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 American Eagle’s Q4 earnings to a John Wick candle, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Levi’s closes on sale of Dockers to Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group added Dockers to its formidable portfolio of intellectual property, as the company closed on its deal to buy the khaki label from Levi’s.
The companies previously said the initial sale would be for $311 million but could rise based on Dockers’ performance under Authentic’s ownership. An Authentic spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the price remained the same at the time of closing.
Levi’s has been looking to unload Dockers since at least 2024, when CEO Michelle Gass said the brand had “underperformed for some time.” On Tuesday the denim maker said the sale to Authentic sharpens its focus on its namesake and Beyond Yoga brands, “simplifying the portfolio and strengthening the company’s structural profitability.”
Target taps Roller Rabbit for its latest designer collab
Target is collaborating with Roller Rabbit for a spring designer collaboration that was two years in the making. Products are expected to hit the mass merchant’s stores and website on Saturday.
The collection of more than 250 items spans women’s, men’s, kids and baby apparel and features sleepwear, swimwear, totes and — for the first time for Roller Rabbit — luggage.
"Partnering with a beloved, social‑first brand like Roller Rabbit is exactly the kind of unexpected delight our guests crave," Gigi Guerra, vice president of creative curation at Target, said in a statement. "We're constantly reimagining our design partnerships to spark discovery — curating what's next, not what's already been done — while upping the exclusivity and personalization that make these collaborations so special and uniquely Target."
The collection will come in expanded sizing and feature adaptive styles, and will also include tie-ups with other brands, including nail care brand Olive & June, skin care brand Byoma and temporary tattoo brand Inked by Dani.
Retail therapy
John Wick’s violent revenge smells like gunmetal and lemon
Fragrance company Scentbird announced a collaboration with Lionsgate for an exclusive perfume based on the John Wick franchise, per a Thursday press release.
The John Wick Eau de Parfum features a woody scent with spiced lemon, gunmetal, clary sage, cedarwood and amber bourbon notes. It’ll be available for a limited time through Scentbird’s subscription and certain à la carte formats.
"At Scentbird, we're always looking for ways to push fragrance beyond the bottle," Elena Lécué, chief marketing officer at Scentbird, said in a statement. "We're blending storytelling, collectibility, and community in a way that feels fresh, unexpected, and unmistakably Scentbird."
What we’re still thinking about
$1.8B
That was the total revenue in Q4 for American Eagle Outfitters, up 10% compared to the year-ago quarter, and a record for the retailer. It was driven by a comparable sales increase of 8%, with positive results across brands.
Net income for the quarter dropped a little over 19% to $83.6 million, and operating income dropped 32.7% to $95.7 million.
Aerie was a particular bright spot, with comparable sales increasing 23% in Q4, on top of a 6% increase last year. Net sales for the intimates brand increased nearly 27% to $683.8 million.
What we’re watching
Chip Wilson’s crusade against Lululemon
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson took his fight with the activewear brand to a new level this week with the launch of a website dedicated to his views on the retailer. Wilson has been battling Lululemon for weeks over what he sees as brand erosion under former CEO Calvin McDonald, who left his role in January.
The founder nominated three people to be considered for Lululemon’s board, who are also detailed on the website he created. Last week, Wilson issued a press release “in the spirit of transparency” that detailed his efforts to get his nominees elected and criticized the board’s response.
Lululemon in turn said it had worked with Wilson “in good faith” and even met with one of his board nominees, On co-founder Marc Maurer.
“The Board has repeatedly requested the opportunity to interview Mr. Wilson’s director nominees,” Lululemon said last week. “However, Mr. Wilson had indicated he would not allow the Board to meet with these individuals unless the Board agreed to a full set of settlement terms.”
Lululemon did not respond to a request for comment on the formation of Wilson’s website.
