It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we’re still thinking about.
From executive shuffling in the athletics market to a truly sparkling KitchenAid stand mixer, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Express rides the nostalgia wave with ‘Archives’ menswear reissues
Express, which launched in the 1980s, peaked earlier this century and remains a mall fixture, is the latest apparel retailer to tap into consumers’ affinity for nostalgia and vintage finds. The company has reissued designs first introduced in the 1990s and early 2000s, including some from its now-defunct Structure menswear brand, featuring “relaxed proportions, bold graphics, utility details and bootcut denim.”
The “Express Archives” collection includes sweatshirts, cargo pants, polos, jackets, jeans and pullovers, priced from $64 to $188.
“Structure has an enduring place in the memories of longtime customers, and we were struck by how relevant the original Express and Structure pieces still feel,” Chris Scalzo, group vice president of men’s merchandising and design, said in a statement. “We stayed true to the fits, colors and details that made them distinctive, so the collection feels authentic to the era and completely right for now.”
Other brands capitalizing on the past include Banana Republic, Pacsun, Gap, J. Crew, Victoria’s Secret and Delia’s.
The company formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond starts a credit union
Neighborhood Intelligence, once known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., partnered with Alliant Credit Union to launch a consumer financial services platform, dubbed Beyond Credit Union. The entity will connect financial products, education, tools and resources to simplify home ownership, the company said on Tuesday.
The platform will encompass checking and savings accounts, credit cards and home equity products, among other services.
“Beyond Credit Union is about helping people save smarter, borrow smarter and manage the cost of their home more intelligently,” Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Neighborhood Intelligence, said in a statement.
Beyond Credit Union will launch in the first quarter of next year.
Retail therapy
KitchenAid makes an illuminating stand mixer
For a mere $699.99, shoppers can get a KitchenAid stand mixer with a fluted, hardened glass bowl that diffuses light on kitchen counters. The kitchen appliance brand created the Luminaire 2026 Design Series tilt-head stand mixer in a light blue hue, per a company press release Tuesday.
KitchenAid is running a sweepstakes for consumers to win one of five of the Luminaire stand mixers through Sept. 29. The stand mixer launch is in conjunction with a limited-edition KitchenAid Commercial-Style Range in the same blue hue. There are only five of the handpainted ranges available for sale, costing $8,899 each.
What we’re still thinking about
1.1%
That’s how much net revenues were up year over year in Q2 at Vera Bradley, reaching $71.6 million. It was the retailer’s second consecutive quarter of overall revenue growth. The company swung to a net income of $4.5 million, from a net loss of $4.7 million in the year-ago quarter.
“Significant work remains, and we’re encouraged by the progress we’re seeing across all five pillars of our transformation, and we remain committed to returning the business to long-term sustainable growth, profitability, and cash flow generation,” CEO Ian Bickley said in a statement.
What we’re watching
Executive musical chairs in the athletics market
This week brought a host of changes to the executive ranks of athletics retailers big and small.
Among them, Arc’teryx Vice President of Global Brand Creative Mark McCambridge will be Vuori’s new executive creative director come November.
Three of Puma’s executives are leaving the company: Chief Commercial Officer Matthias Baeumer, a nearly 20-year veteran, is exiting the brand at the end of the month. Meanwhile, the company’s senior vice president of merchandising in North America is headed to Rhone as chief merchant and Tara McRae, formerly head of Puma North America, is joining Skechers as chief marketing officer.
Also targeted at the North American market, JD Group this week promoted Chief Commercial Officer John Mersho to head up the JD portfolio in the region. Mersho, who is a member of Shoe Palace’s founding family, replaces John Hall, who is retiring. At the same time, the company named nearly 20-year company veteran Mike Grimes as chief marketing officer of JD Group.
With Heidi O’Neill’s recent ascendance to Lululemon’s CEO post and a new commercial chief joining Nike last week, there are a lot of changes across the board coming to athletic retail teams.
All of this shuffling occurs as the activewear market is growing more competitive and consumers are getting pickier about their willingness to spend in the sector.
