golf and tennis collections for men and women. The new collections showcase dynamic prints, classic styling and technically advanced fabrics. \u201cWe are excited to expand our global distribution and partner with Walkinshaw Sports, an established and recognized leader in sports apparel wholesale distribution,\u201d Oscar Feldenkreis, president and CEO of Perry Ellis International, said in a statement. \u201cWe are delighted that they will use their expertise and relationships to grow our footprint and penetration in the region to the delight of our brand fans and consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n March 7, 2023:<\/strong> Following their merger in August, Information Resources, Inc.<\/strong> (IRI) and The NPD Group<\/strong> have unveiled a new combined company name and brand identity. Now known as Circana<\/strong>, the combined analytics and advisory company will continue to focus on consumer behavior. \u201cWe are proud to begin this new chapter together as Circana, a name that conveys our 360-degree, full-circle understanding of the consumer and market, and our unique ability to bring clients a complete view of the consumer, store and wallet,\u201d said Kirk Perry, president CEO of Circana, in a statement. \u201cIn today\u2019s dynamic global retail and media environment, our value proposition has never been stronger. Circana is undeniably best positioned to advise the world\u2019s leading brands and retailers across almost every industry on how to identify opportunity, ignite innovation and grow well into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n March 2, 2023: Kurt Geiger London<\/strong> is launching swimwear on April 1. The collection includes <\/span>a sophisticated array of bikinis, one-piece swimsuits and beach cover ups, many of which feature the brand\u2019s signature Rainbow and Evil Eye motifs. There\u2019s also an exclusive preview access for Kurt Cares members only. Swimwear prices range from $59 to $199 in sizes XS through XL.<\/p>\n Feb. 27, 2023:<\/strong> Comfort footwear brand Aerosoles <\/b>has signed a new licensing agreement with United Intimate Group for the distribution of women\u2019s sleepwear, robes and intimate apparel. Aerosoles, which was acquired by American Exchange Group in 2022, has been quickly expanding its scope by introducing new categories such as cold-weather accessories, slippers and socks, roller skates and girls\u2019 shoes. Its first sleepwear and intimates collections are scheduled to ship in\u00a0November 2023<\/span> for the holiday season and will be available at leading retailers such as Nordstrom Rack<\/span>, TJX and more. Retail price points will range from $20-<\/span>$60. Aerosoles has previously expressed interest in broadening further into home, travel and apparel goods.<\/span><\/p>\n Feb. 17, 2023: OrthoLite<\/strong> has welcomed its 500th footwear brand partner. The company is now the official insole supplier is now partnering with 500 footwear brands worldwide, across all categories \u2013 athletic, running, comfort, golf, lifestyle and fashion. OrthoLite also noted that its products can be seen in over 550 million shoes per year from brands like Adidas, Altra, Asics, Brooks, Clarks, Cole Haan, Converse, Danner, Ecco, Fendi, Hoka, Hugo Boss, Justin, New Balance, On, Reebok, Rothy\u2019s, Salomon, Skechers, The North Face, Timberland, Toms, Under Armour and Vans. \u201cOn behalf of the global OrthoLite team, we want to say thank you to all of our brand partners for trusting us with their partnership,\u201d Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite, said in a statement. \u201cConsistently earning the trust of our brand partners means everything to us and our entire team is passionate about serving and problem solving for our customers.\u201d As for what\u2019s next, OrthoLite said in a statement that it \u201clooks forward\u201d to continued growth and industry leadership. On top of product innovation, the OrthoLite team is working on developing new standards of sustainability in footwear production, in zero-waste operations, and in materials.<\/p>\n Feb. 13, 2023:\u00a0Rocky Brands Inc.<\/strong> has entered into a license agreement with Status Accessories<\/strong> to design and distribute belts and wallets under the Durango<\/strong> and Rocky Boots<\/strong> brands. The first product line, Rocky Brands Inc. confirmed in a statement, will arrive at retail in March. The first collection, according to Rocky Brands Inc., will launch in winter \u201923 at specialty retailers, independent retailers and key accounts. For the Durango brand, the accessories will include premium leather belts with stitching and details similar to footwear designs. And for Rocky Boots, the leather and nylon belts and wallets will include camouflage and material patterns from its collection of work and outdoor footwear. <\/span>Also, the <\/span>Rocky Boots accessories offering will include heavy-duty nylon belts and wallets that align with its tactical boot range.<\/span><\/p>\n Feb. 13, 2023: Ebay Inc.<\/strong> has acquired AI-based marketplace compliance tech company 3PM Shield LLC<\/strong> as the online retailer aims to enhance its counterfeit monitoring technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to Ebay, this acquisition \u201cenhances\u201d its ability to address suspicious or harmful seller behavior, and potentially problematic items that may be unsafe or illegal. \u201cIt is a top priority to help ensure that eBay remains a safe and trusted environment for our global community of sellers and buyers, particularly to prevent counterfeits and unsafe or illegal products,\u201d Zhi Zhou, chief risk officer at eBay, said in a statement. \u201c3PM Shield has been a valued and effective external partner in helping eBay tackle these challenges and we look forward to unlocking additional capabilities as we bring their technologies in-house.