Deckers and Puma are proceeding with caution as tariffs complicate US operations and consumer sentiment. Of the two companies, Deckers is better equipped to manage the uncertain environment. It has considerably more pricing power than Puma, giving it more room to offset tariff costs. It also has significantly more runway to grow outside the US: International revenues surged 50% in Q1, while Puma is facing weakness in Asia and Europe in addition to North America.

On Running’s marathon win streak continues in Q4: The buzzy running brand reported record profits and a 36% YoY jump in sales, with some help from Roger Federer and Zendaya.

Prada nears €1.5 billion deal to acquire Versace: The move would give the luxury company broader appeal as spending cools.

Deckers relies on scarcity to drive Ugg, Hoka growth: That tactic paid off with record sales and profits during the holiday quarter.

The marketing funnel isn’t dead—it’s evolving. Today’s consumers rely on communities and authentic partnerships to guide decisions. To stay ahead, marketers must rethink measurement and focus on building lasting connections that drive advocacy and loyalty.

Nike troubles complicate Foot Locker’s turnaround plan: The retailer lowered its full-year guidance as it struggles to win over cautious shoppers outside of peak shopping periods.

Nike's recent struggles highlight the risks of an ill-timed shift to direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales. The sportswear giant's sales slumped 10% YoY for the quarter ending August 31 as competitors gained market share.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss why Nike isn’t doing all that well, how it can stay relevant with the competition, and which brands it could possibly learn from. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Senior Analyst Zak Stambor and Analyst Rachel Wolff.

Hoka sales soared nearly 35% in FYQ2: Meanwhile, Skechers delivered a record-setting quarter as the shoe brands continue to benefit from Nike’s missteps.

Lululemon sees untapped potential in China’s smaller cities: The athleisure brand sees considerable growth opportunities as demand for health- and wellness-related products surges.

Nike pulls FY guidance amid sales slump: Incoming CEO Elliott Hill has the difficult task of reinvigorating the brand and ramping up innovation to win back market share.

Nordstrom, Kohl’s look to brand partnerships to boost sales: While Nordstrom turns to buzzy companies like Savage X Fenty to attract younger shoppers, Kohl’s takes a kitchen-sink approach.

Self-reported spending is down 6% among US teens (which includes Gen Alpha and Gen Z consumers), but they are still shelling out on beauty, according to Piper Sandler’s latest Taking Stock with Teens survey.

Off-price’s momentum continues as shoppers’ trade-down behaviors intensify: Nordstrom Rack, Burlington, and Ross are among the beneficiaries of consumers’ cost-of-living pressures.

Gen Z teens cut spending in response to inflation: Shoppers in this cohort are shopping more often at off-price and ecommerce retailers to save money, although the beauty category is as resilient as ever.

On Running is firing on all cylinders: The performance footwear company grew D2C and wholesale revenues—as well as market share—in Q2.

Nike and Hoka battle it out over young consumers and runners; Shein and Temu are caught up in controversies and litigation; and DoorDash and Instacart take different approaches to the same problem.

Nike is once again selling wholesale to DSW and Macy’s: Renewing those relationships will help it reach the sizable segment of consumers who aren’t willing to seek out its products.

Lululemon’s sales grew 24% in Q1 as demand for premium athleisure stays strong: That same dynamic helped brands like On Running, Hoka, and Vuori record significant growth.

Nike’s close connections to sports and sneaker culture keep it on the top of Gen Z’s list of favorite brands while its cutting-edge sneaker technology makes the brand a must-have for runners. But Nike must use a mix of D2C and wholesale commerce if it wants to defend its title from the competition.