Here at SESO, we are big fans of Matt Powell, a senior advisor at BCE Consulting and a go-to source for all things related to athletic brands and retailers.
So I was happy to join him on the Retail Remix podcast with host Nicole Silberstein, the editor-in-chief of SESO’s sister brand, Retail TouchPoints, to talk about a wide range of retailers and brands.
The three of us discussed a wide range of retail and brand issues including the Nike turnaround quest, why Vuori continues to take share in the activewear market, the Dick’s Sporting Goods acquisition of Foot Locker, how Urban Outfitters has many parts of its business firing right now, the challenges at Vans, the new strategy at Journeys, and more.
We also discussed why the retail industry shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security following relatively rosy Q2 earnings.
“In the early days of tariffs, when there was tremendous uncertainty, brands and retailers pulled out every trick in the book to keep prices down,” Powell said. “I think that string has run out. There are no more tricks in the bag to pull out now and so prices are going, or have gone, up and are going to continue to go up.”
Tune in here or anywhere you get your podcasts for a candid discussion about what’s really happening with the biggest names in sports and activewear — and what others can learn from both their wins and missteps.
