This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. 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 Crate & Barrel’s collaboration with Converse to Hims & Hers’ latest acquisition, here’s our closeout for the week. What you may have missed New Balance brought in a record $9 ...

Core Viewpoint - Nike-owned Converse is realigning its operations and reducing its corporate workforce to better align with its parent company's strategies aimed at recapturing sales growth [1] Group 1: Corporate Restructuring - Converse is cutting corporate roles and shifting many employees' responsibilities and reporting structures as part of a strategic overhaul [1] - Nearly all corporate employees at Converse will experience some level of change due to this restructuring [1] Group 2: Strategic Changes - The restructuring includes the formation of cross-functional teams focused on various sports, mirroring Nike's broader operational strategy [1] - This move follows previous layoffs at Nike, including 775 distribution roles cut in January, as part of efforts to boost profits and enhance automation [1] Group 3: Market Positioning - Under CEO Elliott Hill, Converse is attempting to regain market share lost to competitors, indicating a proactive approach to its market positioning [1] - The brand had previously implemented job cuts in May 2024 as part of a cost-saving initiative linked to its parent company's overall strategy [1]

Core Insights - Nike Inc. is undergoing significant restructuring, with nearly 800 jobs cut and additional layoffs at Converse as part of strategic changes to boost sales growth [1][2] - Converse has faced severe revenue declines, with a 28% drop in Q1 and a further 31% decrease in Q2, leading to negative EBIT for the second quarter [3][5] - Analyst Laurent Vasilescu suggests that Converse's brand health is deteriorating, indicating a potential divestiture by Nike, which would mark a continuation of its history of selling off acquired brands [4] Company Developments - Converse employees have been instructed to work from home as the company implements strategic changes [1] - Aaron Cain, a long-time Nike veteran, has taken over as CEO of Converse, succeeding Jared Carver, as part of the leadership reset [4] - Nike anticipates ongoing challenges for Converse, with Q2 revenues reported at $300 million, reflecting a 30% decline across all territories [5]

Core Insights - Nike is undergoing a significant turnaround strategy under CEO Elliott Hill, focusing on rebuilding retail partnerships, emphasizing sports, and driving innovation [1] - Converse, acquired by Nike in 2003, has been struggling with declining sales, with a 30% drop in revenue to $300 million in the most recent quarter, marking a continued trend of negative growth [2][4] - Layoffs are anticipated at Converse due to prolonged revenue declines, with the CEO indicating difficult decisions ahead, including potential departures of senior executives [4][5] Financial Performance - Converse's revenue decline is part of a broader issue, with sales at a 15-year low, prompting discussions of layoffs as a cost-cutting measure [4] - Converse currently accounts for only 2.5% of Nike's total revenue, suggesting it is a minor component of Nike's overall business [8] - Nike's stock experienced a 2.4% decline, although it is uncertain if this is directly related to the issues at Converse [8] Strategic Considerations - There is speculation about the potential sale of Converse, as Nike has previously divested other brands, raising questions about Converse's future within Nike's portfolio [8][9] - Management has not confirmed any plans to sell Converse but has indicated a need for significant changes to return the brand to growth [9] - Nike anticipates ongoing challenges for Converse throughout the fiscal year, suggesting that investors should remain patient regarding the brand's turnaround efforts [10]

Nike-owned Converse brand's employees were instructed to work from home this week as the sportswear giant makes strategic changes to recapture sales growth, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing a... ...

Core Viewpoint - The retail sales of clothing, shoes, and textiles in China for the year 2025 reached 1.52 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.2%, with a slowdown in demand observed in Q4 2025 due to warmer winter temperatures affecting winter clothing sales [1][2] Domestic Demand - In 2025, the retail sales of clothing, shoes, and textiles amounted to 1.52 trillion yuan, with monthly growth rates of 6.3%, 3.5%, and 0.6% for October, November, and December respectively, indicating a slowdown in Q4 due to higher winter temperatures [1] - The performance of women's clothing brands is expected to show signs of recovery, with companies like Xinhe and Ge Li Si projected to achieve revenue growth in Q4 2025 [4] External Demand - China's textile and apparel exports totaled $293.8 billion in 2025, down 2.6% year-on-year, with textile exports at $142.6 billion (up 0.4%) and apparel at $151.2 billion (down 5.2%) [2] - Vietnam's textile exports grew by 7.0% to $39.6 billion, indicating a shift in the textile supply chain and highlighting the competitive pressures faced by Chinese exporters [2] Industry Performance - The overall sales in Q4 2025 were impacted by weak winter clothing consumption, but high-end outdoor and niche sports brands are expected to maintain strong growth, with brands like FILA and 361 Degrees projected to see significant revenue increases [3] - The home textile sector is experiencing a mixed performance, with companies like Luolai and Water Mercury showing stable growth, while Fuanna is still in a destocking phase [5] Non-woven Fabric Industry - The non-woven fabric sector is benefiting from quality upgrades and expanding demand, with companies like Wanjia and Nuo Bang expected to see revenue growth of 10% to 20% in Q4 2025 [6] Textile Manufacturing - The performance of the textile manufacturing chain is under pressure due to fluctuations in brand orders, particularly from Nike and Converse, while the Australian wool industry is expected to benefit from rising demand and price increases [7] Investment Insights - Looking ahead to 2026, domestic demand is anticipated to gradually recover, with potential investment opportunities in high-performance outdoor brands and discount retail sectors [9] - The global tariff negotiations are stabilizing, which may not affect the core manufacturing competitiveness of the industry [9]