\u201d<\/p>\n Feb. 6, 2023:<\/strong> Kate Spade New York<\/strong> has partnered with resale platform ThredUp<\/strong> to launch a program that allows shoppers to buy secondhand products from the Tapestry-owned brand via ThredUp\u2019s website. The program is powered by ThredUp\u2019s Resale-as-a-Service program, which enables brands and retailers to sell pre-worn items. \u201cAt Kate Spade New York, we are on a journey to driving progress by giving our products a second life and contributing to meaningful change,\u201d said Kate Spade New York CEO and Brand President, Liz Fraser in a statement.<\/p>\n Jan. 30, 2023: <\/strong>NFL star Tom Brady<\/strong>\u2018s namesake brand is now available at Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods<\/strong>. Brady assortment includes products such as the Brady pant, All Day Comfort Joggers, underwear, performance t-shirts, long sleeves and Zero Weight shorts. In addition to being available online, consumers can shop the label at all three Dick\u2019s House of Sport locations in Rochester, New York, Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Knoxville, Tennessee. \u201cAs we continue to grow, we are excited to expand our online and in-store retail distribution at one of the world\u2019s largest sports retail stores,\u201d Jens Grede, CEO and Co-Founder of Brady, said in a statement. \u201cOur displays at Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods House of Sport locations will provide consumers with an immersive Brady experience featuring key styles and some of Tom Brady\u2019s personal memorabilia.\u201d<\/p>\n Jan. 30, 2022:<\/strong> Resale platform StockX<\/strong> has opened its 14th authentication center \u2014 and its first in Mexico. The new facility is meant to help local customers get access to faster shipping, more products and quicker payouts. \u201cThe launch of this new authentication center in Mexico signifies our commitment to providing a safe and secure experience to our buyers and sellers around the world,\u201d said Greg Schwartz, co-founder and COO at StockX.<\/p>\n Jan. 24, 2023:<\/strong> Omnichannel digital commerce agency Blue Wheel<\/strong> and e-commerce marketplace agency Retail Bloom<\/strong> have merged to form a joint venture Blue Wheel<\/strong>, an omnichannel digital commerce agency. With financial backing from Chicago-based private equity group Longshore Capital Partners, Blue Wheel, according to a statement, now has more than $1 billion in e-commerce revenue under management across its clients. What\u2019s more, the company stated it will focus on hiring in the Detroit area to fuel growth, while maintaining its team across 15 states, which includes a satellite outpost and creative studio in New York City.<\/p>\n Jan. 20, 2023:<\/strong> Brazilian sandal giant Grendene<\/strong> has formed a joint venture with independent investment company 3G Radar<\/strong> to accelerate growth for its portfolio of footwear brands. The new entity, Grendene Global Brands<\/strong>, will draw on 3G Radar\u2019s business management expertise and Grendene\u2019s manufacturing capabilities, and\u00a0handle the production and operations of eight staple brands: Melissa and Mini Melissa, Ipanema, Rider, Cartago, Zaxy, Grendha and Pega Forte. The joint venture is overseen by CEO Gustavo Assumpcao, whose background includes serving as president of AB Inbev, Mexico, plus 16 years of experience at Anheuser Busch working across revenue management, sales operations, trade marketing and innovation. Among GGB\u2019s overarching goals, it aims to expand and strengthen digital and DTC capabilities, increase the relevance and proximity of the brands to consumers, and rebuild each brand\u2019s infrastructure and basic operating processes, including marketing.<\/p>\n Jan. 13, 2023: <\/strong>Vancouver, British Columbia-based brand Grounded People Apparel Inc. <\/strong>has received a $2.5 million investment from Vancouver-based Right Season Investments Corp. <\/strong>Grounded People strives to be a fair wage and sustainable vegan shoe company. Its first products launched in the fourth quarter of 2021 and include high-top and low-top sneakers made from sustainable, ethically sourced materials, manufactured by fair-trade workers in a 100% vegan factory in Brazil. \u201cGrounded People has come a long way since our founding in 2020, and this investment will enable us to grow our team further, expand our retail and online presence, target international markets and continue building a robust product portfolio that simply and cost-effectively protects our customers and the planet on which we reside,\u201d said Grounded People CEO and co-founder Maximilian Justus in a statement.<\/p>\n Jan. 12, 2023: Oofos<\/strong> and fitness company Exos<\/strong> have entered into a partnership, a two-year agreement that will run through 2024. With the deal, Oofos said in a statement that it will become the exclusive recovery footwear provider to Exos coaches and participating athletes, and will also be part of the company\u2019s 2023 NFL combine training program that is hosted at Exos\u2019 Athlete Performance Institutes. The mission of the partnership, according to Oofos, is to \u201celevate human performance through personalized support.\u201d With this partnership, Oofos said Exos \u201cis the next momentous step\u201d in bringing its OOfoam impact-absorbing technology to a broader audience. Also, Oofos said it\u00a0will provide products for the Exos facilities staff and athletes, as well as an opportunity for clients to purchase \u201cas part of their Exos-recommended recovery toolkit.\u201d<\/p>\n Jan. 10, 2023: Emerald,<\/strong> the parent company to Outdoor Retailer<\/a>, has announced the acquisition of Lodestone Events<\/strong>, a consumer event company that produces the Overland Expo series. Lodestone already partners with Outdoor Retailer on Outdoor<\/a> Adventure X, Emerald\u2019s first outdoor consumer event. As part of the deal, Lodestone employees will join Emerald and its founders, Lindsay Hubley and Jessica Kirchner, will join the Emerald management team and continue to lead the Overland Expo series and Outdoor Adventure X.<\/p>\nRelated<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n