Core Viewpoint - The company, Huayi Group, is a leading global manufacturer of athletic footwear, benefiting from the three-child policy, the sports industry, and the depreciation of the RMB [2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Huayi Group specializes in the development, design, production, and sales of athletic footwear, serving major global brands such as Nike, Converse, and Puma [2][7]. - The company has a significant focus on children's athletic shoes, including those for infants [2]. - As of January 9, the number of shareholders in Huayi Group increased by 8% to 13,500, with an average of 86,443 circulating shares per person, a decrease of 7.41% [7]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the period from January to September 2025, Huayi Group achieved a revenue of 18.68 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 6.67%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 14.34% to 2.43 billion yuan [7]. - The company has distributed a total of 9.103 billion yuan in dividends since its A-share listing, with 6.652 billion yuan distributed over the past three years [8]. Group 3: Market Activity - On January 15, Huayi Group's stock rose by 0.49%, with a trading volume of 151 million yuan and a turnover rate of 0.25%, bringing the total market capitalization to 60.042 billion yuan [1]. - The stock has seen a net inflow of 12.27 million yuan from major investors today, ranking 2nd in its industry, with a total net inflow of 134.26 million yuan over the past three days [4][5]. Group 4: Technical Analysis - The average trading cost of the stock is 56.61 yuan, with the stock price approaching a resistance level of 51.57 yuan, indicating potential for a price correction if it fails to break through this level [6].

Core Insights - Rezolve Ai anticipates significant revenue growth, projecting at least $40 million for 2025 and approximately $350 million for 2026, which is nearly double market expectations of $170 million, indicating nearly 10× year-on-year growth [2][3] Revenue Guidance - For 2025, the company expects to exceed $40 million in revenue, surpassing current analyst consensus [2] - For 2026, the revenue guidance is set at approximately $350 million, indicating a substantial increase from the previous year [2] Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) - Rezolve aims to exit 2026 with a minimum of $500 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), translating to about $40 million in monthly revenue by December 2026 [3] Operating Performance - The company ended 2025 with approximately $209 million in ARR, achieving a record revenue of over $17 million in December, marking its first profitable month [4] - In 2025, Rezolve processed more than 51 billion API calls and reached over 340 million unique users globally, demonstrating its operational scale [4] Customer Base and Institutional Confidence - Rezolve's clientele includes major global brands such as Adidas, Gucci, and H&M, reflecting strong enterprise adoption [5] - The company secured significant repeat institutional investments, including a $50 million strategic investment and an additional $200 million commitment, indicating strong confidence in its execution and scalability [6] Strategic Partnerships - Throughout 2025, Rezolve strengthened partnerships with Microsoft and Google, focusing on integrating AI-driven commerce with next-generation payment infrastructure [7] Leadership Commentary - The CEO of Rezolve emphasized that 2025 marked a turning point for enterprise AI-driven commerce, highlighting the company's focus on execution and operational leverage as it moves into 2026 [8] Company Overview - Rezolve Ai is recognized as a leader in AI-powered solutions, specializing in enhancing customer engagement and operational efficiency [9] - The company operates with over 1,000 employees and has more than 650 enterprise customers across 24 global offices [10]

Core Insights - Nike has sold its digital products subsidiary RTFKT, marking its exit from blockchain-based collectibles and a strategic shift back to its core athletic performance business under new CEO Elliott Hill [1][3][4] - The sale was effective December 16, coinciding with a reported 30% drop in quarterly sales for Nike's Converse brand [1][3] - Nike had previously announced plans to end its NFT operations and blockchain initiatives [2] Group 1: RTFKT Acquisition and Sale - RTFKT was acquired by Nike in 2021 during the NFT boom, aimed at expanding Nike's presence in collectibles and metaverse markets [3] - The sale of RTFKT is described as "launching a new chapter" for Nike, while still allowing for potential future digital initiatives [4] - The buyer's identity and financial details of the sale remain undisclosed, but speculation suggests the buyer may be a significant player in the digital assets space [5] Group 2: Market Reaction and Legal Issues - Following the sale announcement, RTFKT tokens surged by over 270%, indicating market optimism about the potential revival of NFTs under new ownership [5] - Nike is facing legal challenges related to its exit from digital collectibles, with a proposed class action lawsuit filed by purchasers of Nike-themed NFTs seeking at least $5 million in damages [6][7] - The lead plaintiff claims that Nike's abrupt decision to shut down RTFKT devalued the NFTs without adequate notice or compensation [7]

Group 1 - Nike sold its digital products unit RTFKT in December 2025, focusing back on core sports products after shutting down the business [1] - The sale was effective on December 16, 2025, but the buyer and financial terms have not been disclosed [1] - RTFKT was acquired by Nike in 2021 under former CEO John Donahoe, but the strategy shifted under new CEO Elliott Hill, who has redirected focus towards sports and footwear [2] Group 2 - The sale of RTFKT coincides with a 30% sales drop in Nike's Converse brand reported in Q4 2025, raising questions about other parts of Nike's portfolio [3] - Nike announced the shutdown of RTFKT in January 2025 due to slowing active drops, pausing NFT production while continuing collaborations with video game firms [3] - The NFT market is experiencing a slump, with monthly sales dropping to $320 million in November 2025 and a total market cap of approximately $2.78 billion, down over 67% in the past year [4] Group 3 - Major NFT platforms are adapting to market weakness, with OpenSea shifting focus from NFTs to a broader trading model, and X2Y2 shutting down its NFT operations [5] - Event activity related to NFTs has cooled, with recent cancellations of planned events like NFT Paris and RWA Paris due to market conditions [5]